but their defense looked real enough to carry them further than pretty much everyone expected them to go I asked Udoka whether there was anything else he wanted to add He reiterated why having a top-five defense was “a nonnegotiable” component if this team was ever going to have championship-level aspirations Udoka made a slight pivot that didn’t end up in my story but hasn’t left the back of my head whenever I think about how compelling Houston’s circumstance is and what’s necessary for it to make an even deeper run in the future “We really wanted to solidify [defense] last year and I think we laid that foundation,” he said “But now we're really trying to get our offense going to kind of match that And so part of the challenge was to come in and change the numbers and perception last year on that side and as much as defense is second nature to me and we want to grow in that area and be formidable on both sides of the ball.” but Houston's offense hasn't quite caught up to its defense yet The Rockets finished with the fifth-stingiest defense in the NBA but had difficulty generating easy baskets on the other side a dilemma that manifested during a seven-game bar fight against the Golden State Warriors That first-round brawl ended as a microcosm of their identity and highlighted Udoka’s desire to find more balance It also leads us to the most important question these Rockets face as they head into what may be a trajectory-altering offseason: How do they become a dangerous offensive team who will emerge as the engine that’s able to power them where they want to go and is it potentially worth breaking up a core with such unknowable promise and the only team that made the playoffs with a lower true shooting percentage was the Orlando Magic The struggles were magnified in the postseason, when the Rockets were even less efficient in the half court, posting an effective field goal percentage that was higher only than that of the Magic and Grizzlies—which is not great when you realize Fred VanVleet turned into an actual fireball halfway through the series demonstrated by two putrid bookend performances in the opener and finale wherein they failed to score 90 points Alperen Sengun was particularly inefficient unable to enjoy some of the edge he had during the regular season every other play seemed like a Sisyphean bum rush to the boards; Houston’s formula wasn’t to make shots so much as to take them and then fight for the misses but it doesn’t necessarily make what happened a disaster Falling to Steph Curry and the Warriors in seven games is more of a learning experience than a deflating catastrophe the Rockets were outscored by only nine points while making a playoff-worst 63.2 percent of their free throws who had the two best players in the series all eyes will be on Rockets general manager Rafael Stone who almost has too many trade chips at his disposal Houston owns Phoenix’s first-round picks in 2025 Stone can either wait for some homegrown seeds to sprout or go into another garden and snatch up some flowers that have already bloomed Houston is ahead of schedule and still has time on its side The first domino to fall is VanVleet. Houston can (and should) decline the $44.9 million team option on its starting point guard’s contract and then extend him to a longer deal at a lower annual cost. The on-court and financial benefits of doing so are undeniable. FVV is 31 years old and undersized, and his true shooting was 6.5 percentage points below league average last season He’s also a respected leader who controls the game’s tempo and provides indispensable basketball IQ and toughness to the defense The Rockets are squishier without him: Their transition defense goes from elite to average when he’s off the floor re-signing Steven Adams is the next priority He will turn 32 in July but answered every health-related question this season with his play as a key complementary piece backing up Sengun and coming out of nowhere to form Twin Tower lineups that pulverized the offensive glass and anchored a 2-3 zone that held up much better than anyone could’ve expected Houston’s youth movement enjoyed highs and endured lows Green scored 38 points in a sensational Game 2 performance but looked unplayable in every big moment after that Sengun was a bowling ball against Golden State’s small frontcourt for meaningful stretches but wasn’t able to hit enough floaters or draw enough fouls Thompson’s nonexistent outside shot limited his impact off the ball Smith looked comfortable getting to his spots but isn’t a consistent source of offense Sheppard and Whitmore failed to crack Udoka’s rotation which brings us to the tantalizing flip side of this equation What will the Rockets do if Giannis Antetokounmpo or even someone like Lauri Markkanen becomes available Each of those names obviously has a different runway and ceiling and it’s impossible to know exactly who or what the Rockets would have to send out the door in any hypothetical trade that yields a new face for their franchise But plop any of those All-Stars into a defense-first ecosystem that just yielded the second-best record in the Western Conference and it’s easy to daydream about 60-win seasons assuming that Houston would have to surrender most of its most valuable trade capital to get the established All-NBA force it currently