The 5-0 Rockets play five times in nine days, opening Cup group play in Dallas and hosting the Thunder the next night. Houston takes a 122.5 offensive rating and a 108.4 defensive rating into the stretch, but the backcourt is thin to start it.
Friday, Oct. 30
Houston opens Cup group play at Dallas on one day of rest, the second straight road game after the 132-100 win in Milwaukee. The Rockets beat the Mavericks 128-110 on Oct. 21. Cooper Flagg runs the Dallas attack at 25.3 points and 6.8 assists across four games. Dallas is without Dereck Lively II, Santi Aldama, Tarik Biberovic and Sergio de Larrea, and Naji Marshall is listed with an illness. Alperen Sengun (back) and Marcus Smart (forearm) are both targeted for tonight.
Saturday, Oct. 31
The Thunder visit Toyota Center the next night on NBA TV, the back half of Houston's only back-to-back of the stretch and its fifth game in eight days. That makes it the toughest test of the week. Reed Sheppard (back) misses Dallas and is targeted to return here. Hoops Rumors reported Friday that Houston picked up his fourth-year option. ESPN also ran a feature this week on Kevin Durant looking back at his years in Oklahoma City.
Monday, Nov. 2
Boston comes in after Houston gets a day off. Steven Adams (calf) is targeted for this date, which would give Ime Udoka his full group of centers again, with Clint Capela and two-way big Oscar Tshiebwe behind Sengun. Sengun has driven the offense when healthy: 24.5 points, 9.0 rebounds and 7.0 assists over four games, plus a playmaking load that has made Houston's half-court sets work.
Wednesday, Nov. 4
Minnesota closes a three-game homestand. The shooting has carried the 14.1 net rating: Durant is at 50.0 percent from three and Jabari Smith Jr. at 42.9. Durant is scoring 22.4 points in 34.3 minutes, and both The Dream Shake and Space City Scoop have argued this week that Houston no longer needs him to carry every night. Amen Thompson's 18.2 points and 8.0 rebounds back that up.
Saturday, Nov. 7
The week ends in Phoenix after two days off. It is Durant's first trip back to the club that traded him to Houston on July 6, 2025, in the seven-team deal that sent Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks the other way. If the injured guards are back by then, Udoka goes west with his whole rotation available.
When do the Rockets play the Thunder?
Saturday, Oct. 31, at Toyota Center on NBA TV. It is the second night of a back-to-back that starts in Dallas.
Is Reed Sheppard playing this week?
Sheppard misses the Dallas game with a back issue. He is targeted to return Oct. 31 against the Thunder.
