Trade deadline reaction, Rockets-Thunder takeaways

Houston didn’t make a move at Thursday’s in-season trade deadline, but the Rockets did get a much-needed victory in Saturday’s 112-106 win at Oklahoma City.

For the Rockets, it's their first win of 2025-26 against the defending NBA champs. Houston (32-19) remains at No. 4 in the Western Conference standings, while the top-seeded Thunder (40-13) continue to own the league’s best record.

Featuring Ben DuBose, Paulo Alves, and Dave Hardisty, Saturday night’s postgame show reacts to both the trade deadline and that nationally televised Rockets-Thunder showdown.

Discussion points include offensive growth from Tari Eason and Jabari Smith Jr.; an apparent step forward for Alperen Sengun on defense; what general manager Rafael Stone considered at the deadline; and potential buyout options and trade targets over the coming weeks and months.

This episode can also be viewed in video form here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZfQqFRZMy0