There’s an understanding that the goal is to win by any means necessary, and not get carried away with the highs and the lows. That's maturity.”

Houston Rockets second-year forward Amen Thompson was selected for the NBA’s Rising Stars Challenge on Tuesday, an unsurprising development for the 21-year-old who has become a league-wide sensation.

Fred VanVleet and the Houston Rockets (31-14) face the Atlanta Hawks (22-24) at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia on Tuesday, January 28 at 7:30 PM ET.The Rockets are coming off of a 114-112

The team to watch with Fox is Houston. Rockets have a team option on Fred VanVleet for next season and could entice the Kings with young players and (Suns) draft picks.

In a makeup of a postponement from earlier this month, Jalen Green and the Rockets (-6.5) are in Atlanta to face an injury ravaged Hawks team.

The Houston Rockets are in an exciting position halfway through this 2024-25 NBA season. With a strong record of 30-14, they are sitting second in the Western Conference and showing impressive growth as a young team. Led by emerging stars Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun, Houston has exceeded expectations thus far.

The Rockets beat the Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers twice last week before traveling to Boston and pulling out a 114-112 victory over the defending champion Celtics on Monday night.

In a league that requires playoff scars to survive the championship gauntlet of four playoff rounds, the Rockets have none, and any team that has been there before will reveal theirs in a seven-game series. Houston, more than any other team, is one piece away from serious title contention.

In 10 home games at Toyota Center versus the NBA’s other top teams, the Rockets are 9-1. Players such as Fred VanVleet are noticing.

Now halfway through the 2024-2025 NBA season, the Houston Rockets are in great position, sitting as the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference with a 27-13 record

Boston has lost nine games this season where it had the lead in the fourth quarter (which equals last year's mark in half the games).

BOSTON — Minutes after Amen Thompson sank a game-winning floater, sending thousands of dumbfounded Boston Celtics fans heading for the exits, the Houston Rockets second-year forward made a tiny but loud gesture at his locker.