I try to post highlights from every Rockets game for the fans to see and discuss, and for a great game there may be three important or eye-catching clips to see.
I try to post highlights from every Rockets game for the fans to see and discuss, and for a great game there may be three important or eye-catching clips to see.
In tonight’s 112-107 Rockets win over the Lakers, there were far more than that.
Dragic heads ball, outruns Kobe Bryant Goran Dragic has been outstanding shooting the ball lately, but he didn’t get out of the gate strong tonight offensively — he started 3-9 from the field. But this play really showcases his strengths. With his soccer skills background, he inadvertently headed the ball and took off like a bullet the other way. Watch as he simply blows byKobe Bryant, who has a big defensive lead on Dragic, to get to the basket. [comments]
Earl Boykins finds Samuel Dalembert
Rockets broadcaster Bill Worrell with the line of the night: “That’s the long and the short of it.”
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By the way, there were too many heroes to count in this game, but Samuel Dalembert deserves some credit. With Marcus Camby going out early with two quick fouls, Dalembert came in, threw down a few slams and provided some big man support (12 points, 6 boards, 3 steals in 23 minutes). [comments]
Chandler Parsons smokes Kobe Bryant
Chandler Parsons started out 3-4 from the field, including 2-2 from distance, and I thought, “All this talk about if Parsons will stop Kobe… but will Kobe stop Parsons?”
Never did I expect a play like this. It came immediately after a defensive stop by Parsons on Kobe that had you thinking about the one-on-one matchup. It was uncanny to me how Kobe-like this move is. [comments]
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Andrew Bynum ejected in fourth quarter
I don’t understand how anyone can think Andrew Bynum is anything short of a moron after this incident. Put yourself in his shoes: You know you were kicked out of the last game against the Rockets, and it cost your team dearly. You know you already have one technical in this game.
You’re still going to verbally shred the officials in the fourth quarter? Absolute idiocy.
The reaction from the Rockets players on the bench is absolutely priceless. Dragic’s double salute is my personal favorite. [comments]
Marcus Camby for three!
I’m shocked when Camby hits anything beyond 12-feet, yet since he’s arrived in Houston, he has nailed an 80-foot bomb and now has calmly drained a fourth quarter, top of the key triple. Dude’s got mad range. [comments]
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Chandler Parsons “cold-blooded” baseline three late
Now we get into clutch time, and this was just a huge shot as far as winning this game is concerned. Parsons was fairly good early on as a rookie, but he’s been rock solid since March. He has likely changed the team’s blueprint for the future, which previously starred Marcus Morris. [comments]
Goran Dragic late basket
This shot here is money, and money is exactly what Goran has made as he heads into unrestricted free agency this summer. Keep in mind — this was a guy the Rockets basically “threw in” to the Pau Gasol trade. He was rarely mentioned as a real asset for the Hornets and many claimed Jarrett Jack would start ahead of him. Right now? You could argue that Dragic may be the best player New Orleans would have gotten in that trade.
The Rockets are unified in their goal of making the playoffs and having playoff success, but just the same, it’s going to be interesting to see what they do with the starting point guard spot if/when Kyle Lowry returns to full strength this year/postseason. [comments]
Armed with a bizarre fascination for Mario Elie and a deep love of the Houston Rockets, Dave Hardisty started ClutchFans in 1996 under the pen name “Clutch”.
Just prior to training camp, the Houston Rockets lost veteran point guard Fred VanVleet (right knee ACL repair) to a potentially season ending injury.
That development led many observers around the league to speculate that Houston might pursue an external upgrade at point guard.
Yet, six games into the 2025-26 season, the Rockets (4-2) own the NBA’s best offense. They also have the majority of their point-guard reps going to Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard, two promising young talents who should only improve as the year progresses.
With that in mind, even as tensions seemingly rise in Memphis between the Grizzlies and two-time All-Star Ja Morant, it doesn’t seem as though Houston is interested in pursuing a trade (should the 26-year-old eventually hit the market).
