The Houston Rockets (9-3) face the Cleveland Cavaliers (10-5) tonight at Rocket Arena in an early-season matchup between two rising contenders in the East and West.

Houston enters red-hot, riding a four-game winning streak and boasting the NBA’s top-ranked offense at 124.8 points per game. Their league-best three-point accuracy (42.6%) and dominant rebounding (50.3 per game) fuel a steady stream of second-chance points — a league-high 19.4 per game.

Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun anchor the attack with a combined 48.9 points per night, while four other Rockets, led by Amen Thompson (17.3 PPG), also score in double figures. Off the bench, Steven Adams remains a force on the glass, averaging 9.4 rebounds — including 5.1 offensive — in just 21.7 minutes.

Cleveland has won three of its last five and is coming off a 118–106 win over the Milwaukee Bucks, aided by Giannis Antetokounmpo’s early exit.

Donovan Mitchell continues to play at an MVP level with 30.9 points per game, while Evan Mobley, De’Andre Hunter, and Jarrett Allen remain a productive frontcourt trio combining for 51.6 points per night.

Darius Garland, who returned earlier this month, will miss his fifth straight game after re-aggravating a toe injury. Cleveland can stay competitive without him for now, but his long-term health remains critical for any deep playoff aspirations.

Prediction

Both teams have the firepower to trade punches all night, but Houston’s rebounding edge and three-point efficiency give them a slight late-game advantage. Cleveland will keep it close behind Mitchell, yet the Rockets’ depth and second-chance scoring tilt the matchup their way in the final possessions.

Prediction: Rockets 120, Cavaliers 118

Injury Report

Houston Rockets

Jabari Smith Jr. — GTD, Nov 19

Tari Eason — Out, Dec 18

Dorian Finney-Smith — Out, Nov 24

Fred VanVleet — Out, Jun 1

Cleveland Cavaliers

Sam Merrill — GTD, Nov 19

Jaylon Tyson — Out, Nov 21

Darius Garland — Out, Nov 21

Max Strus — Out, Dec 1

How to Watch Rockets vs. Cavaliers

Tip-off for tonight’s Houston Rockets vs. Cleveland Cavaliers game is set for 7:00 PM Eastern / 6:00 PM Central at Rocket Arena, Cleveland, Ohio. 

The game airs live nationally on ESPN and streams on the ESPN app and website.

Local viewers can catch the game on FanDuel Sports Network Ohio and Space City Home Network.

If you’re a cord-cutter without an active livestreaming plan, you can watch the game on ESPN for free by taking advantage of free trials from DIRECTV Stream, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo TV, or YouTube TV.

YouTube TV even offers a 20-minute free preview, without having to register for a trial — if you just want to catch part of the game.

Houston Rockets vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

Date: Wednesday, November 19, 2025

Time: 7:00 PM Eastern / 6:00 PM Central

Venue: Rocket Arena, Cleveland, Ohio

TV: ESPN, FanDuel Sports Network Ohio, Space City Home Network.

Streaming: ESPN app and website