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Jabari Smith Jabari Smith Jr. scores 26 points with four threes Tue, Oct 14, 2025, 4:42 PM Jabari Smith Jr. led the Rockets with 26 points (7-of-16 FGs), five rebounds, one assist, one steal, one block and four three-pointers in a 130-128 win over the Pelicans on Tuesday. Analysis: Smith has progressively gotten better throughout this preseason, and this was his best performance yet. He won't be scoring at this rate during the regular season often, but it was encouraging to see him have a night like this. He'll be an important piece on both ends of the floor for Houston this season and is locked in as a starter, but he isn't a great fantasy option.
Steven Adams Steven Adams grabs nine rebounds in start Tue, Oct 14, 2025, 4:38 PM Steven Adams started on Tuesday and contributed two points (1-of-4 FGs), nine rebounds, one assist, one steal and one block against the Pelicans. Analysis: Houston's starting unit will likely be matchup dependent this season, and they experimented with their two-big lineup in this one. When they utilize it, Adams will be a nice source of rebounds, but that's about it. Sengun was still able to grab 12 boards while playing alongside Adams, which was encouraging for his value.
Amen Thompson Amen Thompson hits two triples, scores 21 points Tue, Oct 14, 2025, 4:35 PM Amen Thompson finished with 21 points (5-of-8 FGs, 9-of-9 FTs), five rebounds, three assists and two three-pointers against the Pelicans on Tuesday. Analysis: Who said Thompson can't shoot? Not only was he perfect from the free throw line, but he also knocked down two triples in this game. Thompson will be a fantasy beast this season, but managers shouldn't expect him to shoot as well as he did in this game. However, if it happens from time to time, it'll be a nice bonus.
Steven Adams HOU starting Amen, KD, Jabari, Sengun, Adams Tue, Oct 14, 2025, 1:08 PM Will Guillory Amen Thompson, Kevin Durant, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun and Steven Adams will start against the Pelicans on Tuesday. Analysis: Coach Ime Udoka is still experimenting with starting lineups, and he'll roll out a bigger one for this game, which pushes Reed Sheppard to the bench. It's still unclear what lineup he'll use on opening night, and it seems likely that it will be matchup dependent throughout the year.
Alperen Sengun Alperen ?engÃ¼n dishes out 13 assists vs. Utah Wed, Oct 8, 2025, 4:49 PM Alperen ?engÃ¼n amassed 13 points (5-of-8 FGs, 3-of-3 FTs), five rebounds, 13 assists and four steals in Wednesday's win over the Jazz. Analysis: Fred VanVleet's torn ACL has placed the spotlight squarely on second-year guard Reed Sheppard during the preseason, but he isn't the only capable playmaker at head coach Ime Udoka's disposal. ?engÃ¼n and Amen Thompson (19/7/6/2/1 with one three-pointer) are also positive assets, with the latter finishing Wednesday's victory with a points/assists double-double. ?engÃ¼n has averaged 2.6 turnovers per game over the last three seasons, but can he maintain that with increased playmaking responsibilities? If so, the Rockets center can be a fantasy stud in 2025-26.
Jabari Smith Jabari Smith Jr. hits three triples, scores 18 Wed, Oct 8, 2025, 4:48 PM Jabari Smith Jr. accounted for 18 points (7-of-11 FGs, 1-of-1 FTs), three rebounds, one block and three three-pointers in Wednesday's win over the Jazz. Analysis: Smith remained in the starting lineup on Wednesday, with Tari Eason (8/3/3 with one three-pointer in 19 minutes) dropped to the bench to make room for Kevin Durant. Of course, this does not mean Rockets head coach Ime Udoka has finalized his starting lineup, but Smith's perimeter shooting ability may give him the edge. The fourth-year forward shot 3-of-5 from beyond the arc against the Jazz, and that floor-spacing ability will be critical since neither Amen Thompson nor Alperen ?engÃ¼n offers much value as a perimeter shooter.
