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Ira Winderman: Norman Powell (calf) is out tonight for Heat in Houston. So no Powell, no Andrew Wiggins, no Jaime Jaquez Jr.
Vanessa Richardson: Ime Udoka tells me Reed Sheppard will start tonight vs Hawks. Starting lineup: Reed Sheppard Amen Thompson Kevin Durant Jabari Smith Jr Alperen Şengün
The Rockets host the Atlanta Hawks on Friday, then the Miami Heat on Saturday. Houston then travels to Chicago for a game Monday against the Bulls. The 16-time All-Star and 2014 NBA MVP accomplishing a milestone so revered at the United Center — “The House That Jordan Built” — would make for a new core memory. “Michael Jordan has always been my inspiration. There’s a reason why I wanted to be able to knock down those shots,” Durant said in a one-on-one interview with The Athletic. “He was always unstoppable, but when he became a midrange maestro, you never knew how he would attack you. You never knew what MJ was going to do. “He scared defenders every night, and I wanted to put that same kind of fear in the defender who’s guarding me.”
Law Murray 📘: Kevin Durant tells reporters in Houston (I am NOT one of them) that he believes that LeBron James could play until he's 45 "I don't know if he wants to be around that long. But I think he could play for another 4-5 more years, to be honest… it's not a surprise anymore"
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Channing Frye: “Can I ask this question? Do you think the young stars in Houston think that KD came in there to elevate them, or to be like, ‘Y’all need me, and then you’re not as good without me’? Do you think they think that? Because if I were a young guy there—and this is just what I’m going to say—they were second in the West last year. KD comes to that team and says, ‘Yo, run your offense through me. I’ll take you to the promised land,’ whatever.” And they’re like, ‘Do we really need you like that?’” And then now KD goes, ‘Well, you know what? Maybe I just need to sit in a corner.’ I don’t know if this ever happened, but the burner account thing happened.” That seems very passive-aggressive. You know what I’m saying? Maybe I just need to let them dribble the ball more. If I’m a player in Houston, a young guy, I’m going, ‘Dog, I was second in the West. We were second in the West without you, and you came here.' None of that is uplifting. And I’m not saying that KD is saying that on purpose, but you can see that when things get tough, they’re like, ‘Man, you go do it. You go do it.’ And that’s a bad chemistry sign that I see.”
NBA reporter Cayleigh Griffin tweeted that Westbrook was one of her favorite players to cover while in Houston. Sideline reporter Lesley McCaslin echoed those sentiments, noting Westbrook’s intensity actually made her better at her job. And off-camera, he showed a rare personal touch. When McCaslin was pregnant, Westbrook surprised her by personally selecting a high-end stroller as a gift.
On Tuesday, Dybantsa opened his Big 12 tournament by hitting 15 of 21 shots for 40 points to break Kevin Durant's tournament scoring record for a freshman set in 2007. And despite BYU's run ending Thursday against Houston, Dybantsa passed Durant again with 93 total points to set a new tournament record. "I think Dybantsa is the easy No. 1," an East executive said. "He's special. There's just so much for him to still grow into." "He's the easiest one to see how he gets to No. 1, but the game doesn't come quite as easy to him like it does to some of the truly great players," another East executive said. "[Dybantsa] is probably going to be our No. 1," a West scout said. "But it isn't settled."
Josh Lewenberg: Jakob Poeltl is questionable for tomorrow’s game in Houston with an illness. Trayce Jackson-Davis is out with a dislocated finger. CMB remains out, as well (and expect him to miss Wednesday’s game in NOLA).
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Michael Grange: Collin Murray-Boyles expected to miss Raptors trip to Houston and New Orleans this week as they try to let his thumb settle down. Trayce Jackson-Davis (finger) ruled out vs. Rockets.
Sean Highkin: Deni Avdija is listed as "doubtful" for tomorrow's game in Houston. He was listed as questionable going into yesterday's game in Memphis and did not play.
Anthony Slater: Kristaps Porzingis got on the court yesterday and is supposed to get a workout in tonight in Houston. No update on when he’ll return, but feeling better. Kerr: “Hopefully that bodes well for him playing soon.”
