The Rockets' big splash was acquiring Kevin Durant to form a formidable trio with Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson. The team's abundance of youth led it to a 52-30 record last season, but veteran talent was needed in order to take things to the next level. The 37-year-old adds a new dimension of offense to the group while reinforcing tough defense.

Why Rockets All-Star Kevin Durant says he's mastered the game, and doesn't want to be compared to anyone anymore.

The New Orleans Pelicans, last in the Western Conference, seek their first three-game winning streak of the season when they host the Houston Rockets on Thursday.

The recent defeat dropped the Rockets to fifth in ESPN's latest NBA power rankings. They've lost two of their last three games, but have also seen impressive production from Alperen Sengun. After posting a 33-point triple-double in Denver, the Turkish center is averaging 23.5 points, 9.4 rebounds and 7.1 assists on 50-35-74 shooting splits.

During his time suiting up for the Rockets, Sura wore only jersey No. 3 and put up 10.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.1 steals per game.

Nikola Jokic had 39 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists for his NBA-leading 12th triple-double of the season as the Denver Nuggets outlasted the Houston Rockets 128-125 in overtime on Monday night in a matchup of two of the top three teams in the Western Conference standings.

Houston's head coach spoke on a flurry of new contracts across the organization and the mindset moving forward.

Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.

The Rockets are redefining dominance, forcing opponents into exhausting battles and earning grudging respect through relentless pressure, not flashy play.