Kevin Durant Durant scores 20 in unofficial Rockets debut Wed, Oct 8, 2025, 4:48 PM Kevin Durant shot 7-of-10 from the field and 5-of-5 from the foul line in Wednesday's win over the Jazz, scoring 20 points with two rebounds, one assist, one steal and one three-pointer. Analysis: Durant did not show off the full repertoire on Wednesday, but he did show flashes of why many believe he'll raise Houston's ceiling this season. After shooting 1-of-4 from the field in the first quarter, Durant was 6-of-6 in the second and third quarters before ending his night after 23 minutes of action. Even with the point guard position being a question mark due to Fred VanVleet's torn ACL, Durant's offensive ability will make a difference for the Rockets. The days of being a first-round pick in fantasy leagues may be in the rearview mirror, but KD should be off the board in the second round in standard leagues.
Kevin Durant HOU starts Sheppard, Amen, Durant, Smith, ?engÃ¼n Wed, Oct 8, 2025, 1:50 PM Houston Rockets Reed Sheppard, Amen Thompson, Kevin Durant, Jabari Smith Jr. and Alperen ?engÃ¼n will start Wednesday's game against the Jazz. Analysis: Durant, who did not play in Monday's win over the Hawks, will make his Rockets preseason debut Wednesday night, bumping Tari Eason to the bench. Of course, the future Hall of Fame forward will be the focus of many, but his credentials are well-known by now. Sheppard remains the most essential Rocket to watch this preseason, as he looks to lock down a starting role with Fred VanVleet (knee) sidelined.
Kevin Durant Kevin Durant to debut Wednesday vs. Jazz Tue, Oct 7, 2025, 9:25 AM Danielle Lerner Rockets beat reporter Danielle Lerner reports that Kevin Durant will make his Rockets debut on Wednesday against the Jazz. Analysis: Durant sat out Monday's preseason opener against the Hawks, but he'll take the court for the first time in a Houston uniform on Wednesday against Utah. The future Hall-of-Famer is expected to play a major role for his new team in the 2025-26 season as the Rockets pursue a championship.
Alperen Sengun Alperen ?engÃ¼n looks sharp, drops 19/5/6/0/2 line Mon, Oct 6, 2025, 4:30 PM Alperen ?engÃ¼n tallied 19 points (5-of-7 FGs, 7-of-7 FTs), five rebounds, six assists, two blocks and two three-pointers in Monday's win over the Hawks. Analysis: With Kevin Durant sitting out Monday's preseason opener, ?engÃ¼n was left to lead the way offensively for Houston's starting unit. He was excellent as a scorer and playmaker for others, with the latter being especially important since the Rockets are unlikely to have Fred VanVleet (knee) this season. ?engÃ¼n can make plays for himself or his teammates, even operating on the perimeter sometimes. Even if Houston decides to start a more traditional point guard to account for Fred VanVleet's absence, ?engÃ¼n will boast a raised fantasy ceiling due to the increased need for his playmaking ability.
Tari Eason Tari Eason records 10/6/2 line in 11 minutes Mon, Oct 6, 2025, 4:29 PM Tari Eason accounted for 10 points (5-of-8 FGs), six rebounds and two assists in Monday's win over the Hawks. Analysis: Eason started Monday's preseason opener but did not play much, logging 11 minutes. However, fantasy managers likely know he can offer value in limited minutes. Eason shared the team lead in rebounds with Jabari Smith Jr. (9/6/1 with two three-pointers) while recording a few assists. Rockets head coach Ime Udoka said last week that the team may look to avoid playing Eason in both games of back-to-backs, at least early in the season. After playing 82 games as a rookie, a lingering left leg injury limited the forward to 79 games combined in 2023-24 and 2024-25. If Eason can stay reasonably healthy, he'll be worth rostering in category leagues.
