Houston Rockets

SOURCE SPORTS: Damian Lillard Drops 71 Points in Win Over Houston Rockets

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Damian Lillard Drops 71 Points in Win Over Houston Rockets

Damian Lillard had it all going on Sunday. During a game against the Houston Rockets, Logo Lillard poured in 71 points with 13 3-pointers to take his Portland Trailblazers to a win.

Lillard became the eighth player in NBA history to score 70 points. According to ESPN, Lillard is the oldest to do so at 32 years old. He brings in the second 70-point game of the season as Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell also dropped 71 in a win against the Chicago Bulls On Jan. 2.

“I enjoy those moments in the game when I’m just going after people when I’m in attack mode,” Lillard said.

For the game, Lillard was 22-of-38 from the field and 13-of-22 from three. He joins an elite class of shooters in the Golden State Warriors snipers Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry and Bulls’ swingman Zach Lavine as the only players who have hit 13 3s or more in a game.

Highlights from Lillard’s night are available below.

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James Harden Rumored To Be Eyeing A Rockets Reunion

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James Harden is a player who has bounced around the league quite a bit since 2020. After starting the 2020-2021 season with the Houston Rockets, Harden was subsequently traded to the Brooklyn Nets. From there, he lasted about a season and a half before going to the Philadelphia 76ers. Overall, Harden was going through a transitional period in his career. Having said that, it only made sense that he would want to explore a variety of teams.

At this point, Harden seems to be at home with the Sixers. He has been playing exceptionally well, and overall, the team is now third in the Eastern Conference. Furthermore, they have a real chance to make some noise in the playoffs. Harden is older and wiser, meaning he could be able to shake off those demons from the playoffs’ past. At the end of the day, there are fewer expectations on him now, which could very well make it easier for him to get it done under pressure.

James Harden Moving On?

James Harden #1 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts during the second quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at Wells Fargo Center on February 23, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

Moreover, this is also a big year for Harden because he can become a free agent at the end of the season. Now, reports are circulating that Harden may actually go back to the team where he had the most success. Yes, that’s right, a Harden-Rockets reunion may be on the horizon. According to Tim MacMahon of ESPN, even Houston is preparing for it to happen. “James Harden still spends a lot of time in Houston,” MacMahon said. “Spends his summers in Houston. Works out at the Rockets’ facility on a regular basis. It’s a very real possibility. And Harden, by the way, never shot it down. He just said ‘I don’t know where that came from.’”

These rumors have been circulating since around Christmas time. However, it is hard to see why Harden would want to go back there given the fact that the Rockets are terrible right now. Their young stars are playing losing basketball and they are the worst team in the league. That said, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the NBA world. Additionally, let us know what you think Harden should do, in the comments down below.

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John Wall Traded Back To The Rockets: Details

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Just a few months ago, John Wall was finding himself with some issues within the Houston Rockets organization. Overall, it was clear that he didn’t really want to be there. The team was going with a much younger group of players, and at the end of the day, Wall got the short end. In the media, Wall was very adamant that his time with the Rockets was “beyond trash.” Furthermore, he noted that he would never want to play for an organization like that again.

In the off-season, Wall was able to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers. This made him the starting point guard for players like Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. However, Wall hasn’t been playing all that well. Subsequently, the Los Angeles Clippers have been looking for a way to get rid of Wall. There has been speculation that he would either be traded or be bought out entirely. Well, today is the trade deadline and it seems like the Clippers have found a trade suitor.

John Wall Back To Houston

Unfortunately, for John Wall, that trade suitor just so happens to be the Houston Rockets. This trade involves three teams, including the Clippers, the Rockets, and the Memphis Grizzlies. This was a deal that they had been looking to make for a while, and while they aren’t getting a huge return for John Wall, they can now go out and pursue a new point guard. There have been numerous reports suggesting that they would go after Russell Westbrook. Russ is currently on the Jazz, although they would rather just buy out his contract. Having said that, Westbrook could prove to be a great fit for that team.

Overall, this is a very sad situation for Wall whose future is now up in the air. He certainly won’t be happy to find himself back in Houston. Overall, it remains to be seen what he is going to do next. Hopefully, Wall finds a new NBA home that isn’t Houston, sooner rather than later. Let us know what you think about this trade, down in the comments below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for all the latest news and updates from around the sports world.

SOURCE SPORTS: James Harden Considering a Return to the Houston Rockets

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SOURCE SPORTS: James Harden Tells 76ers to Build Team and Give Him "Whatever is Left" in New Contract

Could James Harden’s time as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers be coming to a close? In a Christmas Woj bomb, Harden was stated to “seriously considering a return” to the Rockets.

“Harden and his inner circle have been openly weighing Houston in recent months, sources said, a remarkable possibility given that he requested and received a trade out of the franchise less than two years ago,” Woj stated.

In those years he has been gone, Harden played for the Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers. In order for Harden to make that return, he would have to deny the player option for $35.6 million on his 2023-24 season contract.

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James Harden Reportedly Eyeing Return To The Houston Rockets

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James Harden is certainly no stranger when it comes to being entangled in NBA rumors. Since joining the league as a rookie in 2009, he’s played for four different teams.

A shocking report on Monday (December 25) reveals that he could be wanting to play for one of his old squads again.

James Harden #1 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on during the fourth quarter atori at Wells Fargo Center on December 19, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

According to ESPN Senior NBA Insider, Adrian Wojnarowski, the current 76ers shooting guard might be eyeing a return to the Houston Rockets. However, this would only be if he enters free agency this summer.

His current two-year contract with the Sixers contains a player option for the 2023-24 season. If he chooses to take it, he will subsequently become a free agent.

