Game ID: 22500471
Houston Rockets @ Brooklyn Nets
Thursday, January 1, 2026 at 6:00 PM ET
Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
BKN 20 22 25 29 96HOU 26 27 37 30 120
BKN vs HOU ScoutingBKN vs HOU Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
BKN availability going into 12/21 · 2 days' restOUT Thomas missed 18 since 11/07, out tonight
OUT Saraf missed 3 since 12/12, out tonight
OUT Etienne missed 4 since 12/06, out tonight
OUT Liddell missed 7 since 12/01, out tonight
BACK Mann back 12/04 after 2, 24 min since (101% of 24)
BACK Traore back 12/12 after 9, 9 min since (41% of 22)
BACK Wilson back 12/04 after 2, 10 min since (62% of 16)
BKN availability going into 12/23 · 1 day's restOUT Thomas missed 19 since 11/07, out tonight
OUT Saraf missed 4 since 12/12, out tonight
OUT Etienne missed 5 since 12/06, out tonight
OUT Liddell missed 8 since 12/01, out tonight
BACK Traore back 12/12 after 9, 14 min since (61% of 22)
BKN availability going into 12/27 · 3 days' restOUT Thomas missed 20 since 11/07, returns tonight: 20 min (82% of 24)
OUT Powell missed 2 since 12/21, returns tonight: 18 min (84% of 21)
OUT Saraf missed 5 since 12/12, out tonight
OUT Wilson missed 2 since 12/21, returns tonight: 1 min (8% of 16)
OUT Etienne missed 6 since 12/06, out tonight
OUT Liddell missed 9 since 12/01, out tonight
BACK Traore back 12/12 after 9, 14 min since (62% of 22)
BKN availability going into 12/29 · 1 day's restOUT Saraf missed 6 since 12/12, out tonight
OUT Etienne missed 7 since 12/06, out tonight
OUT Liddell missed 10 since 12/01, out tonight
BACK Thomas back 12/27 after 20, 20 min since (82% of 24)
BACK Powell back 12/27 after 2, 18 min since (84% of 21)
BACK Wilson back 12/27 after 2, 1 min since (8% of 16)
BKN availability going into 1/01 · 2 days' restOUT Williams missed 2 since 12/27, returns tonight: 27 min (117% of 23)
OUT Saraf missed 7 since 12/12, out tonight
OUT Martin missed 2 since 12/27, returns tonight: 18 min (96% of 19)
OUT Etienne missed 8 since 12/06, out tonight
OUT Liddell missed 11 since 12/01, out tonight
BACK Thomas back 12/27 after 20, 19 min since (80% of 24)
BACK Powell back 12/27 after 2, 17 min since (83% of 21)
BACK Wilson back 12/27 after 2, 1 min since (8% of 16)
NEW Dëmin 25 to 30 min over the last 5
BKN availability going into 1/02 · back-to-backOUT Saraf missed 8 since 12/12, out tonight
OUT Etienne missed 9 since 12/06, out tonight
OUT Liddell missed 12 since 12/01, returns tonight: 3 min (23% of 13)
BACK Thomas back 12/27 after 20, 20 min since (84% of 24)
BACK Williams back 1/01 after 2, 27 min since (117% of 23)
BACK Powell back 12/27 after 2, 20 min since (96% of 21)
BACK Martin back 1/01 after 2, 18 min since (96% of 19)
BACK Wilson back 12/27 after 2, 12 min since (75% of 16)
NEW Dëmin 25 to 31 min over the last 4
BKN availability going into 1/04 · 1 day's restOUT Porter Jr. missed 2 since 1/01, returns tonight: 32 min (99% of 32)
OUT Saraf missed 9 since 12/12, out tonight
OUT Etienne missed 10 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK Thomas back 12/27 after 20, 20 min since (84% of 24)
BACK Williams back 1/01 after 2, 25 min since (111% of 23)
BACK Powell back 12/27 after 2, 20 min since (98% of 21)
BACK Martin back 1/01 after 2, 12 min since (61% of 19)
BACK Wilson back 12/27 after 2, 13 min since (84% of 16)
BACK Liddell back 1/02 after 12, 3 min since (23% of 13)
NEW Dëmin 25 to 30 min over the last 4
BKN availability going into 1/07 · 2 days' restOUT Claxton missed 2 since 1/02, returns tonight: 23 min (83% of 28)
OUT Saraf missed 10 since 12/12, out tonight
OUT Etienne missed 11 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK Porter Jr. back 1/04 after 2, 32 min since (99% of 32)
BACK Thomas back 12/27 after 20, 21 min since (86% of 24)
BACK Williams back 1/01 after 2, 23 min since (102% of 23)
BACK Powell back 12/27 after 2, 20 min since (95% of 21)
BACK Martin back 1/01 after 2, 12 min since (61% of 19)
BACK Wilson back 12/27 after 2, 13 min since (84% of 16)
BACK Liddell back 1/02 after 12, 3 min since (23% of 13)
BKN availability going into 1/09 · 1 day's restOUT Saraf missed 11 since 12/12, out tonight
OUT Martin missed 2 since 1/04, out tonight
