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Ben DuBose, longtime Rockets media member, writer, and podcast host, discusses the 2025-26 Rockets season with Paulo Alves and special guests. Basketball topics include the performance of star players such as Kevin Durant, Amen Thompson, and Alperen Sengun; potential transactions in 2025 and beyond; weekly game recaps; and much more.
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With All-Star forward Kevin Durant sidelined for personal reasons, Amen Thompson (28 points, 8 assists) picked up the slack in Houston’s 114-92 victory at Phoenix. The Rockets (11-4) have now won 11 of their last 13 contests, overall, while the Suns (11-7) lost for just the second time in 10 games.Featuring Ben DuBose and Dave Hardisty, Monday’s “ClutchFans Live” postgame show breaks down all the key takeaways, including big nights from Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., and Aaron Holiday.
With All-Star forward Kevin Durant missing two games for personal reasons, second-year guard Reed Sheppard is in line for an expanded role with the Rockets (10-4), and potentially even a starting assignment. Featuring Ben DuBose and Paulo Alves, Monday’s episode breaks down all the implications of Sheppard’s recent rise. Other topics include insight on Houston’s close loss to Denver; slightly underwhelming efficiency numbers from Durant; and the updated injury outlooks for Tari Eason (oblique) and Dorian Finney-Smith (ankle).
Featuring Ben DuBose and Dave Hardisty, Wednesday’s “ClutchFans Live” postgame show breaks down Houston’s impressive 114-104 victory at Cleveland. The Rockets (10-3) have won five straight games and 10 of their last 11, overall, and the big story in this one was 26 combined fourth-quarter points from Aaron Holiday (!!!) and Alperen Sengun.Led by an All-Star duo in Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley, the Cavaliers (10-6) continue to rank third in the Eastern Conference and had the NBA’s second-best record (64-18) last season.This episode can be viewed in video form here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23QO3Nn6djE
In a “gutsy” overtime victory over Orlando, Houston’s All-Star duo of Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun combined for 65 points and several massive buckets in crunch time. Featuring Ben DuBose and Dave Hardisty, Sunday’s ClutchFans Live postgame show breaks down all the key takeaways for the surging Rockets (9-3), who have now won nine of their last 10 games, overall.The episode can be viewed in video form here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2l1OggvjMXw
In Friday night’s episode, Ben DuBose and Dave Hardisty (ClutchFans) go live with full postgame reaction after Houston’s 140-116 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. Kevin Durant (30 points, +37) and Alperen Sengun (25 points, 10 rebounds, 9 assists, four made 3-pointers) were among the clear standouts.The Rockets (8-3) have now won eight of their last nine games, overall.This episode can be viewed in video form here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKd1RulbrM0
Featuring hosts Ben DuBose and Paulo Alves, our latest full show breaks down the highs and lows of Houston’s 6-3 start to its 2025-26 regular season. Tuesday officially marks three weeks since the NBA’s Oct. 21 opener, and the Rockets — who have won six of their last seven games, overall — are now more than 10% of their way through the season.The discussion includes grades for all nine rotation players and Rockets head coach Ime Udoka, along with insight on a brilliant start by Alperen Sengun and inconsistency from Amen Thompson.
In Houston’s most impressive win of the 2025-26 season to date, Kevin Durant (31 points, 7 assists) and Alperen Sengun (23 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists) were incredible down the stretch as the Rockets stormed back from a 14-point deficit on the road. Houston is now 6-3 on the season, while Milwaukee is 6-4.In Sunday’s postgame show, Ben DuBose, Paulo Alves, and Dave Hardisty break down all the highlights versus Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks, including the huge bench spark provided by Reed Sheppard (16 points, 4 steals) and whether he could soon push for a starting role.This episode can be viewed in video form here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMao3ZdviME
The five-game winning streak for the Rockets (5-3) is now history after Friday’s 121-110 loss to the Spurs (6-2). The in-state rivalry game served as the opener of Emirates NBA Cup 2025 play for both teams.Featuring Ben DuBose and Dave Hardisty, Friday’s ClutchFans Live postgame show breaks down all the key takeaways, including how San Antonio crushed Houston off of turnovers (33 points off 23 giveaways) and subpar defensive rebounding (15 offensive boards for the home team).The show also highlights a relatively encouraging night for Reed Sheppard (16 points, 6 assists, 60% FG), albeit with some defensive miscues late in the game.
The Rockets (5-2) have now won five straight games, and Amen Thompson (28 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals) was the big story in their latest win at Memphis. Featuring Ben DuBose and Dave Hardisty, Wednesday’s ClutchFans Live postgame show breaks down what we learned after a dominant showing against the Grizzlies.This episode can be viewed in video form here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrWXL_SinRk
In an in-state rivalry matchup, the Rockets shot the ball poorly at home amid a rare off night for Kevin Durant. Yet, thanks to huge games by Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson, Houston survived it versus the short-handed Dallas Mavericks (2-5).For Monday’s ClutchFans Live postgame show, Dave Hardisty and Ben DuBose recap what we learned at Toyota Center, as well as many of the key takeaways moving forward. The Rockets (4-2) have now won four straight games, overall.The episode can be viewed in video form here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmrO20T6uBM
Saturday’s ClutchFans Live postgame show breaks down Houston’s dominant 128-101 victory in Boston. The Rockets (3-2) have now won three straight games, overall, all by a margin of at least 18 points.