lacks their approach to the offseason could change completely Giannis or Durant would be incredible additions and the Rockets almost certainly would’ve defeated Golden State with one of those Hall of Famers on their roster But there’s a level of urgency that comes with accelerating your timeline to keep up with a superstar addition and it’s hard to know how much the Rockets would have to give up to pull off any of these trades Everyone worth getting is on a max contract that fills up at least 30 percent of the cap ArchiveWe’ve been around since Brady was a QB sweat-covered Dillon Brooks was the first to emerge in the hallway staring at the ground as he began his trudge toward the locker room A cloud hung over the Houston Rockets like the 3s Buddy Hield had rained on them a few minutes earlier which engulfed the tunnel of Toyota Center They celebrated the preservation of a season that was given new life at a time when a jolt was necessary The prevention of being added to the wrong side of the history books another playoff series win at the hands of the Rockets These two teams have met in the postseason five times in the past decade both of which have come on Houston’s home turf who moved to 5-0 against the Rockets in postseason history “A poor ending,” Rockets coach Ime Udoka said following Houston’s 103-89 loss “To play one of our worst games in the playoffs and in Game 7 — we had a few bad ones early and corrected ourselves on both sides of the ball that’s going to leave a sour taste in our mouth for sure you have the blueprint for where we want to be and it’s a standard on a yearly basis but all of that doesn’t matter when you go out with a chance to move on and advance Laid an egg in our last game; there’s sting from it.” we take a look at the last decade of the Golden State-Houston rivalry and how Steph Curry manages to keep coming out on top we could talk about Game 7 — a tactical masterclass by Warriors coach Steve Kerr both teams tried several strategic adjustments We could talk about how Golden State played 48 minutes in a 1-3-1 zone and dared Houston — which finished the regular season 20th in 3s attempted 22nd in 3s made and 21st in 3-point percentage — to make outside shots who had routinely proven himself to be a zone breaker momentum-shifter and overall big-time player We could talk about why the Rockets finished with as many 3s attempted (18) as the Warriors made We could even talk about how Houston’s double-big lineup Alperen Şengün and Steven Adams who wreaked havoc on the offensive glass who prided themselves on not allowing Steph Curry to bury them with a barrage of 3s the man who said the Warriors wouldn’t return to Houston after the Game 5 win to the tune of 33 points on an eye-popping 12-of-15 shooting (9-of-11 from deep) By Game 7 (which was the 12th time both teams had faced each other this season) there wasn’t a lineup combination the Rockets hadn’t seen or a rotation that caught them by surprise who had been relegated to the bench for most of the series Jonathan Kuminga took four shots in seven minutes Not physically — four of the Warriors’ starters are older than 32 There’s a psychological advantage the Warriors have mastered And as painful as being eliminated in the first round can be for a No “Gained a lot of respect for them,” Warriors veteran Draymond Green told The Athletic but you don’t really know someone until you play them in a playoff series I think we got to know those guys very well You go through a playoff series against somebody one of two things happen — you completely lose respect for them or gain a lot of respect There’s no doubt this Rockets team will be a force for years to come Even if this team remains untouched in the offseason the growth from this series should improve Houston’s prospects in the long run “I’m extremely proud of these guys,” Fred VanVleet said “I look at all of these guys like my baby brothers They grew up a lot this year and made huge strides It’s a tough way to end the season — it’s always tough Game 7 can go either way and it wasn’t our best performance But I’m not going to sum up the whole experience based on one night One of my favorite seasons I’ve been a part of Everybody should be excited about the future and what’s to come.” But that doesn’t mean that this team can rest on its laurels Udoka didn’t want to speak much about any moral victories because there are none this was a seventh-seeded team on the road Golden State was able to take Houston’s offense — an equal-opportunity scheme — and use it to the Rockets’ detriment daring someone to seize control of a moment that never came The Warriors were extremely comfortable flexing aggressive coverages Şengün finished with 21 points on 23 shots who had been successfully taken out of the series took just eight shots and finished with eight points It’s paramount that the Rockets make major upgrades in their shooting department Houston’s coaching staff could benefit from a software update to their in-game schematics but this isn’t the first or last time they’ll be faced with a zone defense the Rockets’ offense logged 67 possessions against zone scoring a measly .687 points per possession draft capital and current position in the NBA — an exciting team on the rise — Houston will be a natural landing spot for bigger names this summer Houston’s brass