Milwaukee Bucks’ Damian Lillard took home MVP honors by scoring a team-high 39 points on 14 of 26 shooting from the field, 11 of 23 from behind the arc inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Indiana Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton added 32 points for the East. Minnesota Timberwolves’ Karl-Anthony Towns came off the bench and scored 50 in a loss for the West.
FEB 16 TEAM PAU ELIMINATED The Rockets’ representation during NBA All-Star weekend is over. Team Pau sustained a 41-25 defeat to Team Detlef during the 2024 Panini Rising Stars game. Jabari Smith Jr. finished with four points in the loss. Victor Wembanyama led Team Pau with 11 points and five turnovers.
Team Detlef had two players who scored in double figures. Mac McClung recorded a game-best 12 points, five rebounds and three assists. Alondes Williams added 11 points in the win.
FEB 15 ROCKETS 2K RATINGS UPDATE NBA2K24 has updated its latest ratings, and several Houston Rockets saw their grades rise.
While Jalen Green saw a one-point upgrade, it was rookie guards Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore who saw the biggest changes. Thompson improved from a 77 to an 80, while Whitmore jumped from 75 to 79.
FEB 13 KNICKS FILING PROTEST OVER ROCKETS LOSS The Houston Rockets beat the New York Knicks 105-103 on Monday night after a controversial foul was called on Knicks guard Jalen Brunson with 0.1 seconds left that sent Rockets guard Aaron Holiday to the free-throw line for the game-winning points.
Following the game, NBA official crew chief Ed Malloy admitted that the foul shouldn’t have been called on Brunson, meaning that the game should have gone into overtime instead of the Rockets winning in regulation. Because of that admission from Malloy, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski is reporting that the Knicks plan to file a protest with the NBA over Monday’s loss.
Although the Knicks have a legitimate gripe, an NBA team hasn’t had a successful protest since 2007 when the Atlanta Hawks defeated the Miami Heat after the Atlanta scorekeeper incorrectly disqualified Shaquille O’Neal with a sixth foul he didn’t have. The game’s final 51.9 seconds was replayed in 2008 after the successful protest, but the Hawks still won the game for a second time.
FEB 12 SENGUN STATUS VS. KNICKS After missing Saturday’s game against the Atlanta Hawks, Houston Rockets center Alperen Şengün is questionable ahead of tonight’s game against the New York Knicks with back pain.
The team has already ruled out Cam Whitmore (ankle), Tari Eason (leg) and Fred VanVleet (thigh).
The Rockets and Knicks are set to tip off at 7 p.m. CT.
FEB 10 ROCKETS SHORT-HANDED VS. HAWKS The Rockets have ruled out Alperen Şengün and Cam Whitmore for Saturday’s road match against the Atlanta Hawks.
Şengün will miss his first game of the season due to lower back pain. A right ankle injury will sideline Whitmore for the first time in his career. He sustained the injury amid Friday’s loss to the Toronto Raptors. Tari Eason and Fred VanVleet will remain out due to their respective injuries.
FEB 9 HAPPY B-DAY JALEN GREEN Third-year guard Jalen Green will spend his 22nd birthday trying to help the Rockets defeat the Toronto Raptors on Friday night. But before taking part in the interconference match, Green’s coaches and teammates took a moment to sing Happy Birthday to the rising star.
Green is coming off a 30-point performance in Houston’s previous game. He is currently averaging 18.4 points on 41.6 percent shooting from the field across 50 games.
FEB 5 VANVLEET OUT VS. PACERS The Rockets will be without their starting point guard Fred VanVleet during their interconference match against the Indiana Pacers Tuesday night. According to the injury report, VanVleet is out due to a left adductor strain. His return to the lineup is unknown.
VanVleet has appeared in 47 games, averaging 16.5 points on 40.9 percent shooting from the field and 8.2 assists. Rookie Amen Thompson will likely start in his absence.
FEB 2 IS TATE TRADE FROM ROCKETS INEVITABLE? The NBA Trade Deadline is four days away, and the Rockets could deal their longest tenure player. According to Kelly Iko of The Athletic, the Boston Celtics and Phoenix Suns have expressed trade interest in Rockets’ forward Jae’Sean Tate.
Tate signed with the Rockets as an undrafted free agent following the 2020 NBA Draft. He has since appeared in 224 games, averaging 9.8 points and 4.7 rebounds.
“Udoka’s preference is not only to find another big man who can step in when Şengün is on the bench, but one who could potentially play alongside him in certain lineups, akin to Williams and Al Horford during Udoka’s lone season in Boston.
“Houston can offer expiring contracts in Boban Marjanović — or even longer-term salary like center Landale — in addition to draft capital, such as second-round picks, to facilitate a deal. Alternatively, Jae’Sean Tate, who league sources said is attracting interest from the likes of Boston and Phoenix, is movable. — Iko
FEB 1 TARI EASON CLOSE TO RETURNING? Second-year forward Tari Eason could make his return to the Rockets lineup soon. Coach Ime Udoka announced Thursday afternoon that Eason has begun participating in 1-on-1 and 2-on-2 workouts and could return to play next week.
