Houston Rockets News

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Clint Capela • C • Rockets

Clint Capela Downgraded to Out Monday

Houston Rockets center Clint Capela (ankle) has been ruled out for Monday's game against the Boston Celtics, head coach Ime Udoka told Varun Shankar. Capela rolled his ankle in Saturday's win over Oklahoma City and played just 10 minutes. With Steven Adams (calf) also sidelined, Houston is short on traditional centers behind Alperen Sengun. Oscar Tshiebwe is the leading candidate for backup minutes, while the Rockets could also use smaller frontcourt combinations with Jabari Smith Jr. and Kevin Durant. Tshiebwe could have some short-term value if Houston keeps him in the regular rotation while Capela and Adams are out.

6 days ago

Reed Sheppard • PG • Rockets

Reed Sheppard Returns Monday Without Minutes Restriction

Houston Rockets guard Reed Sheppard (back) will play Monday against the Boston Celtics without a minutes restriction, head coach Ime Udoka told Varun Shankar. Sheppard missed the previous two games with a back issue. The 22-year-old is averaging 10.5 points, 4.8 assists, 2.8 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 2.3 threes in 23.3 minutes through four appearances. He has shot just 37.5 percent from the field and 28.1 percent from deep after hitting 39.4 percent of his threes last season. Sheppard should slide back into a regular backcourt role alongside Fred VanVleet and Marcus Smart.

6 days ago

Reed Sheppard • PG • Rockets

Reed Sheppard Sits Out Again on Saturday

Houston Rockets guard Reed Sheppard (back) has been ruled out for Saturday's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, marking his second straight absence. Sheppard also missed Friday's loss to Dallas with lower back soreness after struggling in his last appearance, scoring seven points on 2-for-9 shooting and 1-for-8 from three against Milwaukee. Fred VanVleet (knee) is also out, leaving Houston thinner in the backcourt. Marcus Smart should handle more of the ball, while Amen Thompson will have more chances to initiate the offense. Sheppard's next opportunity to return comes Monday against Boston.

Oct 31

Fred VanVleet • PG • Rockets

Fred VanVleet Ruled Out Saturday

Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet (knee) will sit out Saturday's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder due to right knee injury management. The 32-year-old played in Friday's 116-111 loss to Dallas, and Houston has been holding him out of one game in back-to-back sets after a torn ACL cost him all of 2025-26. VanVleet is averaging 13.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 6.4 assists through five appearances. Alperen Sengun (back) is available to return, but Reed Sheppard (back) remains out. That should leave Amen Thompson with more chances to handle the ball, while Marcus Smart can also help organize the offense.

Oct 31

Alperen Sengün • C • Rockets

Alperen Sengun Off the Injury Report for Saturday

Houston Rockets forward/center Alperen Sengun (back) is not listed on the injury report for Saturday's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, putting him in line to return after a two-game absence. Sengun had been dealing with a mild lower back strain after opening the season with 24.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 7.0 assists, and 1.8 steals per game through four appearances. Houston leaned on a deeper frontcourt while he was out, with Tari Eason grabbing 13 rebounds Friday against Dallas. Sengun's return should restore him to the middle of the offense and cut into the extra minutes that opened up for the reserve bigs.

Oct 31

Alperen Sengün • C • Rockets

Alperen Sengun Misses Second Straight Game

Houston Rockets forward/center Alperen Sengun (back) will miss a second straight game Friday against the Dallas Mavericks, head coach Ime Udoka told reporters, per Will Guillory. Sengun had opened the season averaging 24.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 7.0 assists, and 1.8 steals while shooting 58.1 percent through four games. Houston got solid frontcourt production without him Wednesday, as Clint Capela finished with 10 points, eight rebounds, three steals and two blocks in 22 minutes. With Steven Adams (calf) also sidelined, Capela should remain busy. Sengun's next chance to return comes Saturday against Oklahoma City.

Oct 30

Reed Sheppard • PG • Rockets

Reed Sheppard Out Friday with Back Soreness

Houston Rockets guard Reed Sheppard (back) is out for Friday's game against the Dallas Mavericks with lower-back soreness. The issue follows Sheppard's 23 minutes in Wednesday's win over Milwaukee. He is averaging 10.5 points, 4.8 assists, and 1.8 steals in 23.3 minutes over four appearances, shooting 28.1 percent from three. Sheppard has already missed one game this season because of a left knee bone bruise. His absence should keep Tari Eason busy off the bench, while Bogdan Bogdanovic could also see more work if Marcus Smart (forearm) remains sidelined.

