Rockets close preseason against Thunder with VanVleet back and opening night six days away

By Laura Garcia · 2026-10-15

HOUSTON — The Houston Rockets wrap up their preseason Thursday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Toyota Center. Tipoff is at 7:30 p.m. CT (5:30 p.m. PT), and it's the last tune-up before the regular season opens next Wednesday.

The game airs on Space City Home Network and NBA TV. Radio is on KBME 790/KTRH 740, and in Spanish on SOL 101.7 FM.

Where things stand

Houston is 1-1 this preseason after splitting two games with Dallas at The Venetian Arena in Macao as part of the NBA China Games. Oklahoma City comes in 1-3.

The Rockets won the opener 135-117 on Oct. 9. They shot 54.7% from the field and went 18-of-36 from 3-point range, and Tari Eason led all scorers with 20 points. Alperen Sengun had a triple-double with 16 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Fred VanVleet scored 17 with seven assists and hit Houston's first three baskets of the night, all 3-pointers. Kevin Durant added 15 points on 7-of-12 shooting, and rookie Bruce Thornton scored 13 and made all three of his 3-point attempts.

Two nights later, Dallas won 132-115. Durant, Sengun and VanVleet all sat out. Marcus Smart scored a game-high 20 in his preseason debut, but Houston shot 41.1%, made 14 of 47 threes and had more turnovers (22) than assists (19).

VanVleet's return

VanVleet is the biggest storyline. He missed all of last season after surgery on Sept. 25, 2025, to repair the ACL in his right knee. Without him, Houston ranked 24th in the league in turnovers. The Rockets had more than 20 turnovers in both games in Macao, so ball security is still something to watch in the finale.

Center Steven Adams is also working his way back after missing the last 42 games of last season with a left ankle injury. He played 14 minutes in the preseason opener and sat out the second game.

Rockets vs. Thunder

Houston went 1-2 against Oklahoma City last season. The Thunder won 125-124 in double overtime in Oklahoma City on Oct. 21, 2025, and 111-91 in Houston on Jan. 15. The Rockets won 112-106 in Oklahoma City on Feb. 7. In his two games against Houston, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 27.5 points, and Chet Holmgren averaged 21.0 points and 10.0 rebounds.

Key players

Kevin Durant averaged 26.0 points in his first season in Houston. He needs 1,047 points to pass Kobe Bryant for fourth on the NBA's all-time scoring list.
Alperen Sengun averaged 20.4 points, 8.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists last season and made his second All-Star team.
Amen Thompson averaged 18.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and 5.3 assists last season and leads the team with nine offensive rebounds this preseason.
Reed Sheppard is 8-of-17 from 3-point range in the preseason.
Newcomers Marcus Smart, Bogdan Bogdanović, Oscar Tshiebwe, Julian Phillips and Thornton, the No. 31 pick, are all competing for roles in Ime Udoka's rotation.

The big picture

Houston went 52-30 in each of the last two seasons. Last season ended with a 4-2 first-round loss to the Lakers. The Rockets led the NBA in rebounding differential at plus-8.6 per game, the highest by any team since 1976-77, but they ranked last in bench scoring and 25th in free throw percentage.

The regular season starts Wednesday, Oct. 21, against Dallas at Toyota Center at 7:30 p.m. CT. Oklahoma City comes back to Houston on Oct. 31.