Eason will miss his 17th consecutive game Friday night due to an ongoing leg injury sustained during the Rockets’ pre-season opener on Oct. 10. When healthy, Eason has averaged 9.8 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.4 steals in 21.8 minutes per game this season.
JAN 29 JABARI SMITH TO RETURN: Second-year forward Jabari Smith Jr. will return to the lineup Monday night when the Rockets face off against the Los Angeles Lakers. Smith missed Houston’s previous four games due to a left ankle sprain. Smith is averaging 13.7 points on 47.6 percent shooting and 8.7 rebounds across 40 games.
JAN 23 FORMER ROCKETS GUARD REACHES PLEA DEAL: According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, former Rockets guard Kevin Porter Jr. has reached a plea agreement for reckless assault in the third-degree and harassment case involving former girlfriend and WNBA player Kysre Gondrezick. On the morning of Sept. 11, Porter was arrested on allegedly assaulting Gondrezick in a New York hotel.
Porter’s attorneys in a statement per ESPN, “The resolution will allow Mr. Porter to put this incident, which involved false felony allegations and false facts, behind him with no criminal record and move forward.”
JAN 20 ROCKETS TO TRADE FOR GAFFORD? With the NBA trade deadline less than a month away, the Rockets are one of several teams looking to be buyers in hopes of improving their team.
According to Matt Moore of Action Network, the Rockets are one of three teams interested in trading for Washington Wizards’ Daniel Gafford. Gafford is a 6-foot-10 big man averaging 10.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.1 blocks in 36 games played.
The potential acquisition of Gafford would give the Rockets a reliable big man to back up Alperen Şengün.
JAN 17 ROCKETS TO TRADE FOR BARNES? The NBA trade deadline is less than a month away, and the Houston Rockets will be buyers before Feb. 8. According to Marc Stein, the Rockets have an interest in landing Sacramento Kings’ forward Harrison Barnes to help with their subpar shooting.
Barnes has appeared in 40 games this season, averaging 10.8 points on 39.7 percent shooting from behind the arc. Houston is ranked in the bottom half of 3-point shooting after they shot 35.8 percent through 39 games.
“The Rockets are known to be in the market for additional size in support of rising star Alperen Şengün and possess two trade-friendly contracts: Victor Oladipo’s expiring $9.5 million deal and Jock Landale’s four-year, $32 million deal that is only guaranteed this season.
“League sources say the Rockets also have a level of interest in Sacramento’s Harrison Barnes in their quest to add shooting.” — per Marc Stein.
JAN 14 IME RETURNS TO BOSTON Amid the Houston Rockets blowout loss to the Celtics Saturday night, coach Ime Udoka returned to Boston following his jettison last season. During pre-game introductions, Udoka received a mixture of cheers and boos from fans inside TD Garden.
“We had a good year, not a great year. Didn’t get it done. But yeah I would say just seeing some people I haven’t seen in a while, I obviously talked to,” Udoka said. “Then once it’s done it’s done. A first time for everything. We’ve been through it and are ready to move on.”
JAN 8 JABARI SUPPORTS TEXANS Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr., a Georgia native, is usually an Atlanta Falcons fan. However, for the playoffs, Smith Jr. tweeted his support for his new adopted hometown team, the Houston Texans.
Back in October, Smith’s Falcons beat the Texans and the young forward celebrated on social media, much to the dismay of Houston fans. However, with the Falcons eliminated and the Texans in the playoffs, Smith is riding the wave.
The Texans play on Saturday afternoon against the Cleveland Browns.
JAN 7 BOBAN, HOLIDAY CONTRACTS GUARANTEED The Houston Rockets are keeping two of their veterans for the rest of the season.
According to The Athletic’s Kelly Iko, the Rockets are guaranteeing the contracts for Aaron Holiday and Boban Marjanovic for the remainder of the season.
The two had partially guaranteed contracts, but because they will remain on the roster beyond today, their deals are guaranteed for the remainder of the season.
JAN 6 EASON OUT AGAIN Despite coach Ime Udoka saying there was a “chance” for Tari Eason to return to the lineup, the second-year forward will miss his second consecutive game Saturday against the Bucks.
He is currently averaging 9.8 points and 7.0 rebounds across 22 games. Eason sustained the leg injury during the Rockets’ preseason opener against the Indiana Pacers.
JAN 5 EASON OUT AGAIN, BUT RETURN REVEALED Houston Rockets forward Tari Eason is still nursing a leg injury, and it will hold him out tonight against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
However, coach Ime Udoka revealed that the second-year pro will return to action against the Milwaukee Bucks tomorrow at Toyota Center.
JAN 3 EASON OUT VS. NETS While taking on the Brooklyn Nets Wednesday night, the Rockets will be without Tari Eason. The second-year forward has been ruled out due to an ongoing leg injury.
The injury has forced Eason to miss nine games so far this season. He is currently averaging 9.8 points and 7.0 rebounds across 22 games. Eason sustained the leg injury during the Rockets’ preseason opener against the Indiana Pacers.
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