Updated Jan. 14, 2026, 4:25 p.m. CT
At an average of 15.6 per game, the 2025-26 Houston Rockets currently rank No. 24 among the NBA’s 30 teams in turnovers.
Last season, with veteran point guard Fred VanVleet available, Houston ranked No. 4 (at 13.9 per game).
But as the Rockets (23-14) approach the midpoint of the 82-game regular season, there are signs that perhaps they’re getting more acclimated to the VanVleet-less roster.
From the team’s postgame notes, issued after its win over Chicago:
The Rockets only had nine turnovers tonight, including one in the second half. Houston is averaging 12.6 turnovers per game over the past seven games after averaging 17.9 the 12 games prior.
The Rockets are 5-1 when having 12 or fewer turnovers this season.
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For the month of January, which is when those seven games all took place, Houston is averaging the seventh-fewest turnovers in the league. In December, the Rockets had the second-most.
“One turnover in a half is great,” Kevin Durant said postgame. “You got nine for the game and guys that handle the ball the most had those turnovers, and we could take that because guys are being aggressive. But we kept the ball in our hands, made the correct plays, and we were able to knock down shots when we needed them.”
Durant, Alperen Sengun, and Amen Thompson had three turnovers apiece against the Bulls, while the other seven rotation players (box score) combined for zero.
It’s a positive trend line for the Rockets, who have won 12 of their last 13 home games at Toyota Center. But the competition is about to get much tougher, as the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder (who currently own the NBA’s best record, at 34-7) are set to visit on Thursday.
Then, the Minnesota Timberwolves (27-14) will visit a night later on Friday. Both games will be nationally televised, and each versus a team Houston wants to chase down in the Western Conference standings.
Minimizing turnovers would certainly help.
Even with the reduced turnovers, Houston’s overall offensive rating is worse in January than in December. However, that slippage is largely due to a dramatic decline in 3-point shooting, which fell off from No. 5 in December (39.0%) to No. 30 in January (26.1%).
Assuming the shotmaking eventually bounces back — as it did late versus the Bulls — that’s when a reduction in turnovers could potentially lead to a more productive offense.
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