Houston Rockets tip off 2025-26 season

Driving the news: The Rockets will start the season in Oklahoma City facing the Thunder.

• Houston's first home game is Friday against the Detroit Pistons. The first month of the season features home matchups with the Brooklyn Nets (Oct. 27), Dallas Mavericks (Nov. 3) and Washington Wizards (Nov. 12).

The intrigue: Houston will play in 28 nationally televised games this season.

Catch up quick: The Rockets added Durant in a blockbuster trade this offseason and will play without point guard Fred VanVleet, who tore his ACL last month and will miss the season.

The latest: Durant agreed to a two-year, $90 million contract extension last week.

State of play: Tuesday's starting lineup will feature Durant, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Şengün and Steven Adams.

Flashback: Houston fell to the Golden State Warriors in seven games in the first round of the playoffs last season. It was the Rockets' first playoff appearance since 2020.

What they're saying: "You've seen flashes of greatness," Durant said of his starting teammates to the Houston Chronicle. "You got the talent, you got the production. … You can have a good game, you can have a good year, you can have a good stretch, but can you stay at that level every time you get on the floor?"

• "I think that's what we're all trying to build as players."

Yes, but: The Rockets are still a young team, with several key players drafted in the past few years.

What's next: Tipoff is at 6:30pm on NBC.