Dorian Finney-Smith Finney-Smith likely to miss start of season Wed, Oct 1, 2025, 10:48 AM RocketsWire Dorian Finney-Smith (ankle) is expected to miss the beginning of the regular season after undergoing offseason ankle surgery. Analysis: Finney-Smith, who agreed to a four-year deal worth $53 million in July, underwent surgery on his ankle in early June. When asked about the veteran forward's status for the upcoming season, Rockets head coach Ime Udoka said DFS probably would not be available when the team opens the regular season on October 21. Finney-Smith has only partially participated in early practices, limited to non-contact activity. On Monday, he said that he's been running and should be back âsoon.â However, there's no timeline on a return to action for Finney-Smith, who was believed to be in contention for a place in the starting lineup. With Fred VanVleet (knee) possibly out for the entire season, Houston has two starting spots to fill during training camp.
Tari Eason Rockets may sit Eason, Adams for back-to-backs Wed, Oct 1, 2025, 10:38 AM Danielle Lerner Rockets head coach Ime Udoka said Wednesday that the team may avoid playing Tari Eason (leg) and Steven Adams (knee) in both games of back-to-backs early in the season. Analysis: Eason and Adams have suffered lower-body injuries in recent seasons, with the former dealing with a leg issue and the latter undergoing knee surgery. Potentially resting them for part of back-to-backs is certainly understandable, especially with Houston's depth in the frontcourt. However, with the Rockets' first back-to-back not until December 5-6, the team will have time to assess the health of Eason and Adams before making a final decision. Adams' availability won't significantly impact fantasy basketball, as Alperen ?engÃ¼n will play most of the minutes at center, and Houston added Clint Capela in free agency. However, Eason has top-100 fantasy potential, especially in points-punt team builds. He's expected to be in the running for a place in the Rockets' starting lineup, along with Jabari Smith Jr.
Fred VanVleet Shams: Fred VanVleet diagnosed with torn ACL Mon, Sep 22, 2025, 10:05 AM Shams Charania ESPN's Shams Charania reports Fred VanVleet (knee) suffered a torn ACL. Analysis: With the offseason acquisition of Kevin Durant, there has been plenty of optimism surrounding the Houston Rockets. Their hopes of winning the loaded Western Conference took a significant hit with Monday's news regarding VanVleet. While the veteran point guard shot just 37.8 percent from the field, the lowest mark for VanVleet since his rookie season, he remained a key figure for a team that finished with the second-best record in the West. Also, the low field goal percentage did not prevent VanVleet from offering close to top-50 value in fantasy basketball. His absence means Houston will need second-year guard Reed Sheppard to hit the ground running, with Aaron Holiday providing additional depth at the point. Sheppard is well worth the risk in standard leagues, while Holiday is someone to target in deeper formats. However, Amen Thompson's fantasy value may receive the most significant boost, especially after he filled in well as Houston's primary playmaker when VanVleet missed time last season.
Alperen Sengun ?engÃ¼n finishes EuroBasket with 28/3/3/0/3 line Sun, Sep 14, 2025, 10:57 AM Alperen ?engÃ¼n amassed 28 points (11-of-22 FGs, 5-of-6 FTs), three rebounds, three assists, three blocks and one three-pointer in Sunday's EuroBasket loss to Germany. Analysis: In a matchup of the two nations to go undefeated in this summer's FIBA EuroBasket competition, TÃ¼rkiye fell by an 88-83 final score. While the ending was a disappointment for ?engÃ¼n, he had an outstanding tournament overall. In nine games, the Rockets center averaged 21.6 points, 10.1 rebounds, 6.6 assists, 1.0 steals, 1.1 blocks and 0.8 three-pointers, shooting nearly 60 percent from the field and 75 percent from the foul line. Germany kept ?engÃ¼n off the boards in Sunday's final, with the three rebounds being the fewest he recorded in a game this event. He'll look to use this summer as a springboard into 2025-26, with ?engÃ¼n boasting top-50 fantasy potential at a minimum.
