The Brooklyn Nets might be finally finding their rhythm. They put an end to their brutal seven-game skid with a dominant win over the Hornets on Wednesday. They didn’t just win—they steamrolled Charlotte, walking away with a 104-83 victory, their biggest blowout of the season! As for the Rockets, their hot streak came to a frustrating halt on Thursday. After four straight wins, they found themselves just one bucket short against the Grizzlies, losing a heartbreaker, 120-119.

And it looks like the Rockets‘ heartbreak will continue. Houston is down by 15 points at the half. To make things worse, Fred VanVleet’s night didn’t go as planned against the Nets. Midway through the second quarter, he seemed to tweak his right ankle and didn’t stick around long after that. As soon as the Rockets called a timeout, he made his way to the locker room, per Underdog NBA.

In 17 minutes on the court, he put up 3 points and handed out 2 assists. Aaron Holiday started in the second half in place of VanVleet, as he’s been ruled out for the rest of the game. For someone who makes as much as Luka Doncic, his production is certainly not up there!

His field goal percentage sits at 38.8%, while he’s shooting 34.5% from beyond the arc with 119 made threes on 345 attempts. From the free-throw line, he’s remained reliable, knocking down 82.4% of his shots (84-of-102).

Beyond scoring, VanVleet has contributed in multiple areas. VanVleet has pulled down 175 rebounds, handed out 259 assists, and recorded 72 steals, showing he remains a strong two-way player. He has also blocked 20 shots while racking up 109 fouls and 70 turnovers. Despite some shooting struggles, the veteran guard continues to play a crucial role in Houston’s backcourt.

And it looks like he’ll be staying in Houston!

Rockets interested in extending Fred VanVleet’s contract

Fred VanVleet might be sticking around in Houston longer than expected. Jake Fischer reports that the Rockets and VanVleet both want an extension, with both sides “motivated” to make it happen. Instead of picking up his $44.9 million club option for 2025-26, The Houston side could decline it this summer and negotiate a longer, more cap-friendly deal.

Since signing ahead of the 2023-24 season, VanVleet has started all 116 games for the Rockets, proving himself as more than just a floor general—he’s a leader. Ime Udoka took over in 2023 with the goal of revamping a franchise that had just suffered three straight seasons under .275. Fast forward a year, and Houston finished at .500, making one of the fastest turnarounds in the league.

That shift wasn’t just about talent; it was about mindset.

Udoka has credited VanVleet and Brooks for bringing toughness and defensive energy. “We can only say so much… but having guys that do it nightly was invaluable,” Udoka told Tim MacMahon of ESPN.

MacMahon also described VanVleet as “an extension of the coaching staff,” a big deal for a young core featuring Amen Thompson, Jalen Green, Alperen Şengün, and Jabari Smith Jr. With Houston inching toward its first playoff appearance in five years, locking in VanVleet could be a smart move. The soon-to-be 31-year-old helped lead the Raptors to a championship in 2019—and maybe, just maybe, he can bring that playoff DNA to Houston.