NBA SCHEDULE RELEASE: Houston Rockets HOME HEAVY Season Start GOOD News | Most ANTICIPATED Matchups?

From Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets Locked On Podcast Network, Jackson Gatlin

Houston Rockets face brutal opening stretch as 2026-2027 NBA schedule drops. Can Ime Udoka’s squad capitalize on a home-heavy start and silence Toyota Center attendance critics with marquee matchups against the Dallas Mavericks, OKC Thunder, and Phoenix Suns? The return of 7:30 PM tip-offs and the expanded Red Rush 90 experience promise to energize fans, while Host Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) breaks down which stretches could define Houston’s playoff chase. Key insights include how Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams’ recoveries could benefit from the early home schedule, the significance of 14 back-to-backs, and the impact of a favorable NBA Cup group. Hear which games make the must-watch list—will Alperen Sengun outduel Victor Wembanyama when the San Antonio Spurs visit, and are the revamped Minnesota Timberwolves a sleeper threat? Plus, Jackson Gatlin crowns the league’s best schedule release videos.