ROCKETS VS. THUNDER
How short-handed Rockets will look to upset rolling Thunder
Mar 3, 2025, 4:18 pm
Can Jalen Green lead the Rockets to victory? Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images.
The Houston Rockets face a tough challenge Monday night as they take on the first-place Oklahoma City Thunder, who have been one of the NBA’s most dominant teams this season.
The Thunder (49-11) enter the matchup riding an 8-2 stretch over their last 10 games, averaging an impressive 127.6 points per contest. Led by MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is averaging 32.3 points on 52.4% shooting, Oklahoma City is fresh off a 146-132 win over San Antonio, where Jalen Williams erupted for 41 points.
Houston (37-23) sits fifth in the Western Conference but has been inconsistent lately, going 5-5 over its last 10 outings. Injuries could be a concern, with key contributors like Fred VanVleet (ankle) ruled out and Alperen Sengun (back) listed as day-to-day. Jalen Green, who has been averaging 3.7 made three-pointers per game in his last 10, will need a big performance for Houston to stay competitive.
The Rockets will have to find a way to slow down the Thunder’s potent offense, which ranks among the league’s best from beyond the arc with 14.2 made threes per game. Houston’s defense allows just 12.1 made threes per game, making perimeter defense a key factor in the matchup.
Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. EST, with the Thunder entering as a 10.5-point favorite.
Assisted by ChatGPT.
Most Popular
SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome
Listen Live
Critical levers Astros can pull as health concerns, deadline pressures grow
Jul 10, 2025, 3:46 pm
Jake Meyers is the latest Astro to be rushed back from injury too soon. Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images.
Houston center fielder Jake Meyers was removed from Wednesday night’s game against Cleveland during pregame warmups because of right calf tightness.
Meyers, who had missed the last two games with a right calf injury, jogged onto the field before the game but soon summoned the training staff, who joined him on the field to tend to him. He remained on the field on one knee as manager Joe Espada joined the group. After a couple minutes, Meyers got up and was helped off the field and to the tunnel in right field by a trainer.
Mauricio Dubón moved from shortstop to center field and Zack Short entered the game to replace Dubón at shortstop.
Meyers is batting .308 with three homers and 21 RBIs this season.
After the game, Meyers met with the media and spoke about the injury. Meyers declined to answer when asked if the latest injury feels worse than the one he sustained Sunday. Wow, that is not a good sign.
Asked if this calf injury feels worse than the one he sustained on Sunday, Jake Meyers looked toward a team spokesman and asked "do I have to answer that?" He did not and then politely ended the interview.
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) July 10, 2025
Lack of imaging strikes again!
The Athletic's Chandler Rome reported on Thursday that the Astros didn't do any imaging on Meyers after the initial injury. You can't make this stuff up. This is exactly the kind of thing that has the Astros return-to-play policy under constant scrutiny.
The All-Star break is right around the corner, why take the risk in playing Meyers after missing just two games with calf discomfort? The guy literally fell to the ground running out to his position before the game started. The people that make these risk vs. reward assessments clearly are making some serious mistakes.
The question remains: will the Astros finally do something about it?