Latest news with #Rockets-Thunder
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Rockets learn game times for 2025-26 season opener at Thunder, Christmas at Lakers
Houston's regular-season opener at Oklahoma City tips off at 6:30 p.m. Central on NBC, while the Christmas matchup versus the Lakers tips at 7:00 p.m. on ABC. In morning-news segments with two primary partners (NBC and ABC) under its new broadcast contracts, the NBA released more game dates and times for its upcoming 2025-26 regular season. For the Rockets, Tuesday's reveals confirmed what was already evident: With perennial All-Star and future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant on board, Houston is ready for prime time. Houston's Christmas Day game against the Los Angeles Lakers will tip off at 7:00 p.m. Central on ABC and ESPN, making it the most lucrative time slot among the five games. Meanwhile, Houston's regular-season opener at Oklahoma City tips at 6:30 p.m. Central on NBC. That October 21 game will be the first NBA on NBC telecast since 2002. Mike Tirico will handle the play-by-play for Rockets-Thunder, with former players Reggie Miller and Jamal Crawford as analysts and Zora Stephenson as the sideline reporter. Broadcast assignments for Rockets-Lakers on Christmas have yet to be announced. Tuesday's segment on NBC's TODAY Show, which can be viewed here, featured Rockets mascot Clutch the Bear and Thunder mascot Rumble the Bison. Because Houston will play Oklahoma City in NBC's opening-night showcase, those two organizations earned the initial spotlight. The complete 2025-26 schedule, with the exception of two games that are pending Emirates NBA Cup 2025 results, will be announced on Thursday. More: NBA schedule leaks: Rockets featured on 2025 opening night, Christmas Day
USA Today
05-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Thunder rolled: Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun lead Rockets (51-27) to brink of No. 2 seed
Thunder rolled: Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun lead Rockets (51-27) to brink of No. 2 seed With 14 wins in 16 games — and their latest over the top-seeded Thunder — the Rockets now have a three-game lead for the West's No. 2 seed with only four left to play. The Rockets finished off an impressive two-game homestand at Toyota Center with Friday's dominant 125-111 victory (box score) over the Oklahoma City Thunder. With the exception of the game's opening moments, Houston led wire-to-wire — and mostly by commanding margins. The Thunder (64-13) still hold the NBA's best record and lost for just the second time in 20 games. Meanwhile, Houston (51-27) is at No. 2 in the Western Conference standings and has won 14 of 16, overall. The Rockets now hold a three-game lead for the second seed with only four regular-season games left to play. In a potential Western Conference Finals preview, it was Houston's duo of fourth-year prospects that stood out most. Jalen Green finished with a game-high 34 points and 5 assists on 11-of-24 shooting (45.8%) and 9-of-10 from the free-throw line (90.0%), while All-Star center Alperen Sengun added 31 points and 4 assists on 11-of-21 shooting (52.4%) and 9-of-12 from the line (75.0%). "When we want it, there's no team that can beat us in this league," Sengun said postgame. Featuring a double-big lineup of Sengun and Steven Adams (12 rebounds in 23 minutes), Houston won the rebounding battle, 48-33, and generally controlled the paint versus Oklahoma City's Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein. It also helped that the Rockets had a strong performance off the bench by 6-foot-11 forward Jabari Smith Jr., who grabbed 17 rebounds in 34 minutes. All-Star forward Jalen Williams led the Thunder with 33 points and 4 assists on 13-of-21 shooting (61.9%). The Rockets held Most Valuable Player (MVP) frontrunner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander relatively in check, with Oklahoma City's All-Star guard finishing with 22 points and 8 assists on 10-of-22 shooting (45.5%) and 1-of-6 from 3-point range (16.7%). Strong defense at the point of attack by Amen Thompson (16 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 blocks) was a key factor. Veterna Rockets forward Dillon Brooks missed Friday's game due to a suspension for exceeding the league's technical-foul limit during the 2024-25 regular season. He will be eligible to return in Houston's next game on Sunday night. April 4 Rockets-Thunder Complete Highlights April 4 Postgame Reaction and Interviews What's Next Houston begins a challenging three-game road trip in California with Sunday's matchup against the Golden State Warriors (45-31). Tipoff is at 7:30 p.m. Central. Games in Los Angeles versus the Clippers (44-32) and Lakers (46-29) loom later in the week. More: 'Head of the snake': Jalen Green credits Ime Udoka for building Houston's culture
