SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – MAY 02: Head Coach Ime Udoka of the Houston Rockets reacts against the Golden State Warriors during the fourth quarter in Game Six of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Chase Center on May 02, 2025 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
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After a rough opening week to the season that saw the Rockets drop to 0-2, Houston rebounded in the season’s second week, going 3-0, demolishing the Brooklyn Nets, Toronto Raptors, and Boston Celtics. The Rockets knocked off the Brooklyn Nets at home, 137-109, with Tari Eason getting back to his productive ways, scoring 22 points on 8/12 shooting from the floor. They then went on the road and beat the Toronto Raptors 139-121 and then the Boston Celtics, 128-101, in two games during which they looked dominant. Kevin Durant led the way with 31 points and 26 points, respectively, in the two games. Head coach Ime Udoka ditched the double-big starting lineup he had used in the season’s first two games, featuring center Steven Adams starting alongside center Alperen Sengun, opting instead to start journeyman forward Josh Okogie in Adams’ place.
The Rockets will host the Dallas Mavericks on Monday, before going back out on the road to face the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday, and then the San Antonio Spurs on Friday. On Monday, the Rockets will get their first look at first overall pick Cooper Flagg, though the Mavericks continue to play undermanned with Kyrie Irving still sidelined and centers Anthony Davis and Dereck Lively II both nursing injuries and expected to miss the game. In Memphis, the Rockets will take on a team in turmoil, with star point guard Ja Morant recently suspended for one game for “conduct detrimental to the team” coming after Morant publicly criticizing the team’s coaching staff’s decisions and rotations following the Grizzlies’ loss to the Lakers. And Friday’s showdown against the Spurs will mark the most highly anticipated game of the week, with the Spurs off to a surprise 5-0 start behind superstar big man Victor Wembanyama. Critics will be looking to see if Houston’s size can somewhat neutralize Wembanyama’s presence where other teams have failed. Sengun had perhaps the best game of his young career against the Spurs’ center back in March 2024, dropping 45 points, 16 rebounds, 3 assists, and 5 steals in a Houston victory.
Surprisingly Offensive
In what comes as one of the biggest surprises of the early season, the Rockets have the highest offensive rating in the entire league, with a rating of 126.5. The Philadelphia 76ers are sitting in second.
The rank comes as a bit of a surprise with Houston losing starting point guard Fred VanVleet for the season following an ACL injury this offseason. The Rockets have been playing without a traditional point guard, with their offense looking disjointed at times, but have been able to use their size and physicality to overwhelm opponents on the glass, and have also been proficient from long distance. The Rockets lead the league in three-point percentage, hitting 41.2% of their attempts so far this season. Many observers have believed the Rockets will need to make a trade for a starting point guard to replace VanVleet if they hope to viably content, but if their success on offense continues, general manager Rafael Stone may decide his roster has enough.
