SportSpyder - The Latest Houston Rockets News

18 October 2025

• [Hoops Rumors] - Injury Notes: Queen, White, Brown, Raptors, Rockets, More
  Rookie big man Derik Queen has been medically cleared to participate in full basketball activities, the Pelicans announced today (via Twitter). Head coach Willie Green said Queen was a full participant in Saturday’s practice, tweets Will Guillory of The Athletic. While the team wants to get Queen up to speed, Green said New Orleans will […]
• [USA Today: Rockets Wire] - Kevin Durant reveals personal goals entering debut season in Houston
  Kevin Durant on his 2025-26 personal goals: “It’s just about being a great teammate every day, being coachable, making shots, and guarding my man.”
• [Sports Illustrated] - Rockets' Amen Thompson Tabbed as 'Under the Radar X-Factor'
  The initial scouting report on Amen Thompson was that he'd be a bit of a project. He'd taken an alternate route, after his prep career, and opted to play in the
• [Sports Illustrated] - The Rockets Could Become The League's Best Transition Team
  The Houston Rockets have been known for their defense since the start of the new era that came with the hire of Head Coach Ime Udoka. However, while the defense
• [Total Pro Sports] - Tari Eason Admits Kevin Durant’s Blockbuster Trade To Rockets Made Him Question His Own Place On The Team
  The Houston Rockets made a stellar move this offseason by acquiring Kevin Durant in a blockbuster seven-team trade. This trade has sparked major discussions throughout the league since Durant is one of the top veteran players. Recently, Rockets forward Tari Eason spoke about his reaction to the news of Durant’s trade to Houston. He admitted …
• [Fansided: Space City Scoop] - Reed Sheppard's preseason masterclass sends a clear message to Rockets' Ime Udoka
  As the Houston Rockets posted a 4-0 record in the preseason, the highlight of these matchups was getting to see Kevin Durant suit up with his new teammates, tak
• [ESPN Houston] - The Bullpen | ESPN Houston Live 10/18
  #Texans #Rockets #Astros
• [Locked On Rockets] - NBA SEASON PREVIEW: Rockets outlook for the Western Conference
  Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder, Chet Holmgren, Denver Nuggets, Nikola Jokic, Minnesota Timberwolves, Anthony Edwards, Houston Rockets, Alpere...
• [Fan Nation] - Rockets Given Solid Chance to Land Top-Three Playoff Seed
  ESPN's BPI revealed Houston's odds to land a top-three seed in a crowded Western Conference.
• [Last Word on Sports] - James Harden Scoring Streak Six Years Ago Redefined NBA Greatness
  Six years ago, the scoring streak took over the NBA; a month-long eruption that not only defined his career but changed the league’s offensive landscape forever. The 2018–19 season saw Harden deliver one of the most dominant scoring displays in modern basketball, a stretch that pushed the limits of what one player could carry on his shoulders. At the time, the Houston Rockets were struggling to regain their rhythm after a 65-win season the year prior. Entering January 2019, they sat at 23–17, battling inconsistency and, more critically, the absence of , who was sidelined with a . The burden of keeping Houston afloat fell entirely on Harden, and what followed was basketball history in motion. James Harden Scoring Streak Six Years Ago Redefined NBA Greatness In January 2019, Harden turned into a scoring phenomenon. Over 14 games, he averaged an astonishing 43.6 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game, numbers that . He scored at least 32 points in every game that month, a level of consistency unseen in the modern era. The streak included five 40-point games, two 50-point nights, and a 60-point explosion, all achieved within Houston’s fast-paced, three-point-heavy system under coach Mike D’Antoni. Surrounded by shooters and given total offensive freedom, Harden weaponized isolation basketball like no one before him. He shot 53.9% from the field, 39.8% from deep, and 87% from the free-throw line, all while being the focal point of every opposing defense. It wasn’t just volume, it was efficiency at an impossible workload. Defenders trapped him 40 feet from the rim, and he still found ways to score. His step-back three became not just a move, but a signature: the most feared weapon in basketball that season. How Harden Redefined Modern Offense What made the James Harden scoring streak so groundbreaking wasn’t only the points. Harden’s ability to create space off the dribble reshaped how teams defended the perimeter. Coaches began to design entire schemes to counter him, switching everything and sending double-teams at midcourt. But Harden’s genius was in the reads. When defenses overcommitted, he punished them with quick passes to open shooters. When they played drop coverage, he attacked relentlessly. His performance proved that an offense built around analytics (threes, free throws, and layups) could thrive at a superstar level. By the end of the season, Harden averaged 36.1 points, 7.5 assists, and 6.1 rebounds per game, leading the league in scoring for the second straight year. His streak of 32 consecutive 30-point games became the second-longest in NBA history, trailing only Wilt Chamberlain. Despite the statistical dominance, the MVP award went to , a decision that remains one of the most debated in recent memory. Many still argue that Harden’s offensive load, combined with his efficiency and consistency, made him the rightful winner. Legacy of the Streak Six years later, the legacy of Harden’s 2019 run still echoes through the league. His approach to spacing, isolation, and efficiency influenced an entire generation of scorers. Players like and have credited Harden’s style as inspiration for how they balance creation and scoring. , Harden has evolved into a different version of himself: more facilitator than finisher. Yet that stretch in Houston remains the peak of his offensive brilliance, a time when he single-handedly carried a franchise and made every possession feel like theater. The James Harden scoring streak wasn’t just a moment; it was a transformation. It turned analytics into artistry, changed defensive strategies league-wide, and reminded fans that greatness doesn’t always need a trophy to be immortal. © Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images The post appeared first on .