OUT Wilson missed 2 since 1/04, returns tonight: 2 min (15% of 16)
OUT Etienne missed 12 since 12/06, out tonight
OUT Liddell missed 2 since 1/04, out tonight
BACK Porter Jr. back 1/04 after 2, 35 min since (108% of 32)
BACK Claxton back 1/07 after 2, 23 min since (83% of 28)
BACK Williams back 1/01 after 2, 24 min since (107% of 23)
NEW Sharpe 19 to 25 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/23 · 1 day's restOUT Finney-Smith missed 26 since 10/21, out tonight
BACK Sengun back 12/11 after 2, 37 min since (110% of 34)
BACK Eason back 12/21 after 14, 16 min since (59% of 26)
NEW Durant 36 to 42 min over the last 5
NEW Okogie 17 to 28 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/25 · 1 day's restOUT Finney-Smith missed 27 since 10/21, returns tonight: 13 min (81% of 16)
BACK Eason back 12/21 after 14, 17 min since (64% of 26)
NEW Okogie 17 to 26 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/27 · 1 day's restBACK Eason back 12/21 after 14, 20 min since (76% of 26)
BACK Finney-Smith back 12/25 after 27, 13 min since (81% of 16)
NEW Okogie 17 to 23 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/29 · 1 day's restBACK Eason back 12/21 after 14, 20 min since (77% of 26)
BACK Finney-Smith back 12/25 after 27, 15 min since (90% of 16)
HOU availability going into 1/01 · 2 days' restOUT Sengun missed 2 since 12/27, returns tonight: 34 min (100% of 34)
BACK Eason back 12/21 after 14, 22 min since (83% of 26)
BACK Finney-Smith back 12/25 after 27, 15 min since (93% of 16)
HOU availability going into 1/03 · 1 day's restBACK Sengun back 1/01 after 2, 34 min since (100% of 34)
BACK Finney-Smith back 12/25 after 27, 15 min since (93% of 16)
HOU availability going into 1/05 · 1 day's restOUT Adams missed 2 since 1/01, returns tonight: 31 min (137% of 23)
BACK Sengun back 1/01 after 2, 17 min since (52% of 34)
BACK Finney-Smith back 12/25 after 27, 15 min since (95% of 16)
HOU availability going into 1/07 · 1 day's restBACK Sengun back 1/01 after 2, 17 min since (52% of 34)
BACK Adams back 1/05 after 2, 31 min since (137% of 23)
HOU availability going into 1/09 · 1 day's restOUT Sengun missed 2 since 1/05, out tonight
BACK Adams back 1/05 after 2, 31 min since (135% of 23)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Brooklyn comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 104, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 21 free throws a game; Porter Jr. at 27 and Dëmin at 16 a game. Without Williams (2 straight), Saraf (7 straight), Martin (2 straight). 2 days' rest. Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 114, shooting 52 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; Durant at 26 and Sengun at 20 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 11 a night. Without Sengun (2 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-11 a night and Brooklyn plus-0 and the defense, Brooklyn allowing 104 a night to Houston's 114. Call it Houston 113, Brooklyn 112, Brooklyn keeping it close.
12/21 vs TOR 96-81 — BKN notes
BKN won 96-81. BKN shot 47% (35 of 75) to TOR's 37%, 14 of 35 from three, and went to the line 16 times to TOR's 8 — 12 points from the stripe to their 7. BKN turned it over 21 times to TOR's 15. Porter Jr. led with 24 (9 of 18, 4 of 8 from three); Clowney added 19, Dëmin 16. The hinge was Q4, 29-16: a lead of 2 became 15. Clowney was the night's best plus/minus at +28.
12/23 @ PHI 114-106 — BKN notes
BKN won 114-106. BKN shot 43% (35 of 82) to PHI's 41%, 17 of 45 from three. Porter Jr. led with 28 (9 of 20, 5 of 12 from three, 5 of 7 at the line); Dëmin added 20, Claxton 16. The hinge was Q2, 36-30: from level to 6 ahead, and the lead reached 19. Sharpe was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
12/27 @ MIN 123-107 — BKN notes
BKN won 123-107. BKN shot 55% (46 of 84) to MIN's 45%, 11 of 40 from three, and got to the line 21 times to MIN's 28. Thomas led with 30 (9 of 15, 3 of 8 from three, 9 of 9 at the line); Porter Jr. added 27, Claxton 14. The hinge was Q3, 36-23: BKN came in trailing by 1 and left it ahead by 12, and the lead reached 21. BKN trailed 62-63 at the half and won the second half 61-44. Thomas was the night's best plus/minus at +27.
