SportSpyder - The Latest Houston Rockets News

21 December 2025

• [Sports Illustrated] - Houston Rockets Went Back to Their Best Weapon Their Defense
  Coming into the season the Houston Rockets were known for a few things. They were known as the best rebounding team in the NBA, a physical team and one of the h
• [Fan Nation] - Nuggets' Tim Hardaway Jr. Had Clear Takeaway From Loss vs. Rockets
  The Houston Rockets simply had their way with the Denver Nuggets over the weekend.
• [Fan Nation] - The Houston Rockets Played a Part in the Houston Comets Era Ending but Now Can Make It Right
  Before 1995, Houston sports suffered heartbreak after heartbreak when it came to bringing a major sports championship to the city. The Houston Oilers, Rockets,
• [Fan Nation] - Rockets' Kevin Durant Showers Nuggets' Nikola Jokic with Praise
  Much has been said about the Houston Rockets' wonky schedule. Wonky may not even be the best word, as it doesn't do the situation the best justice. Houston has
• [Sports Illustrated] - The Rockets Can't Rely On Just One Player To Win
  The Houston Rockets are looking to bounce back after a meltdown defeat to the New Orleans Pelicans, setting up a difficult test against the Denver Nuggets. Unli
• [Last Word on Sports] - Lakers Head Into Christmas Week With Several Injury Concerns, What Does It Mean & When Could Players Return
  Every professional sports league has a period in its schedule where teams aren’t playing their best, and right now the is right in the middle of that period (December-January). And the appear to be this year’s poster boy, entering plagued by inconsistency and banged up. Lakers Head Into Christmas Week With Several Injury Concerns, What Does It Mean & When Could Players Return entered December with the second-best record at 15-5. But the Lakers fell to 4-4 this month following a concerning loss to cross-town rivals, the Clippers, last night. The Lakers were never truly in last night’s game, as they got down big early, scoring only 15 points in the first quarter. The Lakers, who never led in the game, trailed by as many as 22 and outscored the Clippers 27-23 to make the final score even remotely respectable. They shot just 39% from the field, including 6 of 38 from deep (16%). The 88 points are a season low and are the second time the Lakers failed to reach the century mark. But their recent stretch does bring some concerns. With the loss, the Lakers fell to fourth place in the conference, though their +1.2 scoring margin is tied with Golden State for sixth best in the conference. All eight of their losses have been by double-digits. LA has not been as efficient offensively during this eight-game stretch, averaging 114.1 points, nearly 4 points below their season average, and shooting 47.1% from the floor — they are shooting 50% from the field, the second-best in the league. However, it is on defense where the Lakers have struggled the most. Over this stretch, the Lakers’ defensive rating is five points higher than their season average as they have permitted 120 or more points on five occassions. Their opponents are shooting 48% from the field and 38.5% from deep over the last eight contests. Lakers Dealing With Plenty Of Injuries Granted, the Lakers entered the game shorthanded. The Lakers were without three starters against the and left the contest after just 20 minutes of playing time with a left leg contusion. led the way with a season-high 36 points on 15 of 28 shooting. “I saw him hobbling towards the end of the first half. He came to me at halftime and said he couldn’t go,” Lakers coach JJ said after the game. “… I don’t have any other information.” It is unknown the severity of Dončić’s injury. He could miss a few days to a month, depending on the severity of the contusion. So, until the Lakers give an update, consider Dončić at least questionable for their game against Phoenix on Tuesday. A source familiar with the injury told ESPN that it occurred in a collision with Clippers guard . If Dončić’s contusion is only mild, he could play against the Suns. However, it is likely the Lakers would hold him out until Christmas Day, when they host Houston. The Lakers are off until the 28th, when they host Sacramento, then Detroit on December 30. , , , and are also dealing with injuries. Hachimura was listed as questionable (groin) yesterday but was later downgraded to out against the Clippers. It was just the second game that Hachimura had missed this season. Before the game against the Clippers, told n that he is hopeful that Hachimura can return soon. But don’t expect him to be available to play against the Suns. Depending on the severity of the groin injury, Hachimura could miss at least a week. “JJ Redick says Rui Hachimura, out tonight with a sore groin, started to feel discomfort in his hip in the UTA game,” McMenimin tweeted. “Redick says the hope is that Hachimura is only out for 3-5 days.” DeAndre Ayton, Austin Reaves, and Gabe Vincent Updates Ayton missed the last two games due to left elbow soreness. Reaves has sat out the previous three contests with a mild calf strain. Both players are reportedly making progress. Meanwhile, Vincent also missed his second straight game with back soreness. So, how will Redick manage if he is shorthanded going forward? Against the Clippers, Redick paired James and Dončić with , , and . This was the first time this fivesome started together and marked Redick’s 15th different starting lineup of the year. Expect Smart, LaRavia, and Smart to continue to start alongside James, if Ayton, Reaves, and Hachimura remain out. Hayes has started each game Ayton has missed this season. He has upped his offensive production in the four games. So, he is the most stable of the three players who don’t usually start until Ayton returns. LaRavia has started eight games, with the Lakers going 4-4 in those contests, and will be the first of the trio to head to the bench as the Lakers get back. Redick’s biggest decision will be whether to play if Dončić can’t. Now, if Reaves or Hachimura can play versus the Suns, Smart would slide over to the point. Otherwise, Redick could go with , ., or Vincent, if he is healthy. Vincent has started six games this season, but has struggled with the first unit. Plus, a backcourt of Vincent and Smart doesn’t really provide the defense or playmaking that...
• [Deadspin] - Deadspin | Rockets seek more road success against Kings
  Deadspin | Rockets seek more road success against Kings
• [Defector] - What Can A Man Say To A Man?
  Watch sports for long enough, and you will come to learn an ironclad yet vague rule: There are some things that a man simply cannot say to another man. This law of dudehood is most often invoked by a player following a game in which there was a particularly spirited bout of shit-talking. One party will sometimes end up more aggrieved than the other in these circumstances, and it is when they are asked to explain their ire after the game that you can expect to encounter this particular talk about guy talk.
• [Fansided: Space City Scoop] - Kevin Durant granted every Rockets fan their wish in victory over Nuggets
  The Houston Rockets earned an absolutely necessary win over the Denver Nuggets on Saturday, prevailing 115-101. In the process, Kevin Durant accomplished what e
• [Last Word on Sports] - KD Takes The Wheel To End Rockets’ Slump vs. Denver
  After a rocky start to their road trip, the Houston Rockets defeated the Denver Nuggets 115-101 on . It was the second meeting between the two teams in the past five days. This time around, showed that he’s more than just a mercenary closer for hire. Despite what his career since leaving OKC might suggest, in this game, he showed that he can be a leader. KD Takes The Wheel To End Rockets’ Slump vs. Denver “Not a bus driver,” that’s the book on KD in some quarters. made the memorable, albeit terrible, analogy on to bemoan the iso-demon’s lack of leadership credentials. Indeed, Durant has largely left the traditional locker-room leadership role to personalities that lean less aloof. There was and with the Golden State Warriors. and with the Brooklyn Nets. with the Phoenix Suns. If Durant was the leader or bus driver with the post-Paul Phoenix Suns, then that’s hardly a boon to his resume. The team stalled at the bottom of the standings and often looked as if the engine had fallen out. But Durant’s leadership was far from the biggest issue with that team. A Leadership Vacuum In Houston, Durant again has nobody to defer to. is a talented young All-Star with infectious locker-room energy and enthusiasm. That’s leadership of a kind. NBA teams need their glue-guys, and even better if they can be All-Star-level facilitators. But to return to Barkley’s (terrible) analogy, the bus driver isn’t normally the one who kicks off the road trip songs. Houston’s leaders last year were and . Brooks was part of the package sent out for Durant, and VanVleet is missing the season due to injury. Whether he wants to be or not, Durant is naturally pulled into the leadership void. KD is never going to look like a conventional leader. He’s not trying to be that. But having spent a career trying to reach the zenith of basketball perfection, he has become a deservedly revered figure in the sport. The dynamic in Houston isn’t so much that KD tries to lead. Instead, other players take their lead from KD. They take their lead from his love for the game, from his desire to make the right play, to elevate and empower his teammates. And against the Nuggets, they took their lead from his refusal to lose a third game in a row. KD came out of the gates against Denver with an attitude. He finished with 31 points, six rebounds, and five assists on 57.1, 83.3, 90.9 shooting splits. He also got into “spats” with both and former teammate . The Durant kind of spat, without any actual spittle, just a little tit-for-tat. No cheap shots, no “hold me back”s. Durant beats you strictly with words and basketball. And maybe some goofy dance moves, like when he after a score, apparently trolling a fan in the front row. Getting out of a Slump Coming off consecutive bad losses, Houston needed a pick-me-up. They started their six-game road trip with a . They followed that up with a sloppily played . The Rockets led by 22 points at the half, only to give up 74 in the second, losing in overtime. The Rockets have gone from to outside the top four. Given their record on the , they desperately needed a win before heading into ’s clash versus the lowly Sacramento Kings. The Last Word Durant made sure the team got the win it needed. It’s maybe not a complete coincidence that his two most obvious proteges on the team also chipped in with terrific performances, as well. scored 22 points on 5 of 11 three-point shooting, to go along with 10 rebounds and 2 blocks. had 28 points and 6 assists, shooting 9-of-15 from the field and 6-of-9 from three. KD joined a Rockets team that already had a lot of its identity figured out. They play defense and . Many felt like all they were missing was a closer. But now KD looks closer to earning his bus driver’s license than ever before. © Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images The post appeared first on .