The Grizzlies’ next opponent, the Houston Rockets, need a point guard after losing Fred Van Vleet to a torn ACL in the preseason… but, per a team source, are unlikely to pursue him.
But from a Houston perspective, the logic appears to be basketball-related.
The Rockets have an elite offense, as is, so why would GM Rafael Stone bring in a high-usage player who would potentially take away touches and playmaking opportunities from the likes of Thompson, Kevin Durant, and Alperen Sengun?
Should the on-court results significantly change, it’s possible that Stone and the Rockets could revisit the Morant option by the in-season trade deadline of Feb. 5, 2026. But based on what we know now, it doesn’t appear likely that Houston will be involved in any bidding.
HOUSTON — Amen Thompson may not look like a traditional point guard, but he’s filling in capably for the Rockets in the absence of veteran Fred VanVleet.
The Rockets (3-2) entered Monday’s home game versus Dallas (2-4) on a three-game winning streak, and their 22-year-old rising star was +77 when playing during those games.
For the season, Thompson is averaging 15.0 points (46.7% FG), 6.0 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 2.6 turnovers per game, and the versatile 6-foot-7 prospect remains best known for his defense (Thompson earned NBA All-Defensive First Team honors last season).
Yet, in pregame comments from Toyota Center, Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd — a Hall of Fame point guard from his NBA playing days — went out of his way to praise Thompson’s abilities on offense.
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When asked about Thompson’s defense, Kidd replied:
He’s playing the game at a very high level, not just on defense but on the offensive end, too. Driving the ball, and putting a lot of pressure on the defense at the rim.
I know everyone talks about his defense, but the way he’s handling the ball, it puts a lot of pressure (on the opponent).
Houston continues to rank No. 1 in the NBA in offensive rating, so Thompson’s individual contributions are clearly making it work for the Rockets as a team, as well.
The Rockets are without Jabari Smith Jr. (right ankle sprain) in Monday’s game, so Thompson started alongside Kevin Durant, Josh Okogie, Tari Eason, and Alperen Sengun.
With Wednesday’s 139-121 victory at Toronto, the Rockets (2-2) secured their first winning streak of the 2025-26 campaign and are now NBA’s top-rated offense of the young season.
Featuring Dave Hardisty, Ben DuBose, and Paulo Alves, our “ClutchFans Live” postgame show recaps all the key storylines from that showing against the Raptors.
Discussion topics include big scoring games from Kevin Durant and Jabari Smith Jr.; a dominant rebounding performance, led by interior strength from Steven Adams and Alperen Sengun; a subpar shooting night by Reed Sheppard; and potential concerns on defense, where the Rockets currently rank in the bottom half of the league.
In the win at Toronto (box score), Durant, Smith, Sengun, and Amen Thompson combined for a whopping 92 points, with each shooting at least 50% from the field.
It’s been a bumpy start, and it wasn’t exactly the 1996 Bulls on the other end, but the Rockets got their first win of the season Monday night.
Tari Eason broke out with 22 points — 20 in the first half — as the Rockets pulled away late first quarter and never looked back.
Alperen Sengun scored 21 points, hitting a pair of triples, Kevin Durant added 19 and Amen Thompson was a +33 in 25 minutes, handing out eight assists to zero turnovers.
Ben DuBose and I talked Rockets after the game — starting Josh Okogie over the ‘Double Big’, Tari’s breakout and Amen’s solid point guard showing.
The home opener is tonight, with Kevin Durant playing a regular season game in front of the home crowd for the first time, when the Rockets take on the Pistons at 7:00 pm Central.
Detroit is missing that shooter they had in Malik Beasley and Jaden Ivey (knee surgery) is out, but Cade Cunningham is always a tough out. They added Duncan Robinson this season who should theoretically provide that shooting pop, but he was a bust in their season opener.
Come join David Weiner (@BimaThug) and I tonight after the game as we discuss what we saw and get live fan reaction. Subscribe to ClutchFans on YouTube to get notifications when we go live!