hoped to go as far as possible in the playoffs but is using this current campaign as data collection a good tool for immediate and future evaluation and Devin Booker will be linked in the rumor mill in the coming weeks all with different pros and cons depending on Houston’s direction Team sources say the Rockets will monitor the market closely and will hold internal discussions about potential fits and offers League and team sources have also indicated that VanVleet wants to remain in Houston for the long run Tari Eason and Smith are also extension-eligible and team sources say the Rockets are hopeful to keep them in town for the long haul  “They’re on their way,” Curry told The Athletic postgame it’s hard to win in the regular season — building that confidence matters and (building) an identity of how you do it (Photo of Dillon Brooks: Troy Taormina / Imagn Images) Kelly Iko is a staff writer covering the Houston Rockets and the NBA for The Athletic. He previously worked for USA Today and ESPN Houston. Follow Kelly on Twitter @KellyIko Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice One person was killed and 14 others were wounded after a shooting at a family party in Houston in the early hours of Sunday The incident occurred along the 6000 block of Cherry Hill in the southeast part of the city. According to Houston Police Department Assistant Chief Patricia Cantu, when officers arrived at the scene around 12:50 am, three minutes after the initial 911 call, they found multiple people wounded outside of the home while gunfire continued inside. One person was confirmed dead at the scene; multiple others were rushed to local hospitals where they underwent surgery. First responders used a nearby Jack in the Box restaurant as a staging area for the victims. Cantu said that more than one person is currently being held for questioning. The assistant chief described the incident as beginning when an “uninvited guest” arrived at the home. When that man was asked to leave, he opened fire. Police have not confirmed that the shooter is in custody. “This whole incident started as a family party and gathering. I believe some of the witnesses are saying they had an uninvited guest who was asked to leave,” Cantu said. “He left, and as he was leaving, he began shooting in the area, and there was return fire from the residents. The person who did this was uninvited and asked to leave, and he began the incident of gunfire.” “If there's any witnesses that left the house, the residents, please call our Homicide Division. We are definitely going to need your help. We have people detained right now, and Homicide will later start pushing out suspect information to get your help to get this person detained and arrested.” “This scene is ongoing. It's still very complicated. It was chaotic from the get-go getting here.” Anyone with any information on the shooting should contact the Houston Police Department at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS (5237). HPD Asst. Chief Patricia Cantu confirms that one person was killed and 14 others were wounded at a party in Houston Week 6 of the 2025 UFL season continued with the Houston Roughnecks (3-3) getting a win over the Memphis Showboats (1-5) at TDECU Stadium on Saturday Here is the Kaiser Permanente Player Status Report for LAFC’s upcoming match: Fans can watch on Apple TV's MLS Season Pass. Radio coverage is available on the ESPN LA App, 710 AM ESPN, and KFWB 980 AM La Mera Mera Visit LAFC HQ at BMO Stadium to pick up LAFC's latest styles Secure tickets to see the stars of LAFC for the 2025 season and opportunities to get involved in the community The nonprofit startup struggled to identify a business model Sign up for The Media Today The Houston Landing, a newsroom that launched two years ago with $20 million in philanthropic commitments, announced today that it will shut down in mid-May and lay off all forty-three employees which was made by the board of the Landing rare—failure of a local news startup after the launch of scores of such ventures across the country as local newspapers have shrunk or folded “We are proud of the Landing’s coverage of Greater Houston and continue to believe deeply in the need for more free independent journalism in our region,” Ann B the chief executive of the Houston Endowment and the board chair of the Houston Landing “This decision was difficult but necessary Houston Landing’s reporting has made a meaningful impact in the community but it struggled to find its long-term financial footing.” In Houston, the rise and fall of the Landing seemed nearly to match the boom-and-bust cycle of the nation’s fourth-largest city and energy capital, a place known for its ambition, sprawl, and diversity. Announced in January 2022 the Landing secured big commitments from major funders: $7.5 million each from the Houston Endowment and the Kinder Foundation and $1.5 million from the American Journalism Project—all spread out over three years But the Landing also spent quickly: $5.5 million in 2023 and $7.9 million in 2024 it spent $2 million more than it brought in the Landing attracted just thirteen thousand newsletter subscribers and generated $80,000 in membership revenue—a pittance The Texas Tribune, where I served as editor in chief from October 2021 until last September, was launched in 2008 