Sportsbooks don’t view the Houston Rockets (0-0) as serious championship contenders, with +1500 odds to win it all in as they ready for the 2025-26 season opener, a matchup on the road against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday, October 21 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
NBA playoffs & championship futures odds over timeOdds to win the NBA Championship: +1500 (7th in NBA)
NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Odds updated Tuesday at 2:48 p.m. ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub.
Rockets’ schedule insightsThe Rockets will face the fifth-easiest schedule in the NBA, based on their opponents’ combined win total from last season (3213).Houston is playing the 24th-ranked divisional schedule this season (based on its Southwest Division opponents’ projected win total this year).The Rockets will suit for up 36 games this season against teams that finished above .500 in 2024-25. That schedule includes 20 games against teams that had 50 or more victories and 14 contests versus squads with 25 or fewer wins last season.
Rockets 2024-25 stat leadersAlperen Sengun posted a team-high 10.3 rebounds per contest last year. He also averaged 19.1 points and 4.9 assists, shooting 49.6% from the floor.Kevin Durant led his squad in both points (26.6) and assists (4.2) per contest last year, and also averaged 6.0 rebounds. At the other end, he delivered 0.8 steals and 1.2 blocked shots.Amen Thompson averaged 14.1 points, 8.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game last year, shooting 55.7% from the floor.Fred VanVleet paced the Rockets at 5.6 assists per contest last season, while also posting 3.7 rebounds and 14.1 points.Rockets 2024-25 statsLast season, the Rockets were 13th in the league offensively (114.3 points scored per game) and sixth defensively (109.8 points conceded).Offensively the Rockets were worse at home last year, posting 103.5 points per game, compared to 104.7 per game when playing on the road.