Oct 29

Alperen Sengün • C • Rockets

Alperen Sengun Questionable Friday

Houston Rockets forward/center Alperen Sengun (back) is questionable for Friday's game against the Dallas Mavericks, according to Lachard Binkley. Sengun missed Wednesday's 132-100 win over Milwaukee after imaging revealed a mild lower back strain. Head coach Ime Udoka said he hopes the issue will only cost Sengun a few games at most. The 24-year-old has averaged 24.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 7.0 assists, and 1.8 steals through four appearances. Clint Capela delivered 10 points, eight rebounds, three steals, and two blocks in 22 minutes Wednesday and would remain a strong short-term option if Sengun sits again with Steven Adams (calf) also out.

Oct 29

Alperen Sengün • C • Rockets

Alperen Sengun Sidelined with Back Soreness Wednesday

Houston Rockets forward/center Alperen Sengun (back) has been ruled out for Wednesday's road game against the Milwaukee Bucks with low back soreness. It will be his first absence of the season after averaging 24.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 7.0 assists on 58.1% shooting during Houston's 4-0 start. With Steven Adams (soleus) also sidelined, Clint Capela is in line for a much larger role at center, while Tari Eason and Jabari Smith Jr. could pick up additional frontcourt work. Sengun's next chance to return comes Friday in Dallas.

Oct 27

Marcus Smart • PG • Rockets

Marcus Smart Sidelined Against Atlanta

Houston Rockets guard Marcus Smart (forearm) has been ruled out for Saturday's game against the Atlanta Hawks with a left forearm strain. The 32-year-old was a late addition to the injury report and had been in line to start with Fred VanVleet (knee) sitting the second leg of the back-to-back. Smart has averaged 7.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.0 steals in 23.5 minutes through two games. Reed Sheppard (knee) returns at a good time for Houston and should get a longer look on the ball with Smart and VanVleet both unavailable.

Oct 24

Reed Sheppard • PG • Rockets

Reed Sheppard Back in Action for Rockets on Saturday

Houston Rockets guard Reed Sheppard (knee) is set to return Saturday against the Atlanta Hawks after sitting out Friday's win over San Antonio, according to The Athletic's Will Guillory. The 22-year-old had three points, four assists, two rebounds, and two steals in 16 minutes in the opener against Dallas before missing one game with a left knee bone bruise. With Fred VanVleet (knee) and Marcus Smart (forearm) both out, Sheppard has a clear path to more minutes and ballhandling work alongside Amen Thompson. He averaged 13.5 points, 2.8 threes, and 1.5 steals last season, making Saturday a good opportunity to show what he can do with a larger role.

Oct 24

Steven Adams • C • Rockets

Steven Adams Cleared to Play Friday

Houston Rockets center Steven Adams (calf) will play Friday against the San Antonio Spurs, according to the Houston Chronicle's Varun Shankar, while Reed Sheppard (knee) has been ruled out. Adams missed Wednesday's season opener with right calf tightness and will make his first regular-season appearance since undergoing left ankle surgery in January. The 33-year-old averaged 5.8 points and 8.6 rebounds in 22.8 minutes across 32 games last season, leaving him mostly dependent on rebounds for fantasy value. Houston plans to rest Adams for one leg of back-to-backs early on, putting Clint Capela in line for more center minutes Saturday in Atlanta.

Oct 23

Reed Sheppard • PG • Rockets

Reed Sheppard Ruled Out Friday Against Spurs

Houston Rockets guard Reed Sheppard (knee) has been ruled out for Friday's game against the San Antonio Spurs due to a left knee bone bruise. The third-year guard was limited to three points in 16 minutes during Wednesday's 128-110 win over Dallas, shooting 1-for-6 from deep while committing three turnovers. Marcus Smart and Bogdan Bogdanovic are the most likely candidates for extra backcourt minutes with Sheppard unavailable. Houston plays again Saturday in Atlanta, so Sheppard's status will be worth monitoring ahead of the second half of the back-to-back.