with $1 million in seed money from its founder—the venture capitalist John Thornton, who died last month—and about $3 million in additional pledges and commitments which includes a mix of individual contributions Even with a long track record, meeting the revenue target requires substantial effort each year, and past performance is no guarantee of future returns—the Center for Public Integrity, a DC-based watchdog newsroom, is closing after thirty-six years in operation The growth of the nonprofit news movement has meant more competition for donations and eyeballs but lately the pace of startups has slowed Reveal (originally known as the Center for Investigative Reporting) merged with Mother Jones money was both a blessing and a curse for the Landing the Landing started hiring aggressively in the late summer of 2022 the Landing generated just $430,000 in new revenue with many reporters making over $80,000 a year—hardly extravagant a right-to-work state that has no state income tax.  The investigations landed prestige and awards for the Landing but in a city where many residents lack basic civic information the Landing didn’t attract and retain the kind of deep loyal audience it needed to survive.  A go-it-alone mentality also contributed to the Landing’s struggles. The Houston Chronicle, owned by Hearst, is smaller than it used to be but remains a formidable presence, and is arguably Texas’s best newspaper, alongside the Dallas Morning News. Houston is undercovered, but it’s hardly a news desert, and Houston Public Media is also a strong source of free local news The Landing failed to develop a broad and robust base of community support—not only with potential funders and community groups that would help spread the word.  and the governance challenges facing the Landing were considerable three of whom were representatives of the three biggest funders but also mean less input and participation.  the Landing hired a CEO in June 2022: Scott McClelland the former president of H-E-B Food/Drug Stores H-E-B operates 390 stores in Texas and Mexico McClelland brought business savvy and a rich network of contacts a startup innovator with deep roots in the Houston tech scene which committed $1.5 million in seed funding had conducted research for two years starting in 2020 into the community’s information needs but found itself shut out of key decisions and backed away from regular involvement in the Landing’s operations.  Instead of conducting a competitive national search a respected former editor of the Detroit Free Press at the recommendation of board member Jeff Cohen a former top editor of the Houston Chronicle who now advises Arnold Ventures the philanthropic arm of Houston couple John and Laura Arnold I’ve known Bhatia for close to thirty years he has been a pioneering Asian American newsroom leader and has the utmost integrity Bhatia had not run a digital-only operation hadn’t worked extensively in nonprofit fundraising I visited the Landing to share perspectives with Bhatia and his team and was impressed by the talented people around him.) which the Landing voluntarily recognized.  Bhatia hired some terrific journalists—Manny García was previously the top editor at the Austin American-Statesman was previously in charge of Latino initiatives at the Los Angeles Times (where we both served on the masthead) They began to focus the editorial strategy around education The Landing’s journalism has continued to have impact and between runway and revenue was just too large to bridge.  “While it’s with a heavy heart that we announce the closure of our newsroom I want to express my deepest gratitude to the dedicated journalists and staff members who poured their passion into our mission every single day,” Bhatia said in a statement “Houston Landing demonstrates how a commitment to truth and accountability can transform communities and improve lives and stood with us as we connected with each other through stories that inspired positive change.”  the chief investment officer of the American Journalism Project said in a statement that building a sustainable nonprofit newsroom requires “bringing the right pieces together,” from strategy to leadership to community engagement “While Houston Landing’s closure is disappointing it’s not part of a broader trend,” he told me we’re seeing local news organizations diversify their revenue and grow more than 80 percent of the organizations in our portfolio increased their revenue and together they generated over $125 million That kind of growth gives us real reason for optimism.” The board of the Landing confirmed on Tuesday that it has “entered into discussions with the Texas Tribune which is exploring the possibility of establishing a Houston news initiative as part of its broader strategy to expand local journalism and serve more Texans.” said in a statement: “We look forward to exploring how we can learn from what the Landing started and create a sustainable model that serves the Houston community.”  However, the Tribune is preoccupied with its own local initiatives—it’s creating news teams in Waco and Austin, projects I helped initiate during my time at the Tribune. And on Friday, Shah announced that she would be stepping down as the Tribune’s CEO at the end of the year The Tribune’s board has retained executive recruiter Ann Blinkhorn to conduct a national search for her successor While everyone is hopeful that the Tribune might someday be able to provide local news for Houstonites as part of a networked model and for anyone who cares about the future of local news.  