The Houston Rockets gave the defending-champion Oklahoma City Thunder everything they could handle on Tuesday night, but ultimately came up short in a 125-124 double-overtime classic. While guard Fred VanVleet (torn ACL) is likely out for the entire 2025-26 season, the Rockets debuted the tallest starting lineup in NBA history and look poised to wreak havoc on opposing teams all season with their length. That came to fruition as Houston outrebounded Oklahoma City, 52-38, and looked like a team that is built to contend despite the potential season-long absence of VanVleet. Two-time champion with the Rockets and current analyst Kenny Smith was on Wednesday’s edition of ESPN’s “First Take” and was asked how much of a threat he believes the Rockets are in the Western Conference. “For me, if Fred VanVleet is there, they would be the odds-on rival to Oklahoma City because they would have experience, they would have depth, they would have size,” Smith said. “… When you put Kevin Durant on any basketball team imm