The interesting part is that his present stint with Philadelphia began just shy of two years ago, shortly after he requested a trade out of Houston. The Rockets traded him to the Brooklyn Nets in a four-player deal in January, 2021. It reunited him with his former OKC teammate, Kevin Durant. Only a month later though, the world was witness to the Sixers and Nets swapping superstars Harden and Ben Simmons in a blockbuster trade.

Regardless of the new development, the 33-year-old was certainly gelling with his current team on Sunday (December 25). He put up 29 points and 13 assists in Philadelphia’s 119-112 win over the New York Knicks. The game served as the league’s first of five Christmas Day match-ups.

Furthermore, the All-Star guard seems to not be paying the reports too much attention. “I’m here. We are playing very well and I don’t know where the report came from, but I’m very excited to be here. We are playing well, and we’re continuing to get getter,” he told reporters following the win.

It will certainly be interesting to see how all of this unfolds during the off-season. For now, Philadelphia is enjoying an eight-game winning streak.

Could you see Harden back in a Rockets jersey? If so, who do you think they’d have to give up in a trade to get him? Sound off in the comments down below. Finally, make sure to check out our newest holiday-themed playlist here.

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SOURCE SPORTS: Orlando Magic Selects Duke’s Paolo Banchero with No. 1 Pick

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Leading up to the NBA Draft, it was believed the Orlando Magic would use the No. 1 pick to pick Jabari Smith Jr. from Auburn. Instead, they swerved the basketball world and selected Paolo Banchero of Duke.

The No. 2 pick, going to the Oklahoma City Thunder, was Gonzaga Center Chet Holmgren, and Smith Jr. would fall to the Houston Rockets at no. 3.

“I had a feeling, from the information I was being told, that it was just kind of up in the air,” Banchero said to ESPN. “Orlando wasn’t really sure yet, and just to be ready for whatever.

“I didn’t find out, though, that I was actually getting picked until about 20 seconds before the commissioner got on the stage. I didn’t even have time to really think about it or anything. It just kind of happened. I can’t believe it, but I’m ready. I’m ready.”

During his final season at Duke, Banchero averaged 17.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists. He now joins a young core that features Jalen Suggs, Cole Anthony, Franz Wagner, and Wendell Carter Jr. All players, except Carter Jr., were drafted by the Magic.

To round out the top five, The Sacramento Kings drafted Keegan Murray, and Detroit added Purdue guard Jaden Ivey to their young core.

There were plenty of Draft Night trades. The New York Knicks sent Kemba Walker to the Detroit Pistons, who are expected to buy the guard out. The Philadelphia 76ers traded Danny Green and the No. 23 pick to the Memphis Grizzlies for De’Anthony Melton.

You can get a full recap of the NBA Draft here.

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No One Could Figure Out Why Drake Was At A Rockets-Thunder Game In OKC

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For some reason, Drake was sitting courtside from Wednesday night’s Oklahoma City Thunder-Houston Rockets showdown in Oklahoma City.

The logical reason for Drake to be at this game is probably to support Thunder guard and Toronto native Shai-Gilgeous Alexander (and Lu Dort, who is also a Canadian on OKC’s squad). But why this specific game to do so? At some point, Gilgeous-Alexander will be back in Toronto playing with the Thunder. And this isn’t even a good opponent to see the Thunder play against. No offense to the Rockets, but they are among the worst teams in the league (although now riding a 4-game winning streak) and don’t even have their top pick (Jalen Green) available right now due to injury.

Frankly, getting to the bottom of why Drake is at Thunder-Rockets on a Wednesday night in December is worthy of some kind of investigation. He was in Toronto as recently as two days ago, but perhaps he’s just really into Josh Giddey’s passes (or maybe his TikTok) or loves Alperen Şengün’s flair as a center in addition to wanting to support his countrymen. It’s so random that it deserves a random explanation, one that many on Twitter were searching for.

Drake also made friends with an older couple he was sitting next to in his courtside seat, posting to his Instagram story that they are his ‘new parents.’

It turned out to be a pretty good game, with Houston winning 114-110 thanks to a big fourth quarter comeback, so maybe Drake is smarter than us all, a savvy shopper for what had to have been some relatively cheap courtside seats to take in a pretty entertaining game.

The Rockets Postponed ‘Travis Scott Night’ After Eight Died At Astroworld Over The Weekend

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The Houston Rockets will play host to the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night in a primetime, national TV window on ESPN. It gets that spot because it is the first meeting between the top two picks from the 2021 NBA Draft, as Detroit’s Cade Cunningham faces Houston’s Jalen Green.

It will be a celebration of young talent, two of the league’s hopeful future stars squaring off for the first time on teams that hope to build something meaningful around them. That celebration of youth and promising futures happening in Houston this week is bittersweet coming on the heels of the tragedy at Astroworld over the weekend, where eight died, ranging in age from 14 to 27, and hundreds were injured at Travis Scott’s show when fans stormed towards the stage, trampling others in the mad rush across NRG Stadium.

An investigation into the event is ongoing and lawsuits against Scott, Live Nation, and others in charge of the event are mounting, as families of the victims seek some sort of accountability for what should have been an avoidable tragedy. For the young Rockets, the news hit hard, as many players said they would have been at the show had it not been during a road trip, and Scott has become a fixture at Rockets games. Wednesday’s game with Detroit was also supposed to be Travis Scott Night, but per Marc Spears of The Undefeated, that has understandably been postponed, with a moment of silence planned for the victims from the event.

The Rockets were slated to celebrate “Travis Scott Day” during Wednesday’s game against the Detroit Pistons, but it was postponed following the tragedy. The Rockets will instead hold a moment of silence before the game.

As the investigations and lawsuits continue, more information about what exactly happened, how it was communicated in the moment, and where fault lies for an unsafe environment will emerge. In the immediate, many will reflect on how to find ways to support those who lost loved ones.