Houston Rockets Dominate Brooklyn Nets In First Game Of 2026

The Rockets steamrolled the Brooklyn Nets 120-96 at the Barclays Center for their fourth consecutive win. It wasn’t just a victory; it was a statement. Houston (21-10) never trailed, jumping out to a quick lead and keeping their foot on the gas, treating the New York crowd to a clinic in efficiency.

Amen Thompson Shines While Kevin Durant Adds On

All five starters hit double figures, but the night belonged to Amen Thompson. The young guard was electric, dropping 23 points on an incredibly efficient 10-of-12 shooting. He’s been averaging a career-high 18 points recently, but tonight he looked like a seasoned vet, slicing through the defense with ease.

Then there was Kevin Durant. KD did KD things, chipping in 22 points, but the real story was his playmaking. He dished out a season-high 11 assists, setting the table for his teammates early. In the first seven minutes alone, Durant assisted on five of the team’s first seven buckets. When one of the greatest scorers in history decides to become a facilitator, opposing defenses are just guessing.

Sengun Returns To Form

The Rockets also got a massive boost from the return of Alperen Şengün. After sitting out two games with a nagging calf injury, the big man didn’t miss a beat. He put up 20 points, grabbed 6 boards, and handed out 6 assists. Even without Steven Adams and Clint Capela available, Houston dominated the glass, outrebounding the Nets 53-40.

Nets Struggle Short-Handed

To be fair to Brooklyn (10-21), they were fighting with one hand tied behind their back. Missing three starters, including their leading scorer, Michael Porter Jr., is a tough hill to climb for any team. Cam Thomas tried to keep them afloat with 21 points, but the Nets just didn’t have the firepower to keep up. They managed to cut the deficit to two points briefly in the first quarter, but the Rockets responded with a 14-6 run and never looked back.

Closing It Out

The third quarter was where the Rockets truly broke Brooklyn’s spirit. Jabari Smith Jr. caught fire, draining back-to-back threes during a 14-2 run that blew the game wide open. By the time Tari Eason swatted a shot that led to another Smith triple in transition, Houston was up 74-49, and you could practically hear the collective sigh from the Nets’ bench.

Next up, the Rockets look to keep the good vibes rolling as they wrap up their road trip in Dallas on Saturday.