The Rockets are making moves before Thursday's deadline. Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images
Houston Rockets make headlines with surprising Nets trade
Following a heartbreaking loss to the Nets on Tuesday night, the Rockets have reportedly made a deal with the Celtics to acquire guard Jaden Springer.
The Boston Celtics are trading Jaden Springer and their 2030 second-round pick to the Houston Rockets, sources tell ESPN. Both teams are also exchanging heavily protected second-rounders. pic.twitter.com/rhcmgvvJQo
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 5, 2025
Per The Athletic's Kelly Iko, Houston will receive Springer (age 22) along with a 2030 second-round pick in exchange for a Top-55 protected 2031 second-round selection.
Nothing concrete, but Houston is still working the phones between now and Thursday. Other deals potentially in play depending on domino effect around the league. https://t.co/N09Ow62mDO
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) February 5, 2025
Springer should provide some perimeter defense for the Rockets, but he's not much of a threat on the offensive side of the ball.
He's averaged 2.7 points and grabbed 1.3 rebounds in 8.0 minutes per game over his four-year career.
I like Springer! Damn. (Lux tax, apron, I get it.) Even 3 minutes of Eason, Amen, Springer and Brooks at the same time would be complete chaos defensively. https://t.co/ll8ndSJjfy
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) February 5, 2025
Celtics fan Bill Simmons was sad to see him go, so that might be something Rockets fans can hang their hats on. He envisions certain situations where Springer, Tari Eason, Amen Thompson, and Dillon Brooks could give teams fits defensively.
Most Popular
SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome
Listen Live
Keon Johnson and D'Angelo Russell made 3-pointers in the final 10 seconds, and the Brooklyn Nets stunned the Houston Rockets 99-97 on Tuesday night for their first home victory in two months.
LATE-GAME HEROICS IN BROOKLYN 🤯🤯
BACK-TO-BACK 3PM FROM KEON & DLO GIVE THE NETS THE VICTORY!! pic.twitter.com/tO8ahx3D1A
— NBA (@NBA) February 5, 2025
Brooklyn trailed 97-93 when Tosan Evbuomwan inbounded the ball to Johnson, who made a 3 from the wing with 8.1 seconds left. Houston's Amen Thompson then threw an inbounds pass that skipped past Dillon Brooks, and Evbuomwan tipped it to Russell, who buried a 3 to put the Nets ahead with 3.4 seconds remaining.
Jalen Green missed a deep 3 at the buzzer for the Rockets as Brooklyn (17-33) ended its 11-game skid at Barclays Center.
Johnson scored 22 points, and Evbuomwan and Nic Claxton each scored 14. Russell had 10 points on 3-of-15 shooting.
Alperen Sengun had 24 points and 20 rebounds while Reed Sheppard and Brooks each finished with 16 for the Rockets (32-18), who have lost four straight — two to Brooklyn — since a four-game winning streak that included two wins over Cleveland and one against Boston.
Takeaways
Rockets: Thompson was named the Western Conference Player of the Month for January. Thompson, who on Tuesday was selected to the NBA Rising Stars Challenge, averaged 1.4 blocks and 2.2 steals over 12 games last month, the only player to average at least two steals and one block during that time.
Nets: Brooklyn swept the season series from the Rockets for the first time since 2022-23.
Key moment
The Nets were down by nine points midway through the third quarter and responded with a 14-0 run in which Claxton and Tyrese Martin did all the scoring.
Key stat
Brooklyn’s last victory at Barclays Center was on Dec. 4 against Indiana.
Up next
Brooklyn continues its six-game homestand Wednesday against Washington. Houston visits Minnesota on Thursday.