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An understanding of Redick’s scheme means contextualizing Dončić’s defensive skill set, highlighting what he is good at and attempting to mask what he’s deficient in. Contesting shots, arguably the second-most important aspect of defense outside of positioning, is a strength of his, with Dončić in the 95th percentile in shots contested per 100 possessions and 87th percentile in rim contests. This particularly manifests itself as an isolation defender, when teams try to pick at him; Dončić is allowing just 0.844 points per possession in 109 isolations this year, a hairline below Amen Thompson, and a better mark than Jaden McDaniels and OG Anunoby.
“Guys, who are your connectors?” Kendrick Perkins “Yeah, they’re definitely not having team dinners, I can tell you that.” Channing Frye: “Hell no.” Kendrick Perkins “You can tell that after the games, after practices, everybody goes their separate ways. There’s no camaraderie, no hangouts. Nobody’s pulling them together to do [__]. Again, I’m just looking at it overall. When I go back to the trade deadline, it’s like the Rockets put out publicly that Amen Thompson and Sengun were untouchable when you had Giannis on the table. Was that really the right message to be putting out there? They’re untouchable when you’ve got Giannis? Giannis with the Rockets—now all of a sudden he becomes Batman, and KD could be the Robin. That’s a dangerous Robin. I would say more like 1A and 1B, right? Because Giannis, the way that he applies pressure, would open up so much for KD.”
Will Guillory: Rockets escape with a 107-105 victory over the Pels. Kevin Durant hits the clutch jumper with 7.6 seconds left to put Houston up for good. Pels had this one in control and threw it away in the end. Durant finishes with 32 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Amen Thompson had 23 points, 12 rebounds and 8 assists. Reed Sheppard added 18 points off the bench. Rockets desperately needed this win. Now, they prepare for games on Monday and Wednesday against the LA Lakers. Two of the biggest games they'll play the entire season.
Dillon Brooks gives his opinion on the players ranked above him in the NBA top-50 Joel Embiid: "No, he's too hurt you can probably go to sleep for a straight week and he's probably hurt again" Austin Reaves: "Man a foul baiter" Shaedon Sharpe: "I'm not rating him" Julius Randle: "One of the biggest complainers, he wants all the calls because he plays the most physical him, Zion Williamson and Giannis play so physical" Paolo Banchero: "Down year for Paolo, could be way better he's supposed be LeBron status" LeBron James: "He ain't having a better year than me" Josh Giddey: "Hell no" Rudy Gobert: "Nah" Michael Porter Jr: "He having a good year" Desmond Bane: "That's my young boy" Kon Knueppel: "He's having a good year" Bradon Ingram: "I rate his game all the way" Diontae George: "He's having a great year but he's SOFT" Amen Thompson: "That's my guy" Cooper Flagg: "I rate him.. not a better year than me because if I was with the Mavs would be in the playoff hunt"
Varun Shankar: Amen Thompson will play tonight, Jabari Smith will test his ankle out per Udoka. No reaggravations, Udoka said, ankle injuries can just linger.
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Varun Shankar: Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr. questionable for today's game with right ankle injuries — same status and same injury as yesterday, when they played.
Varun Shankar: Amen and Alperen will play tonight. Jabari testing his ankle out.
Varun Shankar: Amen rolled his ankle in the fourth quarter per Udoka, tbd on severity.
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The Houston Rockets snapped a two-game losing streak with a 112-106 comeback win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday at Paycom Center. Both teams were shorthanded. The Thunder played without stars Shai-Gilgeous Alexander and Jalen Williams while the Rockets didn’t have Amen Thompson. But the squads still delivered an entertaining matinee. They were tied at 28 after the first quarter. Oklahoma City surged ahead, leading by 15 in the second quarter as Houston’s offense scuffled, but the Rockets fought back to trail by just six at the half. That gave way to a Houston surge in the third quarter — the Rockets won the frame by 12 points and entered the fourth up six.
Varun Shankar: Amen Thompson’s IG story
Amen Thompson’s IG story pic.twitter.com/RbitW6LfB9
— Varun Shankar (@ByVarunShankar) February 3, 2026
Appearing on the Buckets Don't Stop podcast, the veteran guard claimed he sees himself as a perfect fit and a crucial piece for the Houston Rockets. "I'd love to go to Rockets," Dinwiddie said. "I'd love to go to Rockets. One of my best NBA friends, Dorian Finney-Smith, is on the Rockets. And I think, the [Fred] VanVleet injury really hurt them. I think they have all the makings of having that championship-type team. "They have young talent in [Jabari] Smith Jr. and [Amen] Thompson. They got a great post up threat and creator in [Alperen] Sengun. You got an all-time, all-world scorer in [Kevin Durant]. And I think [I'm] a guard that can go in there, catch and shoot off of Sengun and KD, set the table in terms of just taking some of the thought process of, setting the table in terms of KD and Sengun just letting them score.
Houston, meanwhile, wanted Brooks to influence its young core. The Rockets banked that Brooks' toughness and work ethic would set the tone, alongside fellow free agent acquisition Fred VanVleet and recently hired head coach Ime Udoka, as the franchise's rebuild entered what owner Tilman Fertitta termed as "Phase II." After dwelling in or near the West cellar the previous three years, the Rockets made a leap to 41-41 in 2023-24 and 52-30 last season. Brooks embraced his role as a mentor and defensive menace, accepting that he was usually the fifth offensive option in Houston's starting lineup. "He helped change the culture over here," said Rockets guard Amen Thompson, a rising star who was a rookie when Brooks arrived in Houston. "I feel like Houston loves him. They embrace him and that's my guy. That's like a big brother to me."