12/29 vs GSW 107-120 — BKN notes
BKN lost 107-120. BKN shot 45% (36 of 80) to GSW's 53%, 18 of 42 from three, and got to the line 23 times to GSW's 34. Porter Jr. led with 27 (10 of 18, 5 of 9 from three); Dëmin added 23, Claxton 15. Q1 was theirs, 30-28, but the other 3 periods went 92-77 against them. They led by as many as 13. Thomas's -21 in 19 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/01 vs HOU 96-120 — BKN notes
BKN lost 96-120. BKN shot 45% (34 of 76) to HOU's 57%, 10 of 30 from three, and went to the line 30 times to HOU's 18 — 18 points from the stripe to their 14. The glass went 27-45 against them. Thomas led with 21 (8 of 13, 3 of 7 from three); Williams added 14, Clowney 11. Q4 was theirs, 29-30, but the other 3 periods went 90-67 against them. Powell's -25 in 25 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/02 @ WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 117, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; McCollum at 17 and Johnson at 15 a game. Without George (3 straight), Kispert (4 straight), Cooper (14 straight). One day's rest. Brooklyn comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 107, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 25 free throws a game; Porter Jr. at 26 and Thomas at 21 a game. Without Saraf (8 straight), Etienne (9 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Washington wins, and the game turns on the defense, Brooklyn allowing 107 a night to Washington's 117 and the turnovers, Brooklyn giving it away 16 times a game to Washington's 13. Call it Washington 114, Brooklyn 113, Brooklyn keeping it close.
1/04 vs DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Brooklyn comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 114, shooting 45 percent and 33 from three, 27 free throws a game; Porter Jr. at 27 and Thomas at 21 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Porter Jr. (2 straight), Saraf (9 straight), Etienne (10 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 126, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 26 free throws a game; Jokić at 37 and Murray at 27 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Jokić (2 straight), Braun (23 straight), Johnson (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Brooklyn allowing 114 a night to Denver's 126 and the turnovers, Brooklyn giving it away 15 times a game to Denver's 12. Call it Denver 117, Brooklyn 116, Brooklyn keeping it close.
1/07 vs ORL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Brooklyn comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 116, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 28 free throws a game; Porter Jr. at 27 and Thomas at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Claxton (2 straight), Saraf (10 straight), Etienne (11 straight). 2 days' rest. Orlando comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 117, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 27 free throws a game; Banchero at 25 and Bane at 19 a game. Without Fra. Wagner (12 straight), Suggs (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Brooklyn wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Brooklyn 115, Orlando 114, Orlando keeping it close.
1/09 vs LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Brooklyn comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 116, shooting 44 percent and 35 from three, 28 free throws a game; Porter Jr. at 29 and Dëmin at 16 a game. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Saraf (11 straight), Martin (2 straight), Wilson (2 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 112, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 23 free throws a game; Leonard at 30 and Harden at 20 a game. Without Jones Jr. (2 straight), Bogdanović (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where the Clippers have been minus-0 a night and Brooklyn minus-8 and the turnovers, Brooklyn giving it away 15 times a game to the Clippers' 11. Call it the Clippers 113, Brooklyn 112, Brooklyn keeping it close.
12/23 @ LAC 108-128 — HOU notes
HOU lost 108-128. HOU took 9 more shots (86 to 77), fed by 15 offensive rebounds, but shot 50% to LAC's 55%, 9 of 30 from three, and got to the line 18 times to LAC's 27. HOU turned it over 13 times to LAC's 8. Durant led with 22 (8 of 15, 1 of 4 from three); Thompson added 19, Sengun 19. Q1 was theirs, 35-29, but the other 3 periods went 99-73 against them. Sheppard's -21 in 26 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/25 @ LAL 119-96 — HOU notes
HOU won 119-96. HOU shot 53% (48 of 90) to LAL's 51%, 8 of 24 from three, and went to the line 19 times to LAL's 11 — 15 points from the stripe to their 7. The glass went 48-25 for them. Thompson led with 26 (12 of 19); Durant added 25, Smith Jr. 16. The hinge was Q1, 37-25: from level to 12 ahead, and the lead reached 24. Durant was the night's best plus/minus at +26.
12/27 vs CLE 117-100 — HOU notes
HOU won 117-100. HOU shot 49% (43 of 88) to CLE's 43%, 16 of 35 from three, and went to the line 21 times to CLE's 11 — 15 points from the stripe to their 7. Durant led with 30 (11 of 17, 2 of 4 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); Sheppard added 18, Smith Jr. 15. The hinge was Q3, 30-17: a lead of 14 became 27, and the lead reached 31. Adams was the night's best plus/minus at +26.
