Though Kevin Durant (right knee contusion) did return to the lineup, the Rockets now face a 0–2 series deficit after another mediocre offensive showing in their Game 2 loss. Game 3 of the best-of-seven, first-round playoff series is Friday night inside Houston’s Toyota Center. Tipoff versus the Los Angeles Lakers is at 7:00 p.m. Central, […]
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The Lakers don’t win Game 2 against the Rockets without Marcus Smart’s efforts. In the opening quarter, he was the most aggressive player on the court. He took seven shots and converted on five of them, including a trio of threes. Smart ended the quarter with 14 points, which was part of a 25-point performance. […]
After the Lakers took Game 1, desperation naturally had to set in for the Rockets. No team wants to fall down 2-0, as those who hold that lead go on to win 92.7% of the time. Houston was held to an abysmal 37% from the floor in the playoff opener, setting the stage for superstar […]
I don’t know if the Rockets are going to come back and win this series or not. I’ll admit it looks bleak. However, I’ve seen too many things happen in sports to write them off completely. Here’s what I do know. If they go out, they better go out with a fight, and that starts […]
The latest news on the Houston Astros and from around MLB: Yordan Alvarez is unstoppable: Do the Astros have a major Bryan Abreu problem? Jose Altuve vs Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell at 2000 games mark: This is what happens when the top 4 guys on your CF depth chart all go down at the […]
There’s a moment that comes around when you start watching the NFL Draft that I think every football fan who watches the draft has. Everybody’s in a good mood, they’ve all finished booing Roger Goodell (for good reason) and now we’re a couple of picks in. The first couple blow past quickly because everyone and […]
In a recent Groupthink, the Masthead was asked to predict our #1 draft pick for the Houston Texans. Since there are 11ty million mock drafts out there currently, including a few right here on Battle Red Blog, I went a different direction. My scenario was pure fantasy. Nick Caserio traded a few picks to jump […]
Amen Thompson’s third season was one to remember, as it saw Thompson take on a larger offensive role. ESPN revealed earlier this week that the Houston guard/forward collected a few second-place votes for Defensive Player of the Year, with the San Antonio Spurs Victor Wembenyama winning the award unanimously. Thompson has received mixed reviews for […]
Houston Astros owner Jim Crane has said time and time again that as long as he’s in charge, the championship window will always be open. It’s a bold statement, and one that carries a lot of weight in a city that has grown accustomed to winning. But what does that actually mean in 2026? Is the window […]
The Houston Astros (10-16) win their first road series of the season. Yordan Alvarez hit a 2-run homer and Peter Lambert hurled 6 shutout innings as the Astros defeated the Cleveland Guardians 2-0 at Progressive Field, winning their first road series of the season. Houston got on the board fast against Guardians starter Tanner Bibee. […]
This board will be updated LIVE during the NFL Draft on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Be sure to join us live and in the comments as we track and update the board with each selection. Below you will find the updated, final, and consensus draft needs big board for the Houston Texans entering the 2026 […]
The Houston Astros (9-16) and Cleveland Guardians (14-11) will play the rubber match of this 3-game set this afternoon at Progressive Field. RHP Peter Lambert (0-1, 7.20 ERA) will start for HOU vs. CLE RHP Tanner Bibee (0-2, 4.81 ERA). The Astros won Monday night’s series opener, 9-2, while the Guardians took last night’s game, […]
Rejoice, for the NFL Draft is upon us. This is the first big NFL event since the Draft Combine where fans get to see what their teams will do to try to improve their team. Fans will channel all of their emotional and psychological well-beings into the actions of their team engaging in a glorified, […]
Our seventh installment of the legends series features Jim Deshaies, who landed in Houston after being dealt for Joe Niekro. In his first full season with the Astros, he’d post 12 wins, punctuating that amazing rookie campaign by striking out 8 Dodgers batters the first time through the lineup in September of 1986. A younger […]
(Please note I am currently in a deep basketball-induced depression and will be in mourning for the next 24 hours – Holly) On Tuesday night, the Rockets and Lakers kicked off Game 2 of the first round. Houston was looking to even things out. This series has been pretty weird so far. I mean, Luka […]
LOS ANGELES — Back in March, the Lakers were winning games thanks to an incredibly potent offense. One month later, they’re winning playoff games on the back of their defense. A necessary change following injuries to Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, the Lakers are suffocating the Rockets. In Game 2, that defense forced 15 turnovers as […]
The Lakers can write a hearty book of all the role players who have stepped up in big moments throughout the franchise’s history. When you win 17 NBA titles, that list is pretty long, in fact. While Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard are not quite at the levels of the elites in Lakers lore, what […]
With Kevin Durant back in the fold and the Rockets desperate to push as hard as possible to take a split back to Houston, the Lakers were able to match the Rockets’ physicality and fend them off down the stretch to hold on for a 101-94 victory and take control of the series with a […]
In a rock fight of a Game 2, the Lakers did just enough to go ahead 2-0 in the series with a 101-94 win over the Rockets. Offense was a precious commodity throughout the contest, a change of pace from the opening game of the series. As the game went on, the defenses took over, […]
Houston Rockets vs Los Angeles Lakers Game 2 – April 21, 2026 Location: Crypto.com arena, Los Angeles, CA TV: NBC/Peacock Radio:KBME Sports Talk 790 / KLTN 102.9 (en español) Online: Peacock Time: 9:30 PM CST Probable Starting Lineups Rockets: Reed Sheppard, Amen Thompson, Tari Eason, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun Lakers: Luke Kennard, Marcus Smart, […]
The Houston Astros (9-15) and Cleveland Guardians (13-11) will play the 2nd game of this 3-game set tonight at Progressive Field. RHP Ryan Weiss (0-2) will start for the Astros vs. Guardians LHP Parker Messick (3-0). TONIGHT’S STARTER: RHP Ryan Weiss will make his second start of the season tonight. Weiss began the 2026 season […]
ASTROS ANNOUNCE HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2026 Alan Ashby, Phil Garner are the new HOF members The Houston Astros announced today that former catcher and broadcaster Alan Ashby and former player and manager Phil Garner have been elected into the Astros Hall of Fame presented by Houston Methodist. Ashby and Garner were elected by the Astros Hall of Fame committee, […]
This is the latest edition of 3 Up, 3 Down examining who is hot and who is not for the Houston Astros. 3 Up 2. Christian Vazquez – Vazquez continues to produce at an incredible level despite irregular playing time. Vazquez is hitting .375 with an 1.132 OPS over 32 AB with 2 HR and […]
The Astros have placed OF Taylor Trammell on the 10-day IL due to a left groin strain. To take his place on the active roster, the Astros selected OF Daniel Johnson (#31) to the Major League roster. To make room for Johnson on the 40-man roster, the Astros designated RHP Christian Roa for assignment.
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic addressed these topics on the Foul Territory podcast: Astros owner Jim Crane is a prideful man, and he has high expectations. A case can be made that Brown’s ability to reshape the roster has been compromised by Crane’s budgetary constraints, the size of the payroll he inherited, and the mitigated […]