The Miami Heat surge to a 137-117 victory over the Detroit Pistons, extending their winning streak to four games and pushing their record above .500 at 7-6. Giannis Antetokounmpo leads with 34 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists, while Klay Thompson returns from a sprained ankle to add 26 points, hitting six threes. Bam Adebayo contributes 20 points and the team tallies 14 blocks, just one shy of a franchise record. Detroit's Cade Cunningham scores 33, but injuries to Jalen Duren and Duncan Robinson hamper the Pistons. The Heat next host the Houston Rockets on Monday at 7:30 p.m.
The Rockets bounce back from a win over the 1‑11 Utah Jazz and head to Washington for a four‑game road swing, opening against the 4‑9 Wizards on March 2. Washington, fresh off a double‑overtime loss to Detroit highlighted by a Trae Young buzzer‑beater, isn’t a pushover, but the Rockets may underestimate them. Houston enters the game missing Clint Capela, Steven Adams, Marcus Smart (suspension) and Fred VanVleet, while the Wizards sit without Alex Sarr, Bub Carrington, Justin Champagnie, Tristan Vukčević, and Reece Beekman. The matchup kicks off at 6 p.m. CT on Space City Home Network, with the line yet to be posted.
The Miami Heat stretch their winning streak to four with a 137-117 rout of the Detroit Pistons, highlighted by Klay Thompson’s praise of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s playmaking. Antetokounmpo delivered a no‑look, between‑the‑legs assist that set up Thompson’s sixth three‑pointer of the night, prompting Thompson to compare the Greek star’s vision to Magic Johnson’s. Thompson finishes with 26 points on 10‑of‑17 shooting, while Antetokounmpo posts a dominant 34‑point, 14‑rebound, eight‑assist line. Detroit’s Cade Cunningham scores 33, but the Heat improve to 7‑6 and aim to keep the momentum against the Houston Rockets on Monday.
The Nuggets week on the road began with a defeat to the Rockets, but Denver made up for it with a strong finish
The Brooklyn Nets tell the league they’re open to trade offers for any player, according to Sam Amick of The Athletic. Veteran frontcourt options Michael Porter Jr., whose contract expires this summer, and Julius Randle, who holds a 2027‑28 player option, are the likely hot commodities before the Feb. 11 deadline. Both could bolster a buyer’s scoring, but any deal must outweigh the value of keeping them. With the Nets still building via the draft—and a 2027 pick‑swap with the Rockets limiting the upside of tanking—trades could still net valuable assets for Brooklyn’s youth‑focused strategy.
The Spurs dominate a short-handed Warriors squad, surging to a 38‑point win and cementing their lead in West Group C of the NBA Cup. Rookie Stephon Castle shines, hitting 5‑of‑8 from three after a slow start, while San Antonio extends its winning streak to 11 games, prompting Warriors coach Steve Kerr to label them the league's best. Meanwhile, the Rockets juggle injuries: guard Fred VanVleet sits out Sunday with a right‑knee issue, and backup center Steven Adams is listed as probable after a soleus strain, while Clint Capela remains out. Trade chatter heats up for Dejounte Murray and Jordan Poole as their hefty apron penalties could stall Pelicans’ interest.
The Wizards host the 10-3 Houston Rockets on Sunday, Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. ET, hoping to snap a six‑game skid. Guard Bub Carrington is a game‑time decision after a chest contusion in Thursday’s double‑OT loss to Detroit, joining Jamir Watkins, Tristan Vukcevic, Reece Beekman and Justin Champagnie on the injury list. Despite the setbacks, Washington’s recent surge includes a 30‑point night from each of big men Anthony Davis and Alex Sarr, and Trae Young’s 37 points with 15 assists that forced overtime. The team also set a season‑high with 14 three‑pointers. A win would be their first since Nov. 2, while the Rockets seek a third straight victory.