Jabari Smith Udoka: One starting lineup spot up for grabs Sun, Sep 14, 2025, 6:04 AM Rockets Wire Rockets coach Ime Udoka said at a recent event that there is an opening in the Rockets' starting lineup and he has yet to decide who will fill it. Analysis: The Rockets, who finished the 2024-25 regular season with the second-best record in the Western Conference, have four starters locked into their spots ahead of training camp. Fred VanVleet, Amen Thompson, Kevin Durant and Alperen ?engÃ¼n will start, but who joins them? While the assumption of many has been that Jabari Smith Jr. will regain that role, Udoka has not made a decision. âIt's to be determined. I do think Jabari showed tremendous growth this offseason, and obviously he started the majority of his time here, before the injury,â Udoka told Rockets Wire's Ben DuBose. âBut we'll take a look at everything. We feel we have incredible depth this year and a lot of versatility, so we could go a number of different ways, as far as that. I think some of that will be proven in training camp.â As a starter last season, Smith averaged 11.8 points and 6.7 rebounds per game, but he offered higher averages (13.2 points, 7.7 rebounds) coming off the bench. And the Rockets have options to fill the fifth starting spot. Dorian Finney-Smith and Tari Eason are two other possibilities, and Houston had some success during the first round of the playoffs when playing Steven Adams alongside ?engÃ¼n.
Alperen Sengun ?engÃ¼n records 15/12/6/2/1 line in rout of Greece Fri, Sep 12, 2025, 9:53 AM Alperen ?engÃ¼n tallied 15 points (5-of-15 FGs, 5-of-8 FTs), 12 rebounds, six assists, two steals and one blocked shot in Friday's EuroBasket semifinal win over Greece. Analysis: A game many expected to be a thriller turned out to be a laugher, as TÃ¼rkiye rolled into Sunday's final by a 94-68 final score. While ?engÃ¼n did more of his usual handiwork against the Greeks, recording another double-double, his âsupporting castâ made the difference. Ercan Osmani came out hot and never cooled down, finishing with 28 points, six rebounds, two assists, two steals, one block and six three-pointers, as he routinely made Greece pay for devoting too much defensive attention to ?engÃ¼n. Former NBA wing Cedi Osman (17/3/3/2 with two three-pointers) and former University of Miami point guard Shane Larkin (14/2/5 with one three-pointer) also scored in double figures for TÃ¼rkiye, which is a win over Germany away from the country's first-ever EuroBasket title.
Alperen Sengun Alperen Sengun messes around with a triple-double Tue, Sep 9, 2025, 9:34 AM Alperen Sengun finished Tuesday's 91-77 win over Poland with 19 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists and three steals across 31 minutes. Analysis: The big man came away with another strong performance in Eurobasket as Turkey came away victorious to advance to the semifinals. Sengun has operated as a point center throughout his NBA career, and his elite passing skills were on full display in Tuesday's convincing win. Turkey will play the winner of Lithuania-Greece on Friday with a championship appearance on the line.
Alperen Sengun Sengun tallies monster 24/16/6 line vs. Sweden Sat, Sep 6, 2025, 4:58 AM Alperen Sengun led Turkey with 24 points (8-of-16 FGs), 16 rebounds, six assists and two blocks in an 85-79 win over Sweden on Saturday. Analysis: Sengun was dominant in the Group Play games, and that carried over to the Round of 16. This was his second straight double-double and his fifth straight 20-point game. With the win, they'll take on the winner of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Poland in the next round of the tournament.
Alperen Sengun Alperen ?engÃ¼n shines in win over Serbia Wed, Sep 3, 2025, 10:26 AM Alperen ?engÃ¼n accounted for 28 points (10-of-17 FGs, 4-of-5 FTs), 13 rebounds, eight assists, one steal and four three-pointers in Wednesday's win over Serbia. Analysis: While TÃ¼rkiye and Serbia already clinched places in the Round of 16 at EuroBasket, the top spot in Group A was on the line Wednesday afternoon. ?engÃ¼n and company won a 95-90 thriller, with the Rockets center outperforming three-time NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Joki?. Not only did he record his second double-double of this summer's EuroBasket, but ?engÃ¼n dished out eight assists. He's recorded at least seven helpers in three of TÃ¼rkiye's five games thus far, and his play is why they can win the event.