If you just glance at the box score of the Houston Rockets from Friday night, you’d see a 110-105 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves and probably think, "Cool, they’re fine." But honestly? That doesn't even tell half the story. Houston is currently sitting at 24-15, perched at 5th in a Western Conference that feels like a literal meatgrinder this year.
They won. They're winning. But it feels different.
Last year, the Rockets were this scrappy, overachieving group of kids. Now? They’ve got Kevin Durant. Yeah, that actually happened. In a wild June trade, Rafael Stone sent Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks to Phoenix to bring KD back to Texas. It changed the entire gravity of the team. Suddenly, the score of the Houston Rockets isn't just a number; it's a referendum on whether or not they sold their soul for a shot at a ring.
The Reality Behind the Recent Rockets Scoring Trends
Look at the January 16th game against Minnesota. Alperen Sengun put up 25 points and 14 rebounds before fouling out. The guy is a walking triple-double threat, basically a Turkish Jokic with more post-spin moves than a Tilt-A-Whirl. But even with his production, the Rockets nearly blew a double-digit lead because the bench depth is, well, kinda shaky right now.
Fred VanVleet is out with a torn ACL. That's the elephant in the room. Without him, Amen Thompson has had to grow up fast. Amen is averaging 18.5 points and 7.7 boards, which is great, but he’s 23 and still learning how to close out games against vets like Julius Randle, who hung 39 on them in that same Wolves game.
Houston’s offense is currently ranked 4th in the league with a 120.1 Offensive Rating. That sounds elite, right? It is. But their defensive intensity has fluctuated wildly. They’ll hold a team to 90 points one night and then give up 133 to the Pelicans or 128 to the Nuggets the next. It’s a rollercoaster. You never know which version of Ime Udoka’s squad is showing up until the first quarter ends.
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Why the New Orleans Game Matters Today
Tonight, January 18, the Rockets are back at the Toyota Center to face the New Orleans Pelicans. It’s a 6:00 PM tip-off. If you’re looking for the live score of the Houston Rockets, keep an eye on how they handle Zion Williamson. The last time these two met back in December, the Pelicans walked away with a 133-128 win.
Houston couldn't stop a nosebleed in that game.
- The KD Factor: Kevin Durant is averaging 26.3 points per game. He’s 37 and still moving like he’s 22.
- The Jabari Slump: Jabari Smith Jr. has been cold. Like, arctic cold. He’s 22, and while his defense is still there, his three-point shot has vanished lately.
- The Bench Issue: Beyond Reed Sheppard, who’s been a bright spot with 12.8 points off the bench, the second unit is struggling.
The Pelicans are currently 15th in the West at 10-34. On paper? This should be a blowout. But the Rockets have this annoying habit of playing down to their competition this season. They lost to a struggling Portland team twice in a row earlier this month. It’s those kinds of scores that make Rockets fans pull their hair out.
Breaking Down the Western Conference Standings
Right now, the West is a mess. Oklahoma City is running away with it at 35-7, but from 2nd place down to 7th, it’s a total dogfight.
| Team | Record | GB |
|---|---|---|
| OKC Thunder | 35-7 | -- |
| San Antonio Spurs | 28-13 | 6.5 |
| Denver Nuggets | 28-13 | 6.5 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 27-15 | 8.0 |
| Houston Rockets | 24-15 | 9.5 |
| LA Lakers | 24-15 | 9.5 |
The Rockets are tied with the Lakers. Let that sink in. They are ahead of the Suns, the Warriors, and the Clippers. If the season ended today, they’d avoid the Play-In tournament, which is the ultimate goal. But they’re only 3 games ahead of the 9th-place Trail Blazers. One bad week and they’re back in the danger zone.
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What to Watch For in the Coming Weeks
The schedule doesn't get easier. After the Pelicans tonight, they’ve got the Spurs on Tuesday. Wemby vs. Sengun is always a spectacle. Then they head out on a road trip to Philly and Detroit.
If you want to track the score of the Houston Rockets effectively, don't just look at the final tally. Check the "Points in the Paint" and "Turnovers." When Houston keeps their turnovers under 12, they almost always win. When they start playing "hero ball"—which KD and Sengun sometimes fall into—the offense stalls.
Steven Adams has been a beast on the boards when he plays, but his health is always a question mark. The Rockets need his veteran presence. They need him to bully people so Sengun doesn't have to do all the heavy lifting inside.
Actionable Insights for Rockets Fans
Honestly, if you're betting on or just following this team, watch the first five minutes of the third quarter. That is where the Rockets either cement a win or let a lead evaporate.
If you're heading to the Toyota Center tonight, get there early. It's Jabari Smith Jr. Bobblehead night for the first 3,000 fans. Maybe a little love from the crowd is exactly what his jumper needs to get back on track.
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Keep an eye on the injury report for Tari Eason, too. His ankle has been bothering him, and without his defensive versatility, the Rockets' perimeter defense takes a massive hit. He’s the "glue guy" that holds the chaotic energy of the young bench together.
Basically, the Rockets are a top-tier team with some very bottom-tier habits. They have the talent to beat anyone—they beat Boston by 27 back in November—but they have the youth to lose to anyone. Follow the game tonight on Space City Home Network or listen in on Sportstalk 790.
Whether they win by 20 or lose by 2, it’s going to be a stressful couple of hours. That’s just Rockets basketball in 2026.
Check the live updates during the game to see if Udoka decides to shrink the rotation or give more minutes to the rookies if the vets come out flat. Monitoring the point spread (Rockets -13.5 tonight) can also give you a hint on how Vegas expects this mismatch to play out, though as we've seen, those odds don't always reflect the grit of a hungry lottery team.