The Heat seem to be the favorite to land Russell Westbrook with the Thunder guard now on the trade block, but the Rockets aren't giving up just yet.
Jordan Greer
Houston has been ambitious in its pursuit of top talent and might be able to acquire Westbrook without moving Chris Paul.
Ameer Tyree
The Los Angeles Clippers reportedly will acquire Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. We look at the NBA teams with a "big two."
Tom Webber
Houston’s top target this summer was reportedly Butler. But, it missed out on the wing as the Heat landed him in a sign-and-trade.
E.Jay Zarett
The Rockets are still hoping to make a few moves this offseason.
"The goal was to come back to Houston all along," Rivers told ESPN. "I think we have the team to beat.”
Sacramento is unwilling to trade a first-round pick to Houston in exchange for Capela, according to a report from NBC Sports Bay Area.
McGee has spent time with six different teams since he was selected 18th overall by the Wizards in the 2008 NBA Draft.
Chelsea Howard
Houston has found a willing trade partner for big man Clint Capela, according to a report from the New York Times.
The Rockets are reportedly interested in acquiring Jimmy Butler from the 76ers in a sign-and-trade and Philly may be open to it.
Thomas Lott
Butler will be a free agent this summer, but the Rockets do not have the salary cap space to sign him, according to ESPN.
If the Rockets and Chris Paul are secretly pushing for a deal to get done, they should stop and re-evaluate the situation.
James Harden didn't win his second NBA MVP award Monday but he still joined an exclusive group.
“I never asked for a trade,” Paul said, via the Houston Chronicle. “I never demanded a trade."
"I know nothing about any of that. I don't know where that's coming from," Rivers said during an interview with TMZ.
The Fox Sports star really fell for a SportsTalkBarry tweet.
Jordan Heck
Capela averaged 16.6 points and 12.7 rebounds per game for the Rockets last season.
The two star players' relationship is reportedly "unsalvageable."
A reported "unsettling vibe" on the Rockets comes from many sources, including the two big stars' desire to win an NBA title, Morey said.
Bob Hille
Here's everything you'll need to know about watching the 2019 NBA playoffs, including series-by-series TV schedules.
Houston coach has one season remaining on his existing deal and says he wants to coach three more seasons.
Arthur Weinstein
"From a player's perspective, everybody's dream is to play for Mike," Rivers said. "Because there's no wrong shot."
Trading Chris Paul won’t bring back the kind of pieces that keep the Rockets relevant. It will only (possibly) free up enough space to give Houston flexibility.
Sean Deveney
D’Antoni has taken Houston to a new level the past three years, but the team has fallen to the Warriors in the playoffs in two straight.
Despite winning 118 games the past two regular seasons, the Rockets have lost in the conference final and semifinal to the Warriors.
Follow Sporting News' hub for the 2019 NBA playoffs, including live updates, scores and a full TV schedule for every playoff game, every night.
Here's everything you'll need to know about watching the 2019 Eastern and Western Conference finals, including series-by-series TV schedules and live-streaming information for every game.
The incident began after Houston’s Game 6 loss to Golden State and continued in the locker room, according to The Athletic.
The Rockets' 2.8M Twitter followers were present and accounted for by Friday, four days after the account was suspended and lost 1M.
"I want to be a part of a championship here," D'Antoni told ESPN on Sunday.
Kirstie Chiappelli
Before the Warriors ousted the Rockets out of the playoffs in Game 6 Friday, Paul ousted Curry out of his own shooting practice.
Gabrielle McMillen
James Harden will still make the Rockets worth watching next season, but the possibility of Houston competing for a title might have been wiped out for good with another disappointing loss to the Warriors.
After a rough start to Game 6, Warriors star Stephen Curry bounced back with 33 second-half points to push Golden State past the Rockets and into the Western Conference finals.
Stephen Curry got his revenge not only during the game, but after, yelling, "Kick me off the court again, boy!"
Despite another playoff loss to the Warriors, Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta is adamant Houston will win NBA championships with James Harden.
