With a New Year’s Day blowout in Brooklyn, the Rockets (21-10) have now won four straight games. Thursday’s “ClutchFans Live” postgame show— featuring Ben DuBose, Dave Hardistry, and Michael Shapiro of Chron.com — breaks down all the key takeaways after a 24-point victory over the Nets.

Topics include the healthy return of Alperen Sengun; another big game from Kevin Durant; and positive signs from the “terror twins” duo of Amen Thompson and Tari Eason. 

The Rockets are 6-6 in December and recently wrapped up an underwhelming 2-4 road trip. Yet, a home victory tonight versus Indiana would give Houston (19-10, No. 4 in the Western Conference standings) a three-game winning streak to end the 2025 portion of its schedule. 

Presented by ClutchFans and hosted by Ben DuBose and Paulo Alves, Monday’s full show breaks down all of the latest developments surrounding the team. Topics include Kevin Durant’s efficient scoring binge; the implications of Tari Eason and Dorian Finney-Smith returning healthy; and revised expectations for what has been a very inconsistent defense in recent weeks.

By routing Cleveland, the Rockets (19-10) are back up to No. 4 in the Western Conference standings, and their once leaky defense has held two straight opponents to 100 points or less.

Featuring Ben DuBose and Dave Hardisty, Saturday’s “ClutchFans Live” postgame show breaks down all the key takeaways after two dominant wins versus the Lakers and Cavaliers. Topics include elite scoring efficiency from Kevin Durant; what the return of Dorian Finney-Smith means for Houston’s defense; and the short-term outlook for Alperen Sengun, who sat out with calf tightness.

This episode can also be viewed in video form on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvXAiPAQwYk

The Rockets (18-10) went 2-4 on their season-long road trip in December, including losses to multiple teams with records near the bottom of the Western Conference standings. Yet, they ended it with a flourish thanks to a Christmas night beatdown of the Lakers (19-10).

With Ben DuBose and Dave Hardisty as hosts, Thursday’s “ClutchFans Live” postgame show breaks down all the key storylines. Topics include Dorian Finney-Smith’s return and Tari Eason’s promotion to the starting lineup; a breakout performance by Amen Thompson; and, from the perspective of team results, what the optimal usage model for Alperen Sengun should be.

With a much-improved defensive effort and elite shooting and playmaking from Kevin Durant, Reed Sheppard, and Jabari Smith Jr., Houston (17-8) got its revenge on the Nuggets (20-7) in Saturday’s emphatic win at Denver.

Hosted by Ben DuBose and Dave Hardisty, our “ClutchFans Live” postgame show breaks down all the key storylines and takeaways. Discussion topics include the impact of Durant’s leadership in recent days; Smith’s evolution into a high-level role player for the Rockets; and whether Sheppard has already done enough to secure a consistent spot in Ime Udoka’s closing lineups.

This episode can also be viewed in video form here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0McY-0y5yyI 

After a strong start to the 2025-26 season, Houston’s defensive rating is now in the bottom half of the NBA for December. Not coincidentally, the Rockets (16-8) currently have a losing record (3-4) for the month.

Hosted by Ben DuBose and Dave Hardisty, our latest “ClutchFans Live” postgame show breaks down all the frustrations after the Rockets blew a 25-point lead in the second half versus the lowly Pelicans (6-22). Topics include the clear defensive regression; struggles to involve Kevin Durant in crunch-time possessions; and an odd downturn in the usage of Reed Sheppard.

In this roundtable episode, Ben DuBose, Paulo Alves, and Dave Hardisty (Editor of ClutchFans) preview the NBA’s upcoming transaction window and its potential implications for the 16-6 Rockets.

December 15 is when players who signed contracts in the preceding offseason become trade eligible, so the period from Monday until the February 5 in-season deadline is among the most active on the 2025-26 calendar. 

Discussion topics include roster needs and potential trade targets across the board, including the likelihood of bigger-name deals (such as Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday, and James Harden) and smaller acquisitions along the lines of Keon Ellis, Chris Paul, and Ayo Dosunmu.

The show also explores Houston’s potential desirability on the buyout market and the team’s long-term timeline for title contention, and specifically why those factors might make this a relatively quiet trade window for the Rockets.

Thursday’s “ClutchFans Live” postgame show reacts to Houston’s 115-113 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers (6-19). The Rockets are now 16-6 on the 2025-26 NBA season.

Topics include a fourth-quarter takeover by Amen Thompson (12 points in the frame on perfect shooting); relatively inefficient nights from Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun; and the difficult six-game road trip ahead.

This episode can be viewed in video form here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QwnC27gxyE

At 15-6, the Rockets are now at approximately the quarter pole of their 2025-26 regular season. With that in mind, as Houston tries to chase down the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder, Tuesday’s podcast breaks down four key takeaways and questions surrounding the team after its first 21 games.

With Ben DuBose and Paulo Alves as hosts; discussion topics on this episode include the steadying presence of Kevin Durant and an improving defense; the impact of an All-NBA leap from Alperen Sengun; inconsistent showings from Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard; and the possibility of roster moves in the weeks ahead.