Has America ever needed a media defender more than now? Help us by joining CJR today France’s research minister said the scientist was traveling to Houston for a conference when his phone was searched A French scientist was denied entry to the US this month after immigration officers at an airport searched his phone and found messages in which he had expressed criticism of the Trump administration “This measure was apparently taken by the American authorities because the researcher’s phone contained exchanges with colleagues and friends in which he expressed a personal opinion on the Trump administration’s research policy,” the minister added. “Freedom of opinion, free research, and academic freedom are values ​​that we will continue to proudly uphold. I will defend the right of all French researchers to be faithful to them, while respecting the law,” Baptiste said. Read moreA diplomatic source told the French news agency that the incident occurred on 9 March The scientist was on assignment for the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) The same source said that messages discussing the Trump administration’s treatment of scientists had been found The researcher was reportedly then accused of writings “that reflect hatred toward Trump and can be described as terrorism” Another AFP source said that US authorities accused the French researcher of “hateful and conspiratorial messages”. He was reportedly also informed of an FBI investigation but told that “charges were dropped” before being expelled The research minister, Baptiste, has been outspoken in his own criticism of the Trump administration, and Elon Musk for making huge cuts to scientific research budgets On the same day that the researcher was denied entry to the US, Baptiste published a letter calling on American researchers to relocate to France “Many well-known researchers are already questioning their future in the United States,” he wrote “We would naturally wish to welcome a certain number of them.” The next day, Baptiste posted a photograph of himself in a virtual meeting with a researcher at the University of Maryland School of Medicine who had decided to take up an invitation from Aix-Marseille University to welcome researchers who wish to leave the United States On 12 March, Baptiste shared video on X, of a television appearance in which he deplored the way that research on health energy and AI “is being chainsawed in the United States” In the same interview, Baptiste said that he had “heard Elon Musk say that the International Space Station should be shut down in 2027. Who are we talking about? The boss of SpaceX The head of the American public administration It was not immediately clear what conference the researcher who was denied entry to the US was planning to attend, but the 56th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference was held outside Houston from 10 to 14 March If an individual has material discovered on their electronic media that raises flags during an inspection Claims that such decisions are politically motivated are completely unfounded.” A CBP spokesperson also pointed to a section of the agency’s website which notes: “On rare occasions CBP officers may search a traveler’s mobile phone or other electronic devices during the inspection process.” Such searches of electronic devices “are often integral to determining an individual’s intentions upon entry to the United States and thus provide additional information relevant to admissibility of foreign nationals under US immigration laws” An official website of the United States government Watch Live at 11:30 a.m. ET: Results of Nationwide Law Enforcement Effort Press Conference View the latest ICE guidance on COVID-19 Get information about how to check in with your local ICE Office here Reportándose con ICE: Obtenga información sobre cómo reportarse a su oficina local de ICE aquí View in other languages Call 1-866-DHS-2-ICE to report suspicious activityReport Crime Learn More About ICE ICE's ERO officers uphold United States immigration laws by focusing on individuals who present the greatest risk to national security View the annual report Media Inquiries the FBI and the Texas Department of Public Safety arrested Jesus Alberto Escalona-Mujicas a 47-year-old illegal alien from Venezuela and documented Tren de Aragua gang member Escalona-Mujicas was arrested during routine targeted multi-agency enforcement operations that are being conducted around the United States to restore integrity to U.S immigration laws and bolster public safety Escalona-Mujicas was taken into ICE custody and transported to the Montgomery Processing Center in Conroe Escalona-Mujicas illegally entered the U.S. on an unknown date and at an unknown location. He was encountered by the U.S. Border Patrol April 10, 2023, near Brownsville, Texas, and was taken into custody and placed into immigration proceedings. An immigration judge from the Justice Department’s Executive Office for Immigration Review ordered Escalona-Mujicas removed March 6 but he absconded from authorities before his removal