Liam Blackburn
The Mother of Dragons was on hand to watch Game 6 of the Western Conference semis between Houston and Golden State. The Rockets didn't miss it, either.
Zac Al-Khateeb
Sporting News tracked live scoring updates and highlights from Game 6 between the Warriors and Rockets.
Thomas Schlarp
The Warriors overcame the Rockets without Kevin Durant on Friday, but Klay Thompson is eager to see him return for the rest of the playoffs.
LeBron James and Dwyane Wade tweeted their appreciation of Stephen Curry, who was grateful for their support after knocking off Rockets.
Harry West
Both players expressed confidence in taking on a bigger role, but also acknowledging the playoffs will be more challenging.
For a period of time during the regular season, the real Draymond Green was absent. But the Warriors forward is back to his trash-talking, opponent-baiting self, and that's exactly what his team needs.
Joe Morgan
The Warriors enter the Western Conference Semifinals looking to close out the series against the Rockets.
Blair Berry
There is conflicting speculation whether he'll be able to return for the Western Conference finals if the Warriors advance.
The Rockets may have another issue to bring up against the refs in their series vs. the Warriors.
The Golden State coach used the Liverpool's manager salty language to praise his players' effort.
Tom Gatto
Rockets-Warriors Game 5 descended into chaos at times, but Golden State prevailed to move one win away from the Western Conference finals. Kevin Durant faces an anxious wait after leaving the game with a right calf strain.
Blake Birt
The Celtics didn't put up much of a fight after winning Game 1.
If Warriors star Stephen Curry can come close to his usual shooting numbers against the Rockets, Golden State should have no trouble advancing to the Western Conference finals.
Bill Bender
The Rockets did just enough to beat the Warriors in Game 4 of their Western Conference semifinal series, but the contest didn't end without some controversy. And to no one's surprise, Rockets guard Chris Paul was right in the middle of it.
"P.J. Tucker this ain’t it bro." Several people on the internet criticized P.J. Tucker for a video of him interacting with a member of the Rockets' bench staff.
Iguodala injured his knee late in Golden State’s Game 4 loss when Houston guard Chris Paul made contact with his leg.
James Harden led the Rockets to a win over Golden State and Warriors coach Steve Kerr praised the star.
Dejan Kalinic
Houston's 112-108 victory over Golden State on Monday was its second straight win at the Toyota Center in the series.
“Everybody dreams about scoring 30, getting the game-winner. No, no, no, not me," Tucker told The Undefeated.
Adam Sandler returned to "Saturday Night Live" for the first time in nearly 25 years and managed to sneak in some thoughts about James Harden's eye injury and Kevin Durant's rumored move to the Knicks.
Curry has made just eight of his 32 3-point attempts in the first three games of Golden State’s second-round series against the Rockets.
Stephen Curry's missed dunk in the final minute wasn't all he did wrong Saturday.
A badly bloodshot eye could not stop James Harden as the Rockets defeated the Warriors in overtime Saturday in Game 3.
Here are three takeaways from the game that put the Rockets back on track to compete.
The Rockets topped the Warriors 126-121 in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals, leaving Golden State with a 2-1 lead.
Somehow Draymond Green has now hit James Harden in the eye inadvertently in back-to-back games.
Officials will answer fans' questions live during Game 4 of the Raptors-76ers and Bucks-Celtics series.
Everyone loves when Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley go at each other during the "NBA on TNT" postgame show — especially Ernie Johnson.
Gersson Rosas is in his fifth season as the Rockets executive vice president of basketball operations.
Durant, who averaged 26 points per game in the regular season, is averaging 34.2 ppg in eight playoff games thus far.
"...It's kind of embarrassing for the game of basketball, how much has been talked about, about fouls and officiating," Green said.
The Rockets trail the Warriors, 2-0, James Harden hopes his eye injury sustained Tuesday improves in time for Game 3.
A dislocated finger could not stop Stephen Curry in Game 2 against the Rockets and the Warriors' Klay Thompson praised his teammate's grit.
