Durant Boosts Rockets; VanVleet Suffers ACL Tear

The Houston Rockets open their 2025 preseason tonight against the Atlanta Hawks after a blockbuster offseason that added Kevin Durant and other key free agents, while the Hawks upgraded their roster with Kristaps Porziņģis and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Houston will be coping with major injuries—Fred VanVleet suffered an ACL tear likely to sideline him for the season and Dorian Finney-Smith is expected to miss the start of the regular season—yet the Rockets remain a Western Conference contender behind Durant, Alperen Şengün and Amen Thompson. Atlanta enters the preseason opener with no major injuries reported. In Dallas, the Oklahoma City Thunder, coming off a 135-114 preseason rout of the Charlotte Hornets in which many regulars were rested, are playing the second half of a back-to-back against the Mavericks; Aaron Wiggins led OKC with 23 points and Ousmane Dieng had 17 points, eight rebounds and six assists. The Thunder are said to still be without Thomas Sorber, Kenrich Williams and Jalen Williams for tonight's game, while the Mavericks remain without Kyrie Irving and have other day-to-day absences.