With Wednesday’s 139-121 victory at Toronto, the Rockets (2-2) secured their first winning streak of the 2025-26 campaign and are now NBA’s most efficient offense of the young season.Featuring Ben DuBose, Paulo Alves, and Dave Hardisty, the “ClutchFans Live” show recaps all the key storylines. Topics include big scoring nights from Kevin Durant and Jabari Smith Jr.; a dominant rebounding performance, led by interior strength from Steven Adams and Alperen Sengun; and potential concerns on defense (where the Rockets currently rank in the bottom half of the league).This episode can be viewed in video form here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2C4F5xTVeKc
The Rockets (1-2) secured their first win of the 2025-26 season with a home blowout of the Brooklyn Nets. With Dave Hardisty and Ben DuBose as hosts, Monday’s ClutchFans Live postgame show explores all the key storylines.Topics include Tari Eason’s career shooting night; promising signs from Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard at point guard; and Ime Udoka’s decision to start Josh Okogie in place of Steven Adams.The episode can be viewed in video form here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iK6DcRVY8zE
In a roundtable conversation, Dave Hardisty and Ben DuBose sit down with Gretchen Sheirr, president of business operations with the Rockets, to discuss the opening of the 2025–26 NBA season.As part of the interview, Sheirr shares insights on the state of the franchise; what fans can expect from the Toyota Center experience, and the new promotions and initiatives designed to bring fans closer to the team.Discussion topics include the Rockets’ outlook for the new season; the impact of Kevin Durant on business; ongoing upgrades at Toyota Center; and the latest updates on fan promotions, engagement initiatives, and the overall business of basketball in Houston.This episode can also be viewed in video form here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95dVJwU3kB4
All-Star center Alperen Sengun was fantastic with a game-high 39 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists, but it wasn’t quite enough in Houston’s heartbreaking 125-124 road loss to the defending NBA champion Thunder. As a fitting opener to the 2025-26 regular season, Tuesday’s matchup between Western Conference heavyweights wasn’t decided until the final seconds of a second overtime in Oklahoma City.Tuesday’s ClutchFans Live postgame show, featuring Ben DuBose and Dave Hardisty, breaks down all the good and bad — including the fantastic showing by Sengun and a worrisome 21 turnovers as a team. Late miscues by Kevin Durant were also a recurring theme.
Monday’s ClutchFans live stream features reaction from Dave Hardisty and Ben DuBose to the relatively surprising news of the Rockets and Tari Eason not being able to agree on a contract extension prior to the rookie-scale deadline. Where does Houston go from here? Let’s discuss.This episode is available in video form here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMwKKKv9mvk
With analysis from Ben DuBose and Paulo Alves, Sunday’s show reacts to the news of Kevin Durant extending his Houston contract for two additional years (and $90 million), as well as insight on whether Tari Eason is the next Rockets player in line for an extension.The episode also looks ahead to Tuesday’s regular-season opener at Oklahoma City and breaks down whether Reed Sheppard or Steven Adams is most likely to be the fifth starter versus the Thunder.
The Rockets finished out a perfect preseason (4-0) with Thursday’s 133-115 victory at Atlanta, in which second-year guard Reed Sheppard (29 points, 6 assists, 6 rebounds, 4 steals, 3 blocks) stuffed the stat sheet. Our Houston-based postgame show, featuring Ben DuBose and Dave Hardisty, offers immediate reaction — along with insight on the upcoming contract-extension deadline for Tari Eason.The episode can be viewed in video form here, via the ClutchFans YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5H7YddfNPo
Tuesday’s “ClutchFans Live” postgame show features reaction from Ben DuBose and Dave Hardisty to Houston’s 130-128 exhibition victory over New Orleans. The Rockets are now 3-0 in preseason play.Topics include a big night for Jabari Smith Jr.; the implications of starting a “double big” lineup with Alperen Sengun and Steven Adams; and whether defensive concerns are warranted.The episode can be viewed in video form here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ng5u1_5sSYM
Hosted by Ben DuBose and Paulo Alves, Friday’s episode features reaction to Houston’s 2-0 start to preseason play. Topics include strong showings from the likes of Alperen Sengun, Kevin Durant, Amen Thompson, and Jabari Smith Jr., as well as early indications that the Rockets’ identity this season might be more driven by their offense.With a focus on player evaluations, the show concludes with a look at Ime Udoka’s end-of-the-rotation options and how much players such as Clint Capela and JD Davison might play off the bench.
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