The Bucks topped the Celtics 123-102 in Game 2 behind the efforts of an energized Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni told the TNT broadcast that Harden was “bleeding from the eye” when he left the floor.
"(Harden) has his style of play and it might not be what everybody likes to see, but it's been effective," Durant told reporters Tuesday.
The landing zones of shooters and flopping tactics of superstars have quickly overshadowed what should be a fantastic series between the Rockets and Warriors — and that's a shame.
The NBA's last two-minute report noted that there was no foul on Harden's 3-point attempt with 10 seconds left in the game.
In a not-so-subtle jab at James Harden, Warriors coach Steve Kerr pretended to flop on a reporter Monday.
Durant scored 35 points in the Warriors’ 104-100 win over the Rockets on Sunday in Game 1 of their second-round series.
The Rockets follow Golden State at 6/1 while the Bucks and Raptors both check in at 7/1.
D'Antoni and the Rockets were not happy with officials not calling fouls on Warriors players defending 3-point attempts.
Durant, who averaged 35 points in the Warriors' first-round series against the Clippers, scored 35 against the Rockets on Sunday.
Both Curry and Thompson have been dealing with ankle issues, which they suffered in Game 6 of Golden State's opening-round series.
Alexis Mansanarez
Everything you need to know about the Rockets and Warriors before their conference semifinal series in the 2019 NBA playoffs.
Last season, Houston fell to Golden State in the Western Conference finals. But Harden thinks the outcome will be different this year.
"I think that if you want to be a champion, you’ve got to beat the champion," Capela said. "At some point, you’ve got to do that.”
James Harden led Houston with 26 points and made a key defensive play down the stretch.
Capela scored four points on just 1-of-6 shooting in Houston’s Game 4 loss in Utah on Monday.
Donovan Mitchell was the hero of Game 4 in the Jazz-Rockets series. The day before, he extended a helping hand to a woman at the scene of a car wreck.
Derrick Favors caused the Rockets problems in Game 4 and James Harden vowed his team would improve.
Ben Spratt
The Jazz have not yet given up hope of rescuing their playoff series against the Rockets, insists Donovan Mitchell.
The Bucks topped the Pistons 127-104 in Detroit to complete a first-round sweep, giving them their first playoff series win since 2000-01.
"Oh, for real? I didn't know that!" Harden replied when informed by ESPN of his early 0 of 15 shooting struggles to begin Saturday's game.
Boston came away with a 99-91 win over Indiana on Wednesday at the TD Garden to go up 2-0 in their first-round series.
James Harden had to contend with Ricky Rubio's peculiar approach to guarding on Sunday, with the Jazz trying to stop his step-backs.
Let the arguments commence. Sporting News' Sean Deveney reveals his NBA awards picks for MVP, Coach of the Year, Rookie of the Year and more.
Sporting News' Sean Deveney breaks down each Western Conference first-round series and offers his playoff picks.
The Warriors are favored to win it all again while the No. 2 team in the conference has a very tough first-round matchup.
Everything you need to know about the Rockets and Jazz before their first-round series in the 2019 NBA playoffs.
Here’s a breakdown of all the first-round West series, by the numbers.
Sneakers play a factor because the original 1996 film was inspired by the "Hare Jordan" Nike commercial.
Dwyane Wade and Dirk Nowitzki each played their last home games, as both have plans to retire after the season.
He is expected to sit out Tuesday's regular-season finale against the Thunder after missing two games with an intestinal virus.
Clippers color commentator Don MacLean believes what Rockets star James Harden has done this season "isn't basketball." Uh, what?
The Rockets are playing host to the Nuggets on Thursday. Here's everything you need to know about the time, channel and how to live stream.
MVP candidates James Harden and Giannis Antetokounmpo make a final push for the award as the regular season nears its finish.
How should we separate Giannis Antetokounmpo, James Harden and Paul George within the MVP debate? That's what we're here to figure out.
The Golden State big man has been criticized in recent weeks, but he led the Warriors to an important victory over Houston.
