HOUSTON, TEXAS – APRIL 20: Jimmy Butler III #10 of the Golden State Warriors battles for the rebound with Amen Thompson #1 and Steven Adams #12 of the Houston Rockets in Game One of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center on April 20, 2025 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
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The Rockets got back to their winning ways this past weekend, defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves, 110-105, and the New Orleans Pelicans, 119-110. This came after a complete drumming at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder, 111-91, when the defending champs showed Houston they have a long way to go before being considered a serious threat to the Thunder’s defense of the title. Earlier in the week, Houston had lost in embarrassing fashion to the Sacramento Kings, 111-98. They then beat the Chicago Bulls, 119-113. The Rockets went 2-2 on the week.
But what doesn’t show up in the standings is the loss of Steven Adams after the big man went down late in the fourth quarter of the Rockets’ win over the Pelicans, landing awkwardly on his left leg while contesting a shot. Adams needed to be helped to the locker room. After the game, head coach Ime Udoka said that imaging showed a left ankle sprain with “nothing broken.” The Rockets are currently describing Adams as week-to-week but emphasize that the injury looked worse than it truly is.
Things do not get much easier for Houston this week as they square off against the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday, at home, before traveling to visit the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday. They will then cap off the week on Friday with a visit to the Detroit Pistons.
The games against the Spurs and Pistons are notable because the two teams represent opponents on similar rebuild timelines as Houston who both seemed to move ahead of the Rockets in terms of near-term trajectory. The Pistons, who drafted Cade Cunningham first overall in 2021, one pick before Houston selected Jalen Green second overall, are now 30-10, and sit atop the Eastern Conference standings. Meanwhile, the Spurs, who drafted Victor Wembanyama three spots ahead of the Rockets’ selection of Amen Thompson back in 2023, are 29-13, and second in the West, ahead of the fifth-seeded Rockets at 25-15. It was thought that the Spurs would be chasing Houston in the standings this season but they are ahead of schedule.
The Rockets, just 5-5 in their last ten, hope the gap between them and the Spurs is just an in-season blip.