Oct 23

Steven Adams • C • Rockets

Steven Adams Could Miss Second Straight Game

Houston Rockets center Steven Adams (calf) is questionable for Friday's matchup with San Antonio in Austin, per the Houston Chronicle's Varun Shankar. The 33-year-old missed Wednesday's opener after developing right calf tightness following a practice earlier in the week. Houston also plans to sit Adams for one leg of back-to-backs early in the season, with another game Saturday in Atlanta. He averaged 8.6 rebounds in 22.8 minutes last season. If Adams remains out, Clint Capela should continue backing up Alperen Sengun, though Capela logged only eight minutes in the opener.

Oct 23

Reed Sheppard • PG • Rockets

Reed Sheppard Questionable Against Spurs

Houston Rockets guard Reed Sheppard (knee) is questionable for Friday's matchup with San Antonio due to a left knee contusion and bone bruise, per the Houston Chronicle's Varun Shankar. The 22-year-old is coming off a quiet opener against Dallas, scoring three points on 1-for-6 shooting from deep with three turnovers in 16 minutes. Marcus Smart played 26 minutes off the bench, while Fred VanVleet's return has tightened Houston's backcourt rotation. If Sheppard sits, Smart and Bogdan Bogdanovic could see additional work. Sheppard averaged 13.5 points, 2.8 threes and 1.5 steals last season.

Oct 23

Steven Adams • C • Rockets

Steven Adams Questionable For Wednesday

Houston Rockets center Steven Adams (calf) is listed as questionable for Wednesday's regular-season opener against the Dallas Mavericks. The 33-year-old underwent season-ending ankle surgery in January and returned to play 14 minutes in a preseason game against Dallas. Adams averaged 5.8 points and 8.6 rebounds in 22.8 minutes per game last season and enters the 2026-27 campaign as Alperen Sengun's primary backup. His rebounding gives him some fantasy appeal in deeper leagues, and Clint Capela could see more minutes when Adams is sidelined. Houston is expected to manage Adams' workload early in the season, including sitting him for one game of back-to-back sets.

Oct 20

Fred VanVleet • PG • Rockets

Fred VanVleet to Skip One Game of Back-to-Back Sets

According to The Athletic, Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka said guard Fred VanVleet will sit out one game in back-to-back sets early in the regular season. The 32-year-old missed the entire 2025-26 campaign after tearing his right ACL. Houston will likely manage VanVleet's workload carefully as he works his way back to full strength. While his playing time could be limited early on, his ability to contribute three-pointers, assists, and steals should keep him fantasy-relevant once he returns to a full workload.

Oct 20

Steven Adams • C • Rockets

Steven Adams Opens Season Without Minutes Limit

Houston Rockets center Steven Adams (ankle) won't face a minutes restriction to open the season, head coach Ime Udoka told Lachard Binkley of SI.com, though Houston will remain cautious with back-to-backs. That's progress from late September, when Udoka didn't expect Adams to play both ends early in the season. The 33-year-old underwent season-ending ankle surgery in January before returning for 14 preseason minutes against Dallas. Adams averaged 5.8 points and 8.6 rebounds in 22.8 minutes last season and enters 2026-27 as Alperen Sengun's primary backup. His rebounding remains useful in limited minutes, while Clint Capela could see extra work whenever Adams rests.

Oct 19

Fred VanVleet • PG • Rockets

Fred VanVleet Cleared of Minutes Restriction for Season Opener

Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet (knee) will not face a minutes restriction as the season opens, head coach Ime Udoka told Lachard Binkley of SI.com. Houston will remain cautious with back-to-backs, which could create extra opportunities for Reed Sheppard and Marcus Smart. VanVleet missed all of 2025-26 after tearing his right ACL but returned with 17 points, five triples, and seven assists in 24 preseason minutes against Dallas. His shot volume could dip alongside Kevin Durant and Amen Thompson, but his threes, assists, and steals should keep him fantasy-relevant with a full workload.

Oct 19

Alperen Sengün • C • Rockets

Alperen Sengun Wraps Up Preseason with All-Around Line

Houston Rockets forward/center Alperen Sengun recorded 14 points, seven rebounds, five assists, two blocks, and one steal in 24 minutes during Thursday's 116-89 preseason win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. The two-time All-Star shot 7-for-11 from the field and missed both of his three-point attempts. Fred VanVleet finished with eight assists and no turnovers after missing all of last season, when Sengun averaged 6.2 assists. VanVleet's return could take some playmaking off Sengun's plate, but his 16-point, 10-rebound, 10-assist triple-double in the Macao opener showed Houston will still run plenty of offense through its big man.

Oct 16

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