Dan Bernstein
The expertise of Rockets stars James Harden and Chris Paul in both isolations and pick-and-rolls could force the Warriors to sit DeMarcus Cousins for extended stretches should the two West contenders meet in the NBA playoffs.
Sporting News asked a Western Conference coach to break down the Rockets and explain why they’re a real threat to the Warriors. Here’s what we got.
The Raptors are playing host to the Rockets on Tuesday night. Here's everything you need to know in order to watch the game.
James Harden and Chris Paul fouled out as Houston fell apart late in Los Angeles. Afterward, both Houston stars had harsh words for one of the game officials.
Los Angeles and Houston face off hoping to jumpstart post-All-Star break runs with a win at Staples Center.
We set out to look at all 24 players who will be suiting up for the 2019 NBA All-Star Game and rank them according to their All-Star credentials.
On Monday, James Harden’s run of dominance will meet the 76ers and four-time All-Defensive team honoree Jimmy Butler.
We've hit the midseason point in the NBA, so it's time to check on how SN's award ballot is shaping up.
Dirk Nowitzki explained why his defensive mistake allowed Tracy McGrady to unleash a famous dunk on Shawn Bradley back in 2005.
The Rockets are in need of wings around James Harden. These guys might be available as trade season heats up.
The refs missed a blatant out of bounds call on Kevin Durant, and the Rockets were rightfully upset.
The Rockets superstar has been on fire as of late. Here are a few of the craziest stats from the jaw-dropping numbers he's been piling up.
Drew Nantais
Here's when, where and how to watch the Rockets take on the Warriors.
Alyssa Sconzo
The Boston Celtics head to Houston to take on the Rockets on Thursday. Here's when, where and how to watch this matchup.
Shanna McCarriston
The NBA's annual Christmas Day tradition continues with a full slate of five games, including a primetime Western Conference matchup between the Lakers and Warriors.
Let’s have a look at how the Jazz and Rockets got to this point, and which team is better arranged to imagine that things might yet change in the coming weeks.
When, where and how to watch the Rockets take on the Lakers.
Get your FanDuel cash lineup ready for Monday's NBA DFS contests with injury updates and key sleepers to target tonight.
The late 41st U.S. president took a keen interest in the Astros and Texas A&M.
Carmelo Anthony can’t keep trying to find a contender to which he can contribute. That time has passed. Now, he just must find a way to exit with some grace and dignity.
Get your cash lineup ready for Thursday's NBA DFS contests with FanDuel sleepers and busts picks.
When, where and how to watch Warriors vs. Rockets.
Despite Jimmy Butler's antics and the dysfunction surrounding the organization, the Timberwolves still had multiple offers for Butler on the table before ultimately finalizing a deal with the 76ers.
Should the Rockets mortgage the future and do whatever it takes to acquire Jimmy Butler? Or is the asking price too high?
When, where and how to watch Rockets vs. Thunder.
The suspensions for Brandon Ingram, Rajon Rondo and Chris Paul are truly surprising considering everything that took place between the Rockets and Lakers.
New video of the Rockets-Lakers brawl appears to show Lakers guard Rajon Rondo spitting in the face of Rockets star Chris Paul.
The Western Conference squads throw down in LeBron James' first home game as a Laker.
Mark your calendars for LeBron James' most highly anticipated games of the 2018-2019 season.
Jacob Janower
As we head into the beginning of the 2018-19 NBA season, we're rolling out our Top 100 players. Here's how it looks from 1-19.
The Western Conference is as strong as it has ever been with 12 of the 15 All-NBA selections set to play out West this season. Here's how we see the West shaking out.
The Rockets and Suns agreed to a trade that could only be initially summed up as... wait, what happened? Let's break down what exactly this deal means for both sides.
The Rockets kept their core of James Harden, Chris Paul and Clint Capela in place this offseason, but Houston knows beating the Warriors doesn't come down to talent alone.
Chris Stone
The Lakers emerged as one of the big offseason winners after landing LeBron James, but Los Angeles wasn't the only team that took advantage of a busy summer.
