Preview: Rockets at Nets, Jan. 1, 2026 NEW YORK (Interstat) — The surging Houston Rockets will look to continue their climb up the Western Conference standings when they visit the struggling Brooklyn Nets on Thursday night at Barclays Center. Houston (20-10) enters the New Year’s Day matchup having won three straight and seven of its last 10 games. The Rockets are coming off a 126-119 home victory over the Indiana Pacers on Monday, powered by 30 points from forward Kevin Durant. Durant, the focal point of the Rockets’ offense, has been in stellar form, averaging 26.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.8 assists over his last 10 contests. He scored 30 or more points in four of those games. Support in the win over Indiana came from Amen Thompson (20 points, eight rebounds, seven assists) and Jabari Smith Jr. (21 points, 10 rebounds). The Nets (10-20), meanwhile, are trying to halt a slide that has seen them lose five of their last seven. They fell 120-107 to the Golden State Warriors on Monday despite a 27-point, nine-rebound effort from forward Michael Porter. Porter has been a bright spot for Brooklyn, averaging 26.6 points and 8.1 rebounds over his last 10 games. He has scored 24 or more in eight of those outings, including a 35-point performance against New Orleans on Dec. 6. This will be the second meeting between the teams this season. Houston dominated the first, a 137-109 home win on Oct. 27. The matchup pits one of the league’s top offenses against one of its most porous defenses. The Rockets average 118.7 points per game, while the Nets allow 116.2 points per game, ranking near the bottom of the NBA. Brooklyn will need a significant defensive improvement to contain Houston’s balanced attack and slow Durant. The Nets have shown flashes, including a 45-point rout of Milwaukee on Dec. 14 and a recent road win at Minnesota, but consistency has eluded them. For Houston, the game opens a two-game road trip before returning to Texas to face Dallas on Saturday. Brooklyn begins a brief two-game homestand before heading to Washington on Friday.