Rookie guard Darryn Peterson posts a career‑high 28 points in Utah’s 125‑118 loss to the Rockets, but exits the game twice in the final nine minutes due to knee discomfort. The Jazz did not comment on his status, leaving his availability for the upcoming matchup against the Spurs uncertain. Despite heavy minutes – 31.2 per game – Peterson’s health has been a concern since college injuries. With Utah 1‑12 and on an 11‑game losing streak, his continued presence could be pivotal.
After snapping a two‑game skid, the Houston Rockets string together a third straight win, improving to 10‑3 overall with a 2026 Emirates NBA Cup victory over the Utah Jazz. Alperen Şengün leads the charge with a career‑second‑best 43 points, while the team’s league‑leading fourth‑quarter three‑point shooting clinches the game. Ranked seventh in overall threes at 37.4%, the Rockets have risen from bottom‑five in 2024‑25 to the top spot this season, highlighted by clutch threes from Bogdan Bogdanović and Kevin Durant in the final minutes. Their late‑burst shooting could prove decisive in future playoff runs.
On The Draymond Green Show, Green recounts a light‑hearted post‑game moment after the Warriors' 115‑108 loss to Houston. Rookie forward Yaxel Lendeborg receives a signed Kevin Durant jersey, tries to wear it out of the arena, and snaps a photo, prompting Green to call him a “big a** kid.” Green notes the exchange shows Durant’s respect for the rookie and highlights Lendeborg’s youthful enthusiasm despite a strong first season.
Despite Utah’s 11th straight loss, rookie Darryn Peterson shines with a career‑high 28 points, seven rebounds and two steals in the 125‑118 defeat to the Houston Rockets on Nov. 14, 2026. The 19‑year‑old became the first Jazz rookie since Donovan Mitchell (2017‑18) to log five consecutive 20‑point games, proving his No. 2 overall draft pick value even as the team battles injuries to Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jusuf Nurkic. Peterson credits watching Kobe Bryant and other stars for his growth and says he’s focused on improving shot selection and consistency.
Alperen Sengun erupts for 43 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists on 17‑for‑24 shooting as the Houston Rockets beat the Utah Jazz 125‑118 on Nov. 13, 2026. His performance makes him only the third Rocket—alongside Hakeem Olajuwon (1994) and Yao Ming (2004)—to record a 40‑point, 10‑rebound, 5‑assist game while shooting over 70% since the 1956‑57 season. Kevin Durant adds 22 points and 6 assists; Tari Eason posts a double‑double off the bench. The win pushes Houston to a 10‑3 start, with the next game against Washington on Sunday.
Houston rallied from a 12‑point swing to beat the Utah Jazz 125‑118 on Friday, sparked by Fred VanVleet’s fiery third‑quarter outburst. VanVleet poured in 17 points, 10 in the third, rallying his teammates after coach Ime Udoka said he “went off on everybody.” The night belonged to Alperen Şengün, who dropped a career‑high 43 points on 17‑of‑24 shooting, adding 12 rebounds and five assists. The Rockets notch their third straight win and head into Sunday’s matchup with Washington looking to avoid another wake‑up call.
Alperen Sengun scored 43 points and grabbed 12 rebounds as the Houston Rockets defeated the Utah Jazz 125-118 on Friday, November 13, extending their winning streak to three games.
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The Utah Jazz struck a familiar tune on Friday night in Houston, but a larger question looms with Darryn Peterson.
The Utah Jazz fall 125-118 to the Houston Rockets, marking their twelfth loss of the season. Alperen Şengün dominates with 43 points and 12 rebounds, while the Jazz’s young core—Darryn Peterson (28 pts, 7 reb, career‑high), Keyonte George (23 pts in the second half) and Ace Bailey (21 pts)—put up fight. After a 10‑point swing in the third quarter, a late‑game coaching shuffle and turnovers seal the loss. Bench woes and questionable decisions by coach Will Hardy draw criticism, but the future looks bright for the Jazz’s emerging talent.
Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun erupts for a season‑high 43 points in the Rockets’ 125‑118 NBA Cup win over the Utah Jazz on Friday, Nov. 14, 2026. He adds 12 rebounds, five assists, a steal and a block while shooting 17‑of‑24 from the floor and 8‑of‑12 at the line. The performance follows a near triple‑double (19‑13‑9) against Golden State and highlights Sengun’s 21.1‑point season average, underscoring his growing offensive dominance as Houston rides a streak of wins over Denver, Golden State and Utah.
The Houston Rockets host the Utah Jazz on November 13, 2026, at the Toyota Center, with a live broadcast on Space City Home Network and radio coverage on KBME Sports Talk 790 and KLTN 102.9. The Rockets line up Fred VanVleet, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., Kevin Durant, and Alperen Sengun, while the Jazz start Keyonte George, Darryn Peterson, Josh Green, Ace Bailey, and Jaxson Hayes. Both teams look to extend their momentum as the Rockets aim to keep their win streak alive.
The Rockets sit 9-3 after a win over Golden State, buoyed by point guard Fred VanVleet's return from a torn ACL. VanVleet averages 13.7 points, 5.6 assists and 38.7% from three, saying he feels he hasn’t missed a step. Meanwhile, Amen Thompson adjusts his role after a limited defensive showdown with an injured Stephen Curry, focusing on intentional play. The two‑man tandem of Kevin Durant and Alperen Şengün sparked a 110-100 victory over the Nuggets, with Durant praising Şengün’s decision‑making on screens. Overall, Houston’s offense now spreads the load, with six players scoring at least 13 points in the Warriors game, making the team harder to defend.
The new weekly power‑rankings series on Pounding The Rock uses the average Four Factor Index (aFFI) to objectively rank NBA teams after 12‑13 games of the 2026‑27 season. aFFI measures team‑opponent differentials in effective FG%, turnover%, offensive rebounding% and FT/FGA, explaining over 95% of win‑percentage variance last year. By November 12, the Spurs sit fourth behind Minnesota, Boston and Houston, hampered by a modest ∆EFG% percentile (55.46) despite strong rebounding. Minnesota leads thanks to a dominant ∆EFG% (70.34). The rankings generally mirror win records, though outliers like the 76ers—15th in aFFI despite a 10‑3 start—highlight early‑season quirks. The full chart and methodology are linked in the article.
Is Dejounte Murray the type of guard that makes sense for the Suns? Sort of? Not really?
Six‑time All‑Star Jimmy Butler says he’ll head to the G League’s Santa Cruz Warriors for his ACL rehab, even if Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. objects. Butler joked about a "fistfight" with Dunleavy and affirmed his determination to play, while coach Steve Kerr pledged support. The move comes as Golden State, now 8‑4 after a loss to the Houston Rockets (115‑108), deals with injuries to Stephen Curry and Butler. Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg led the Rockets with 25 points, and the Warriors prepare for an NBA Cup road game against the San Antonio Spurs on Friday.
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green doesn't believe that the Houston Rockets are a dirty team despite a recent on-court altercation between the two squads.
After a 144-140 double‑overtime loss to Detroit, Trae Young says the Wizards’ problems go beyond effort, citing a lack of skill and mental execution. Young poured in 37 points and 14 assists but missed all seven shots in overtime as Washington fell to 4‑9, marking a sixth straight defeat. He notes the team is facing recent playoff‑caliber opponents and stresses trust in young players like rookie AJ Dybantsa. Looking ahead to a tough matchup with the Rockets, Young hopes the early struggles will become a learning curve that eventually translates into wins.
Despite the Lakers’ league‑best 11‑2 record, former NBA big man Kendrick Perkins doubts they’re true title contenders until they notch a signature win against a genuine threat. On the Road Trippin’ Show, Perkins cites missing victories over Oklahoma City, Houston, the Spurs, the Knicks or a full‑strength Detroit team as proof they haven’t proved themselves, even though they beat the Pistons and Trail Blazers. With an offense ranked first but a defense at 18th, the Lakers face a litmus test on Nov. 27 at the Spurs.