From 1973 through 2024, Houston lost every Oct. 26 game in the franchise record. The 2026 Rockets arrive for the Hawks rematch at 3-0, with a core built on Durant, Sengun and Thompson.
1993-95
Hakeem Olajuwon led Houston to a then-record 58 wins and the first title in 1993-94, over the Knicks. With Clyde Drexler added, the Rockets repeated in 1994-95 by sweeping Orlando. Those two banners are still the yardstick for everything since, including a roster that now runs through Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun.
Oct. 26, 2018
The Harden-era Rockets, the team Daryl Morey's analytics built, lost 133-113 to the Clippers at home. It sits on a list of six Oct. 26 losses that also includes 2016 at the Lakers, 2021 at Dallas and 2022 at Utah. Houston has no win on this calendar date in any of those games.
Oct. 26, 2024
The most recent entry was a 109-106 loss at San Antonio, one more close miss against a rival that dates to the 1981 playoffs. This October the result flipped: Houston won 114-110 in Austin on Oct. 23, with Sengun scoring 29 and Amen Thompson adding 20 points and 10 rebounds.
Last season
Houston went 52-30 under Ime Udoka, with the offense ranked eighth and the defense fifth. The Lakers ended the year, though the Rockets trailed 3-0 and pushed the series to Game 6, with both comeback wins coming without Durant on the floor. That is the playoff ceiling this group is trying to clear.
This week
Houston opened with a 128-110 win over Dallas, then beat San Antonio and won 121-114 in Atlanta on Oct. 24. Steven Adams and Marcus Smart are out tonight, each with a projected return of Oct. 28. Fred VanVleet was cleared on Oct. 25, which gives Udoka a veteran guard back for a first Oct. 26 win.
Have the Rockets ever won a game on October 26?
Not in the six Oct. 26 games on record, all losses from 1973 to 2024. Tonight's game against Atlanta is a chance to change that.
Who is out for the Rockets against the Hawks?
Steven Adams and Marcus Smart are out, and both have a projected return of Oct. 28. Fred VanVleet was cleared on Oct. 25.