The Rockets (15-5) are now No. 2 in the Western Conference standings after Friday’s blowout victory over Dillon Brooks and the Phoenix Suns. Featuring Ben DuBose and Dave Hardisty, our “ClutchFans Live” postgame show breaks down all the highlights, including a career milestone for Kevin Durant (31,000 points) and more promising signs from Amen Thompson (game-high 31 points, +33).

This episode can also be viewed in video form here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SoD_duJJm0U

After routing the Jazz one day earlier, the Rockets fell short on night two of a road back-to-back. For Houston (13-5), Monday’s setback was just its third loss in 16 games.

On the “ClutchFans Live” podcast show, Ben DuBose and Dave Hardisty break down the key storylines, including defensive and rebounding issues that surfaced once Steven Adams (rest) was held out. With injuries and absences piling up, the prospect of more back-to-backs in the days and weeks ahead could prove daunting.

This episode can also be viewed in video form on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@clutchfansDOTnet/streams

The Rockets closed out November with Sunday’s 129-101 victory at Utah, which gives Houston (13-4) 13 wins in its last 15 games, overall.

Featuring Ben DuBose and Dave Hardisty, Sunday’s “ClutchFans Live” postgame show breaks down all the key takeaways. Topics include Kevin Durant’s uber-efficient return; a much-improved defense; and an apparent promotion to the starting lineup for Reed Sheppard.

With All-Star forward Kevin Durant sidelined for personal reasons, Amen Thompson (28 points, 8 assists) picked up the slack in Houston’s 114-92 victory at Phoenix. The Rockets (11-4) have now won 11 of their last 13 contests, overall, while the Suns (11-7) lost for just the second time in 10 games.

Featuring Ben DuBose and Dave Hardisty, Monday’s “ClutchFans Live” postgame show breaks down all the key takeaways, including big nights from Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., and Aaron Holiday. 

With All-Star forward Kevin Durant missing two games for personal reasons, second-year guard Reed Sheppard is in line for an expanded role with the Rockets (10-4), and potentially even a starting assignment. 

Featuring Ben DuBose and Paulo Alves, Monday’s episode breaks down all the implications of Sheppard’s recent rise. Other topics include insight on Houston’s close loss to Denver; slightly underwhelming efficiency numbers from Durant; and the updated injury outlooks for Tari Eason (oblique) and Dorian Finney-Smith (ankle).

Featuring Ben DuBose and Dave Hardisty, Wednesday’s “ClutchFans Live” postgame show breaks down Houston’s impressive 114-104 victory at Cleveland. The Rockets (10-3) have won five straight games and 10 of their last 11, overall, and the big story in this one was 26 combined fourth-quarter points from Aaron Holiday (!!!) and Alperen Sengun.

Led by an All-Star duo in Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley, the Cavaliers (10-6) continue to rank third in the Eastern Conference and had the NBA’s second-best record (64-18) last season.

In a “gutsy” overtime victory over Orlando, Houston’s All-Star duo of Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun combined for 65 points and several massive buckets in crunch time. Featuring Ben DuBose and Dave Hardisty, Sunday’s ClutchFans Live postgame show breaks down all the key takeaways for the surging Rockets (9-3), who have now won nine of their last 10 games, overall.

The episode can be viewed in video form here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2l1OggvjMXw 

In Friday night’s episode, Ben DuBose and Dave Hardisty (ClutchFans) go live with full postgame reaction after Houston’s 140-116 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. Kevin Durant (30 points, +37) and Alperen Sengun (25 points, 10 rebounds, 9 assists, four made 3-pointers) were among the clear standouts.

The Rockets (8-3) have now won eight of their last nine games, overall.

This episode can be viewed in video form here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKd1RulbrM0

Featuring hosts Ben DuBose and Paulo Alves, our latest full show breaks down the highs and lows of Houston’s 6-3 start to its 2025-26 regular season. Tuesday officially marks three weeks since the NBA’s Oct. 21 opener, and the Rockets — who have won six of their last seven games, overall — are now more than 10% of their way through the season.

The discussion includes grades for all nine rotation players and Rockets head coach Ime Udoka, along with insight on a brilliant start by Alperen Sengun and inconsistency from Amen Thompson.

In Houston’s most impressive win of the 2025-26 season to date, Kevin Durant (31 points, 7 assists) and Alperen Sengun (23 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists) were incredible down the stretch as the Rockets stormed back from a 14-point deficit on the road. Houston is now 6-3 on the season, while Milwaukee is 6-4.

In Sunday’s postgame show, Ben DuBose, Paulo Alves, and Dave Hardisty break down all the highlights versus Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks, including the huge bench spark provided by Reed Sheppard (16 points, 4 steals) and whether he could soon push for a starting role.

This episode can be viewed in video form here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMao3ZdviME

The five-game winning streak for the Rockets (5-3) is now history after Friday’s 121-110 loss to the Spurs (6-2). The in-state rivalry game served as the opener of Emirates NBA Cup 2025 play for both teams.

Featuring Ben DuBose and Dave Hardisty, Friday’s ClutchFans Live postgame show breaks down all the key takeaways, including how San Antonio crushed Houston off of turnovers (33 points off 23 giveaways) and subpar defensive rebounding (15 offensive boards for the home team).

The show also highlights a relatively encouraging night for Reed Sheppard (16 points, 6 assists, 60% FG), albeit with some defensive miscues late in the game.