could be carried out “The law enforcement community in South Texas is united in our determination to restore integrity to our nation’s immigration laws and sovereignty over our southern border,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Houston Field Office Director Bret Bradford “Every transnational gang member or dangerous criminal alien that we remove from the community is another life saved This is especially true for Tren de Aragua gang members who are known to be among the most brutal transnational gangs with a presence in the U.S Our immigration officers have witnessed firsthand the devastating impact that transnational gang violence can have on a community and they are committed to work tirelessly to prevent that from taking hold in Texas.” For more news and information on ICE’s efforts to enforce our nation’s immigration laws in Texas follow us on X at @EROHouston For media inquiries about ICE activities, operations, or policies, contact the ICE Office of Public Affairs at ICEMedia@ice.dhs.gov Show Breaking News BarCloseFeaturesDawn Campbell Christie Schultz "Eat Like a Local" Photojournalist/Editor In this “Eat Like a Local” we’ve packed our favorite desserts into one show From a fiery dish that’s perfect for a special date night to an olive oil cake that comes from a beloved family recipe to new desserts host Chris Shepherd is trying for the first time there’s something for every sweet tooth in this episode and a fried dessert with a banana pudding filling that Chris dubbed one of the smartest creations by a chef that’s he seen “Eat Like a Local with Chris Shepherd” is your guide to the best food in Houston Copyright 2024 by KPRC Click2Houston - All rights reserved and regional Emmy award-winning television producer which includes two sports loving boys and one craft beer loving husband TV Listings Email Newsletters RSS Feeds Contests and Rules Contact Us Meet the Team Careers at KPRC Closed Captioning / Audio Description Public File Current EEO Report Terms of Use Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Info FCC Applications Copyright © 2025 Click2Houston.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group dearly loved wife of the late Thomas Boyd Lamont Patricia and Adrian; adored grandmother of Sarah Louise and David; much loved sister of Billy Funeral Service at her daughter’s home (Clare Garner) followed by interment in Agherton Cemetery BT52 1BF or online at www.hughwadefuneraldirectors.com Lovingly remembered and will be sadly missed by all her family and family circle Donate Share this sad news with friends and loved ones Visit Website [email protected] Link JALEN GREEN ACKNOWLEDGED that he wasn't quite ready for the playoff stage "The court looked huge," Green said a few nights later "I couldn't really get a chance to settle in The nerves were evident in 23-year-old Green's inefficient performance He scored only seven points on 3-of-15 shooting in Houston's 95-85 loss That playoff opener reinforced the common perception around the league that the Rockets are still one major piece of the puzzle away from being a bona fide title contender "They trippin'," Green said after bouncing back with 38 points in Houston's Game 2 win "I'm gonna go out and handle business at the end of the day The ball is gonna be in my hands in the fourth quarter The question remains glaring: How can the Rockets get the elite offensive engine that all great teams need The hope in Houston is that said player can indeed be homegrown "We are not in the business of predetermining ceilings for our players," general manager Rafael Stone told ESPN But Plan B would be to cash in some of the assets the Rockets patiently accumulated over the past five years to speed up the process via a blockbuster trade 3 pick who hasn't cracked a deep rotation on a consistent basis as a rookie as perhaps the most gifted offensive talent on the roster "We're all on the same page as far as what we have in our organization and wanting to see it through and seeing what all these young guys can become," Rockets coach Ime Udoka told ESPN recently I understood when I came to take the job that we were going to try to develop these guys and see what we can get to I think they've all shown growth and potential "So to try to expedite the process by going out and getting one piece now is kind of doing a disservice to what we all talked about coming into it and I think the playoffs this year will give us a good picture of that and put guys in different situations and high-pressure situations to see how they react to it." The evaluation of the initial playoff experience for the Rockets' rising young stars will be an important element of those internal discussions A blockbuster trade would require the Rockets to give up some of that young talent although Houston has made it known to other front offices that Thompson is considered untouchable "There's no question in my mind that there are multiple guys on this roster now who can potentially be the best player on a championship team 30-year-old son of team owner Tilman Fertitta and ownership's day-to-day presence in basketball operations "You don't see guys at this age be that person yet but I have a lot of confidence that one of these guys any time a guy at that level becomes available it would be remiss not to do your due