Sporting News
After considering the changes made and where teams stand now, here’s how we see the coming season shaping up for the remade and revamped NBA.
Carmelo Anthony literally laughed off the idea of being removed from the Thunder's starting lineup, but he could find himself on the Rockets' bench heading into the 2018-19 season.
The schedule release for marquee NBA game nights gives us a chance to fire off some irrational anger about the league's decision-making process.
The Rockets are giving Anthony an opportunity to prove himself on one of the best teams in the NBA.
Sporting News Staff
Clint Capela's new contract is a bargain, one that should allow Rockets fans to breathe a sigh of relief in the midst of a less-than-perfect summer.
There was some logic in Houston’s decisions this summer, and things may still work out for Rockets general manager Daryl Morey in the end.
The Rockets, Lakers and Heat have emerged as suitors with Carmelo Anthony suddenly available, but those teams should be asking a few questions before offering any deal.
With top free agents like LeBron James, Paul George and DeMarcus Cousins off the market, who's left for NBA teams looking to fill out incomplete rosters?
Top NBA stars like LeBron James, Paul George, Chris Paul and Kevin Durant are off the market. Less than one week into free agency, it’s already time to pick winners and losers.
With LeBron James in the West, the Eastern Conference is suddenly the Celtics' to lose.
BetChicago
The 76ers, Celtics and Lakers have a lot to offer LeBron James now that he's an unrestricted free agent.
Scott Rafferty
LeBron James decided to decline his $35.6 million players option for the 2018-19 season. How does that impact what the Cavs, Lakers, 76ers and Rockets can do?
Could Paul George make a return to the Pacers this offseason or is he destined to play for his hometown team?
The NBA playoffs hold zero impact in how voters pick the top players and coaches in major award categories. What would happen if we changed that this year?
Who came out on top at the 2018 NBA Draft? And who left Barclays Center in desperate need of a summer vacation?
NBA Draft night usually includes a flurry of trade activity. SN is keeping track of the deals that take place at the 2018 draft.
The Rockets could do something enormous this summer, with no less than a pursuit of LeBron James on the docket. But Houston doesn't necessarily require a major upgrade to topple the Warriors.
Everything you need to know about the 2018 NBA Finals.
While Stephen Curry is known more for his ability to create his own shot off the dribble, the two-time MVP is equally as devastating without the ball in his hands.
Heading into the offseason after a disappointing finish in the Western Conference finals, the Rockets are left with a few "what if" questions to ponder.
After a horrible first quarter, the Warriors got back to business in the second half and took down the Rockets with a 101-92 win on Monday night.
Live updates, scores and schedule for today's NBA playoff games.
Here is the daily NBA playoff schedule with times and TV channels for every conference finals game.
The Warriors rediscovered their form in Game 6, flying past the Rockets for a 115-86 blowout victory. How crazy was the turnaround? Here are a few numbers that paint the picture.
The Warriors overwhelmed the Rockets in the second half of Game 6, outscoring Houston 64-25 in the final two quarters on the way to a 115-86 blowout victory.
No, Charles Barkley did not attempt to punch Draymond Green in the face.
Nick Young gave a shoutout to the two-time Defensive Player of the Year after doing work on defense in Game 6.
Gabe Fernandez
Houston will donate all the admission proceeds from the watch party it held for Game 6 of the Western Conference finals.
The Rockets took a 3-2 series lead with a 98-94 win in a hard-fought Game 5 against the Warriors.
Chris Paul’s breakout performance in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals couldn’t have come at a better moment.
With the season hanging in the balance, Rockets stars James Harden and Chris Paul combined for 57 points in a hard-fought Game 4 win on Tuesday night at Oracle Arena.
The cameras were on Curry's parents as they watched the Golden State Warriors' 95-92 loss to the Houston Rockets in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals on Tuesday.
Heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua executed a neat give-and-go with the Warriors star during warmups, but not even that play could get TNT's Reggie Miller to get Joshua's name right during the telecast.