12/29 vs IND 126-119 — HOU notes
HOU won 126-119. HOU shot 59% (49 of 83) to IND's 50%, 10 of 27 from three. HOU turned it over 16 times to IND's 9, and IND turned those into 12 steals. The glass went 50-29 for them. Durant led with 30 (13 of 20, 2 of 6 from three); Smith Jr. added 21, Thompson 20. The hinge was Q2, 36-23: a lead of 5 became 18, and the lead reached 28. Adams was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
1/01 @ BKN 120-96 — HOU notes
HOU won 120-96. HOU shot 57% (47 of 82) to BKN's 45%, 12 of 29 from three, and got to the line 18 times to BKN's 30. The glass went 45-27 for them. Thompson led with 23 (10 of 12, 2 of 3 from three); Durant added 22, Sengun 20. The hinge was Q3, 37-25: a lead of 11 became 23, and the lead reached 26. Sengun was the night's best plus/minus at +30.
1/03 @ DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Dallas comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 123, shooting 51 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Flagg at 22 and Williams at 18 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Russell (2 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 108, shooting 54 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Durant at 26 and Thompson at 20 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 16 a night. One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-16 a night and Dallas minus-3 and the defense, Houston allowing 108 a night to Dallas's 123. Call it Houston 118, Dallas 114, Dallas keeping it close.
1/05 vs PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 104, shooting 51 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; Durant at 28 and Thompson at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 15 a night. Without Adams (2 straight). One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 110, shooting 45 percent and 40 from three, 22 free throws a game; Booker at 26 and Brooks at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Allen (9 straight), Green (25 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-15 a night and Phoenix plus-8 and the defense, Houston allowing 104 a night to Phoenix's 110. Call it Houston 117, Phoenix 110.
1/07 @ POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 116, shooting 46 percent and 39 from three, 23 free throws a game; Avdija at 28 and Sharpe at 19 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Holiday (25 straight), Grant (10 straight), Henderson (37 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 104, shooting 49 percent and 34 from three, 20 free throws a game; Durant at 28 and Thompson at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 13 a night. One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Houston allowing 104 a night to Portland's 116 and the glass, where Houston has been plus-13 a night and Portland plus-5. Call it Houston 116, Portland 114, Portland keeping it close.
1/09 @ POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 112, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 24 free throws a game; Avdija at 31 and Sharpe at 18 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Holiday (26 straight), Grant (11 straight), Henderson (38 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 105, shooting 46 percent and 29 from three, 21 free throws a game; Durant at 30 and Thompson at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 15 a night. Without Sengun (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-15 a night and Portland plus-0 and the arc, Portland at 37 percent from three to Houston's 29. Call it Houston 114, Portland 113, Portland keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
HOUAH A. Holiday
AS A. Sengun
AT A. Thompson
DF D. Finney-Smith
JD J. Davison
JO J. Okogie
JS J. Smith Jr.
JT J. Tate
KD K. Durant
RS R. Sheppard
TE T. Eason
BKNCT C. Thomas
DP D. Powell
DS D. Sharpe
DW D. Wolf
JW J. Wilson
NC N. Claxton
NC N. Clowney
NT N. Traore
TM T. Martin
ZW Z. Williams
HOU/BKN the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Durant and Thompson lead the Rockets past the Nets 120-96 for their 4th straight victory
NEW YORK -- — Kevin Durant had 22 points and a season-high 11 assists, Amen Thompson scored 23 points and the Houston Rockets beat the Brooklyn Nets 120-96 on Thursday night for their fourth straight victory.
Alperen Sengun had 20 points, six rebounds and six assists after a two-game absence for the Rockets, who started fast in both halves to win in Brooklyn for the first time in seven years. Tari Eason finished with 15 points and nine rebounds, and Jabari Smith Jr. and Reed Sheppard each scored 14 points.
Sengun was 8 for 12 from the floor after sitting out two games with a left calf injury.
Cam Thomas scored 21 points for the Nets, who dropped their second straight after winning three in a row for the only time this season. Ziaire Williams added 14.
Michael Porter Jr ., who leads the Nets with a career-high 25.8 points per game, missed the game with an illness along with injured starting guards Egor Demin and Terance Mann . Without them, Brooklyn never led in its first home loss to Houston since Nov. 2, 2018, after winning the last six.
The Nets went 7-4 in December and allowed an NBA-low 104.6 points per game, but the Rockets jumped on them immediately to start the new year. Houston made its first seven shots en route to a 16-5 lead, went up by 14 in the second quarter and took a 53-42 advantage to the break.
Houston then made its first five 3-pointers and started 8 for 9 overall in the second half. Smith and Eason each hit two 3s and Thompson made one in a 19-5 run that extended their 11-point lead to 74-49 when Smith hit back-to-back 3s.
The Rockets played without centers Steven Adams (sprained right ankle) and Clint Capela (illness).