Houston is 6-1 with a net rating of 12.3 through seven games, a small sample with a wide margin. The next question is whether Fred VanVleet and Reed Sheppard are back in time to help a bench that scored 20 points Saturday.
Oct. 28
Houston won 132-100 at Milwaukee, its widest margin of the season, and went 5-0. The offense drives the numbers: a 121.2 offensive rating against a 108.9 defensive rating at a pace of 99.5. Seven games is a small sample, but a gap of 12.3 points between the two ratings is not noise yet.
Oct. 30
The streak ended in Dallas, 116-111, with Alperen Sengun listed out for his back. ESPN reported that Kyrie Irving scored 35 and Flagg added 33 for the Mavericks. Kevin Durant had 28 for Houston and Smith added 22, but the Rockets had no answer when the game tightened.
Oct. 31
Houston answered by beating the Thunder 119-98 and led by as many as 27. The Rockets scored 35 in the first quarter. Smith shot 10-of-18, including 6-of-12 from three, for 30. Smart hit 7-of-10 from deep for 24. Sengun, cleared that day, had 16 points, nine rebounds and nine assists on 6-of-17 shooting.
Sunday
VanVleet and Sheppard were both upgraded from Out, and each has an estimated return of Nov. 2. Steven Adams remains Out with a right calf, same estimate. Our count adds caution: all six Rockets newly given the lighter listing since Oct. 20 missed the next game. Saturday's starters scored 92 of 112 points, so depth is the open question.
What is the Rockets' record this season?
Houston is 6-1 and holds the No. 2 seed. The only loss came Oct. 30 at Dallas, 116-111.
When do Fred VanVleet and Reed Sheppard return?
Both are listed with an estimated return of Nov. 2, the date of the Celtics game. Neither has been confirmed as available.
