The NBA Cup schedule is here, and the Rockets walk into group play looking like one of the cleanest bets in the field.
Houston is in West Group A with the Nuggets, Suns, Mavericks and Jazz, and it has opened the season at 5-0. That start has the Rockets positioned to make noise in the Western Conference and, as the source puts it, to win an NBA Cup title in the process. Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson and Jabari Smith Jr. have been the key names driving the surge, and Houston owns the second-best offensive rating in the league.
The path through the group doesn’t look especially brutal from here. The Rockets already beat the Mavericks by double digits in their season opener, while the Jazz and Suns are sliding toward the bottom of the standings.
That leaves Denver as the real test, and even that matchup comes with questions. The Nuggets are 2-2, but Nikola Jokic is still expected to produce at an MVP-caliber level, and Denver should settle in as the season goes on.
Even so, the expectation is that Houston can handle the bracket with little drama. One assessment of the group said the Rockets should beat the Jazz and Suns, noted the Mavericks already got “pretty one sided” from Houston, and pointed to Denver’s shaky defense as a possible opening. Another view called the group “a favorable bracket,” citing the Suns’ lack of a true point guard, the Jazz being without Jaren Jackson Jr. for several weeks, and Denver’s slow start.
The same take also pointed out that Houston has already seen Dallas in both preseason and the regular season, which should cut down on surprises. There was even a note that Dusty May's team is moving the ball well with Cooper Flagg leading the way. But the central argument remains the same: Houston has the most overall talent in the group, and if it treats the tournament seriously, it should earn a spot in Las Vegas.
The Rockets’ ceiling is obvious right now. If their offense keeps rolling and their early form holds, they can do more than survive group play. They can take control of it.
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Mavericks Could Catch A Break With Houston's Biggest Frontcourt Decision
Alperen Senguns status will loom over Houstons matchup with Dallas, because the Rockets may again be forced to navigate a frontcourt without one of their most important pieces. Sengun is listed as questionable for Friday nights game against the Mavericks with the same injury that kept him out of the previous game against Milwaukee, and Houston has leaned heavily on him all season as a scorer, rebounder and playmaker.
His absence would put the Rockets in another spot where they have to adjust on the fly against a division opponent with plenty at stake. The Bucks game already showed how much Houstons rotation changes when Sengun is unavailable, and the next question is whether the Rockets will have him back in time to anchor the middle or have to look elsewhere again for production and stability. [Read more 🡒]
Rockets Just Reached An Early Mark Fans Haven't Seen In Years
A 5-0 start has a way of changing the mood around a team quickly, and Houston just hit that mark for the first time since the 2014-15 season after rolling past Milwaukee 132-100. The Rockets did it while missing three of their top-nine players, a reminder that this early run has not been built on a full deck. Even so, the group kept its edge on the defensive end, especially in the first half, where it bottled up the Bucks and kept them from generating many second-chance looks.
The night also gave Houston a glimpse of how this roster can survive short-handed stretches. Fred VanVleet shook off a scoreless first quarter to finish with 24 points, while Clint Capela provided a needed lift off the bench. For a team trying to establish a new standard after years of uneven starts, those kinds of contributions matter as much as the record itself. [Read more 🡒]
Rockets Suddenly Have A Kevin Durant Luxury Contenders Crave
Kevin Durant has already found a different kind of comfort in Houston, and it has as much to do with the Rockets around him as it does with anything he is doing on the floor. The teams strong start has given Durant easier scoring chances and allowed him to trim back his minutes, a sign that Houstons improved playmaking is easing the burden on a veteran scorer who no longer has to force every possession.
Alperen Senguns role has also been shaped by that depth, with the Rockets able to rest key pieces during games and still keep the offense moving. Houstons flexibility is the kind contenders spend years chasing, because it can keep legs fresher and lineups sharper when the schedule gets heavier and the playoffs arrive. For a team trying to turn a hot start into something lasting, that luxury may prove just as valuable as any single star performance. [Read more 🡒]