Luke Mauro Articles - Page 2

The Houston Rockets coughed up a 25-point lead in their 133-128 overtime loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday. “That’s not who we are, and I hate that it happened like this,” Kevin Durant said after the game. Durant is right in one respect; the Rockets have not been a team that routinely surrenders […]

Steve Nash and LeBron James marveled at the Houston Rockets’ elite offensive rebounding ability on their latest “Mind the Game” podcast, a strength that has helped redefine their identity. “Steven Adams is getting over one in four offensive rebounds when he is on the court,” Nash explained. “Our highest values are lay-ups, free throws, then […]

At 15-6, the Houston Rockets are off to their best start in eight seasons. But as super as it has been, their kryptonite has emerged: navigating the second night of a back-to-back without Steven Adams. Houston became the final team in the NBA to play a back-to-back, doing so for the first time on Dec. […]

When the Houston Rockets traded for Kevin Durant, most of the discussion centered around moving on from former No. 2 pick Jalen Green. But as the Phoenix Suns return to Houston for the first time since that deal, it’s clear that the bigger loss for Houston wasn’t Green: it was Dillon Brooks. Brooks is averaging […]

The Houston Rockets’ hot start featured a stretch in which they played the fewest games in the league and none on back-to-back days. That changed this week, as the calendar flipped to December, with the Rockets’ first back-to-back test exposing several concerns moving forward. Rockets struggle without Steven Adams in back-to-back The Rockets have built […]

Many have called Kevin Durant the most gifted scorer in NBA history. But the question now is: how much longer can he keep it going? Now 37 years old, Durant is quietly posting some of the worst offensive numbers of his career, which has been overshadowed by the Rockets’ early success. Houston currently sits at […]

Despite owning the fifth-best record in the NBA, the Houston Rockets still haven’t proven much. Houston brought in Kevin Durant this offseason to elevate the franchise to true championship-contender status. And while the early returns look strong on paper, an 11-4 record and the No. 2 offensive rating, there are still reasons for concern. Stats […]

The Houston Rockets will be without Kevin Durant for at least the next two games due to a family matter. While losing your star is never ideal, it now opens a window for Reed Sheppard to step into a bigger role. Sheppard, coming off the best game of his young career, is expected to make […]

It’s a week of reunions at the Toyota Center for the Houston Rockets. The headline on Wednesday was the return of former first-round pick Cam Whitmore. But the more meaningful reunion arrives Friday night, when Tiago Splitter returns to Houston. Splitter, who played in the NBA from 2010-17, is now the interim head coach for […]

The Houston Rockets are 7-3 for the first time since the 2019-2020 season. They’re winning by an average margin of 11 points – their largest margin since the 1994 championship team. But it’s been even longer since the Rockets, or any other NBA team, has dominated the glass like this. Houston’s plus-12.2 rebounding margin per […]

The Houston Rockets took care of business Wednesday night against the worst team in the league, cruising past the 1-11 Washington Wizards, 135-112. Houston’s 81 first-half points were the third-most in franchise history. While the game was never in doubt, the biggest storyline was the return of former Rocket Cam Whitmore. Whitmore was Houston’s first-round […]

The past two games served as a major measuring stick for the Houston Rockets. And while they didn’t ace every test, there were plenty of positives to take away. The turnovers were ugly, the rebounding was mixed, but Kevin Durant leading a come-from-behind victory in Milwaukee was a thing of beauty. Equally impressive was the […]

Under head coach Ime Udoka, the Houston Rockets built their identity on grit and defense. However, this season, that formula has flipped. While Houston’s offense has surged, its once-reliable defense has sprung leaks, largely due to a heavy reliance on zone. Houston is currently ranked No. 2 in offensive rating, just a hair behind the […]

The past two weeks have been kind to the Houston Rockets, as they have won five straight while scoring 110+ points in each game – working their way to No. 1 in offensive rating in the process. But now, the real work begins, as the Rockets will be challenged this weekend for the first time […]

When the Houston Rockets needed a spark a week into the season, it came from Josh Okogie. When they needed another boost during Wednesday’s win over the Memphis Grizzlies, it came from him again. Okogie, previously viewed as a Kevin Durant tag-along to round out the roster, has quickly become one of the Rockets’ most […]

It’s rumored that Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant is on the trading block after the recent drama in Tennessee. Sam Amick of The Athletic reported Wednesday that the Houston Rockets are “unlikely to pursue,” according to team sources, which would be the right move for Houston. Ja Morant’s decline highlights risk Morant is currently averaging […]

On a night when Kevin Durant couldn’t buy a basket, and Jabari Smith Jr. was in street clothes, the Houston Rockets proved something far more valuable than a single win – they proved their depth. Durant was brought in to be the Rockets’ leader and closer of the team. But a victory over the Mavericks […]

The Houston Rockets are scoring like never before. Through the first two weeks of the season, Houston owns the No. 1 offensive rating in both the NBA and franchise history – a stark contrast to the defense-first Rockets of a year ago. Of course, the addition of Kevin Durant has played a vital role. This […]

The Houston Rockets’ turnaround under head coach Ime Udoka was built on defense. But now, with Kevin Durant in the mix, and legitimate championship odds, Houston is suffering a bit of an identity crisis. The Rockets currently rank No. 1 in offensive rating (127.3), a mark that would shatter the franchise record set in 2019 […]

The Houston Rockets spent much of the past nine months leaning into their double-big lineup, only to make history once they went in a different direction. Houston opened the season 0-2 with Steven Adams in the starting lineup, fielding the tallest starting five in NBA history. Then head coach Ime Udoka swapped out Adams for […]

In the Wedding Singer, when Adam Sandler’s character melts down, it’s Jon Lovitz who reaps all the benefits. For the Houston Rockets, when Kevin Durant is added to the mix, it’s Jabari Smith Jr. who gets to do the same. Durant’s arrival in Houston hasn’t just changed the Rockets’ offense (currently ranked No. 1 in […]

For a team with championship aspirations, losing your veteran point guard right before the season starts feels like a nightmare. So much so, that the injury to Fred VanVleet shaved three victories off the Houston Rockets’ projected win total in Vegas. VanVleet was the Rockets’ most valuable postseason performer last year, and the most experienced […]

The Brooklyn Nets were just what the doctor ordered for the Houston Rockets, as the Rockets picked up their much-needed first win of the season in Monday’s home opener, 137-109. The Rockets were 15.5-point favorites against an already 0-4 Brooklyn team that has surrendered the most points through four games in franchise history. This was […]