SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – MAY 02: Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka 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 2, 2025 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that by downloading and/or using this photo, user agrees 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 of the season that saw the Rockets fall to 0-2, Houston rebounded in the second week of the season to go 3-0, destroying the Brooklyn Nets, Toronto Raptors and Boston Celtics. The Rockets defeated the Brooklyn Nets at home 137-109, with Tari Eason returning to his productive ways, scoring 22 points on 8/12 shooting from the floor. They then went on the road and defeated the Toronto Raptors 139-121 and then the Boston Celtics 128-101, in two games in which they looked dominant. Kevin Durant led the way with 31 points and 26 points in the two games respectively. Head coach Ime Udoka ditched the double-major starting lineup he had used in the first two games of the season, with center Steven Adams starting alongside center Alperen Sengun, and instead opted to start journeyman forward Josh Okogie in place of Adams.
The Rockets will host the Dallas Mavericks on Monday before hitting the road again to take on the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday and the San Antonio Spurs on Friday. The Rockets will get their first look at first overall pick Cooper Flagg on Monday, though the Mavericks continue to play shorthanded with Kyrie Irving still sidelined and Anthony Davis and Dereck Lively II both nursing injuries and expected to miss the game. In Memphis, the Rockets will face a team in turmoil, with star point guard Ja Morant recently suspended for one game for “conduct detrimental to the team” after Morant publicly criticized the team’s coaching staff’s decisions and rotations following the Grizzlies’ loss to the Lakers. And Friday’s showdown against Spurs will mark the most eagerly anticipated match of the week, with Spurs off to a surprise 5-0 start behind superstar Victor Wembanyama. Critics will be looking to see if Houston’s size can go some way to neutralizing Wembanyama’s presence where other teams have failed. Sengun had perhaps the best game of his young career against the Spurs center in March 2024, posting 45 points, 16 rebounds, 3 assists and 5 steals in a win at Houston.
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 in second place.
The ranking comes as a bit of a surprise, as Houston is losing starting point guard Fred VanVleet this season after an ACL injury this offseason. The Rockets played without a traditional point guard, which made their offense look disjointed at times, but they were able to use their size and physicality to overwhelm opponents on the glass, and were also adept from long range. The Rockets lead the league in three-point percentage and have hit 41.2% of their attempts so far this season. Many observers believe the Rockets will have to make a trade for a starting point guard to replace VanVleet if they want to be viably satisfied, but if their success on offense continues, general manager Rafael Stone may decide his roster has had enough.
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