Tipoff is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Toyota Center, Houston, Texas
This is the second half of a home-and-home series. The Rockets won the first meeting 121-114 in Atlanta on Saturday and look to complete the sweep while extending their perfect start. The Hawks enter after two strong road wins before falling at home.
Injury Reports
Atlanta Hawks:
Mouhamed Gueye (foot) — Out
Henri Veesaar (ACL) — Out for season
Jock Landale (nasal fracture) — Available
Houston Rockets:
Steven Adams (calf/soleus strain) — Out
Marcus Smart (forearm) — Day-to-day / Questionable
Fred VanVleet (knee management/rest) — Day-to-day / Questionable (sat the previous game)
Houston remains deep even with potential absences in the backcourt and frontcourt depth. Atlanta is missing some big-man depth but has its core intact.
Current Player Rosters
Atlanta Hawks: Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, CJ McCollum, Onyeka Okongwu, Aaron Wiggins, Luguentz Dort, Jock Landale, and others. Recent starting groups have featured Alexander-Walker, Daniels, Johnson, McCollum, and Okongwu.
Houston Rockets: Kevin Durant, Alperen Şengün, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., Reed Sheppard, Tari Eason, Fred VanVleet (status pending), Marcus Smart (status pending), and depth pieces including Clint Capela and others. Balanced scoring attack with multiple double-digit contributors.
Key Player vs. Player Matchups
Jalen Johnson vs. Amen Thompson / Jabari Smith Jr. / Kevin Durant: Johnson nearly posted a triple-double (26 points, 16 assists, 9 rebounds) in the first meeting. His playmaking and two-way versatility against Houston’s athletic wings and forwards will be pivotal.
Kevin Durant vs. Dyson Daniels / Luguentz Dort: Durant’s scoring and efficiency (22 points in the prior game) against Atlanta’s strong perimeter defenders.
Alperen Şengün vs. Onyeka Okongwu: Interior battle involving scoring, rebounding, and playmaking from the bigs.
Reed Sheppard / backcourt creation vs. Hawks guards (McCollum, Alexander-Walker): Sheppard stepped up with 19 points and strong shooting in the first game while VanVleet rested.
Pace and transition: Both teams play with energy; Thompson’s athleticism and Daniels’ steals/defense will influence tempo and second-chance opportunities.
Recent Team Forms
Hawks (2-1): Wins at Orlando (132-125) and at Charlotte (128-81), then a 114-121 home loss to Houston. Strong early offense (high scoring averages) but struggled from three in the loss to the Rockets (poor 3-point shooting contributed to the deficit).
Rockets (3-0): Wins vs. Dallas, at San Antonio, and at Atlanta. First 3-0 start since 2017-18. Balanced attack (seven players in double figures in the Hawks win) and resilience after building and holding leads.
Houston holds clear momentum and home-court advantage in the series finale.
Series History
Houston has won the last several meetings, including the Oct. 24, 2026 game (121-114). The Rockets extended a winning streak against Atlanta in the first encounter of this home-and-home. Historical edge favors Houston in recent matchups.
Betting Trends
The total reflects both teams’ early offensive outputs. Houston is covering spreads early in the season; Atlanta has been competitive but fell short in the first meeting.
Game Odds
Atlanta Hawks 229.5
Houston Rockets – 5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Sunday, October 25, 2026
