Rockets 115, Clippers 113 • Tight wire-to-wire battle. • Houston closed strong to seal a 2-point win. • (No big stat explosion, but the game was highly competitive.)

📍 Bucks vs. Celtics — MIL 116, BOS 101 • Kyle Kuzma: 31 points — season-high scoring night to power Milwaukee. • Bobby Portis: 27 points off the bench — huge spark scoring and energy. • Jaylen Brown: 30 points — top scoring effort in defeat for Boston. • Kevin Porter Jr.: 18 points, 10 rebounds, 13 assists — triple-double! (rare big night for a guard).

📍 Nuggets vs. Kings — DEN 136, SAC 105 • Nikola Jokić: 36 points, 12 rebounds, 8 assists — near triple-double performance in Denver’s big road win. • Peyton Watson: 21 points on efficient 7-of-10 shooting.

The NBA is shifting right in front of us. Old dynasties are fading, superteams aren’t guaranteed anymore, and the gap between contenders and pretenders is the smallest it’s been in years. Here’s the REAL truth: This might be the first season where the Finals are completely wide open. No clear favorite. No dominant monster team. Just whoever gets hot at the right time. So let’s talk facts… Who’s actually built for a deep playoff run, and who’s just fooling everybody? 👀🏀 Drop your take below. I want to hear it.

Tonight the Houston Rockets (15-6) host the Los Angeles Clippers (6-18) at Toyota Center in Houston. Houston comes in as one of the top teams in the West with a strong record and elite offensive numbers, while the Clippers have struggled this season and sit near the bottom of the standings. Key Storylines Before Tip-Off • Rockets have a short injury report, with Dorian Finney-Smith (ankle), Tari Eason (oblique), and Fred VanVleet (out for season) listed as unavailable. Still, the core of Houston’s lineup is healthy and ready to roll. • Houston’s offense is elite: they average 120.9 PPG (4th in the NBA), boast a +223 scoring differential, and lead the league in rebounds per game (48.8). Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun anchor the attack, with Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., and Reed Sheppard contributing major production. • The Clippers are in rebuilding mode, with a 6-18 record and injuries impacting their rotations. This sets up a big opportunity for the Rockets to come out hot and control the pace early. First-Half Things to Watch: 🔹 Kevin Durant & Alperen Sengun — A big first-half performance from these guys could put Houston in control early. 🔹 Bench scoring — The Rockets’ depth is a huge asset and can swing the first half if the Clippers struggle to keep up. 🔹 Rebounding advantage — Houston’s league-leading boards could fuel extra possessions and easy buckets. 👇 Drop your first-half score prediction and who you think will be the early game MVP!