While it is perfectly acceptable to appreciate the wonder that is Warriors basketball, it is also reasonable to bemoan the inevitability of Golden State winning another NBA title.
Stephen Curry finally found his groove, scoring 35 points on 13-of-23 shooting to lead the Warriors to a blowout win at Oracle Arena.
How Kevin Durant scored all of his points in Games 1 and 2 against the Rockets was decidedly un-Warriors-like.
The Rockets used a balanced offensive attack Wednesday night to tie their Western Conference finals series with the Warriors, winning Game 2 by a final score of 127-105.
Fueled by a 37-point outing from Kevin Durant, the Warriors took Game 1 against the Rockets to gain an early 1-0 advantage in the Western Conference finals.
The Rockets and Warriors have been the two best teams in the NBA all season. This is the main event we’ve been waiting for, but does Houston have any chance of taking down the defending champs?
As we watch how far players like Chris Paul, LeBron James and Kevin Durant have come following their big decisions, it is hard to ignore that the initial anger and vitriol thrown at them has given way to respect and admiration.
"NBA 2K18" likes the Warriors and Cavs to meet for a fourth straight year in the NBA Finals.
Bryan Wiedey
Even the youngsters are judged separately on their postseason performances. Let's take a closer look at how Ben Simmons, Jayson Tatum and Donovan Mitchell have fared under the bright lights of the NBA playoffs.
The Rockets' Gerald Green steals a pass and goes coast-to-coast for the dunk against the Jazz in Game 5 of their Western Conference playoffs series.
Jazz guard Dante Exum was called for a foul on James Harden after his face collided with the basketball.
Dante Exum matched up with James Harden for 22 possessions in Game 2 and limited him to two points on 0-for-7 shooting from the field.
AccuScore simulates the rest of the 2018 NBA playoffs to see which teams have the best chances of winning the NBA title.
AccuScore
Jrue Holiday's breakout performance in the Pelicans' series against the Trail Blazers earns him a spot on the All-Breakout Team for the opening round of the playoffs.
The shots James Harden's Rockets feast on are the ones the Jazz’s defense is designed to stop.
A viral photo of James Harden falling into fans during Saturday's Game 3 between the Rockets and Timberwolves is being called a work of art.
With all the buzz around him, James Harden has refrained from speaking on his personal hype almost entirely. For the Rockets guard, it's just about winning.
Tim Faklis
A series of newly released BodyArmor Sports Drink commercials, written and co-directed by Kobe Bryant, feature sports stars doing old things to troll Gatorade.
Let’s take a look at six questions that will likely determine the outcome of this year’s playoffs, starting with the team that has the most to lose in the opening round.
Injuries and parity have introduced uncertainty to the first round of this year's NBA playoffs. The simulation engine in "NBA 2K18" provides some insight on what to expect.
With the 2017-18 regular season complete, let's take a look at the NBA standings and playoff matchups.
Andre Ingram finally broke into the NBA after 10 years in the G League (formerly the D League) and the 32-year-old took full advantage, scoring 19 points in his Lakers debut.
With just days remaining in the NBA regular season, there is much to be determined about the playoff picture. Sporting News' Sean Deveney ranks the 17 potential playoff teams based on what their best-case scenarios look like.
More than a decade into his professional career, Andre Ingram's NBA dreams became a reality after getting the call from the Los Angeles Lakers.
J Ramirez - Lake...
AccuScore simulates the rest of the 2017-18 NBA regular season to find out which teams from the Eastern and Western Conferences will make the playoff field.
Will the Pelicans find the cracks in the Rockets' armor to pull out the win, or will Mike D'Antoni's squad continue to prove that it's the best in the league for a reason?
James Harden gave a nod to Shaquille O'Neal after another MVP performance for the Rockets.
Just four games separate the No. 3 seed from No. 10 in the West standings, but we've got a sense how this will all turn out ahead of the 2018 NBA playoffs.
Let's take a full look at the NBA standings and see what juicy matchups we could see when the 2018 playoffs roll around.