diligence." as well as the development of Houston's young talent positioned the Rockets to make a massive leap to respectability last season followed by another jump to a 52-30 record this season Udoka's Rockets win with toughness and physicality ranking first in the league in rebounding rate and fifth in defensive rating it boils down to if you have an unguardable guy in the last five minutes that can close the game," VanVleet told ESPN I don't think it's like some savior that's going to come here and save all our sins do you have a guy you could throw it to the last five minutes in a playoff series that can win you games when it matters the most I think we would be considered more title favorites you still can have success in the playoffs but he's a tremendous leader who factors into the Rockets' future whether the franchise picks up his $44.9 million team option for next season or signs him to a long-term deal He also agrees with Udoka and the front office that there are potential superstars already on the roster From the play-in tournament to the NBA Finals ESPN has you covered throughout the playoffs some of the league's best players are occasionally used as comparisons for the young talent on the Rockets' roster inside the team's gleaming new practice facility For instance, it has been noted that Green's career statistical production is fairly similar to Phoenix Suns superstar Devin Booker's first four seasons although Booker had established himself as an elite scorer by this age The knocks on Green now are that he hasn't been consistent or efficient but Booker is proof of the progress a volume-scoring shooting guard can make in those areas as he matures "I don't know if you can go get another 2-guard with the upside or the talent level," VanVleet said of Green. "[Anthony Edwards] maybe in Minnesota or is he more skilled and more polished and more experienced and older I don't know what Jalen will look like when he's 26 where it's like potential can get a little intoxicating There's no reason for him not to reach that level He's got to go through it; he's got to fail." Sengun's stats at 22 resemble three-time MVP Nikola Jokic's at that age, although rival scouts and executives consider three-time All-Star Domantas Sabonis to be the more reasonable comparison among the league's high-scoring everything is loud," VanVleet said of Sengun Once he gets more where he's hitting the singles on a daily basis I think that his potential and his level will continue to grow." Rockets front office staffers rhetorically wonder whether 6-foot-7 Thompson, whose jumper is very much a work in progress, could do many of the same things Russell Westbrook did in his prime The Rockets haven't often given Thompson the keys to the offense to run as a point guard yet but they certainly haven't ruled that out in the future Udoka displayed that kind of belief in Thompson when he called his number with the game on the line in the final seconds of the Rockets' Jan. 27 road game against the defending champion Boston Celtics. Thompson attacked All-Star wing Jaylen Brown in isolation creating a few feet of space in the paint for a winning floater to cap a 33-point performance "He's already become a really good NBA player," Stone said and that should go on for the foreseeable future He's done it quickly and at times shockingly easily." Sheppard is occasionally mentioned in the same breath as Hall of Fame point guard Steve Nash another small guard who played sparingly as a rookie Sheppard faces a steep learning curve to adjust to the NBA but the Rockets remain bullish on his potential to develop into a star We think that he has a chance to be really special." the team brass will have a better feel for just how close the Rockets are to being serious contenders That will factor into the front office's offseason decisions but the Rockets will be reluctant to make any moves that will shorten the franchise's potential runway to compete for championships "This league and this business is a very emotional one," Patrick Fertitta said "There's the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat and it's important that you don't make wholesale changes Rockets second-year forward Amen Thompson averaged 14.1 points this season Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty ImagesTHE ROCKETS' BRASS -- Stone Udoka and Patrick Fertitta -- are aligned in the ambition to allow this young group to grow together it is anticipated that there will be internal discussions at a minimum this summer regarding potential star pursuits in the trade market "It's a very high bar to do a transaction that changes things," Stone told ESPN emphasizing the optimism that the improvement of the young players already on the roster can fuel the Rockets' continued ascension Patrick Fertitta was the high-ranking Rockets executive who declared to ESPN that the organization was "comfortable being uncomfortable" after Harden demanded a trade during the 2020 offseason The quote was uttered under the cloak of anonymity at the time Those three words represent the patience the Rockets have operated under for the past five years Teams are already preparing for a summer that could see a lot of trades and some big names coming available as free agents a decision that was criticized at the time but has aged extremely well Patrick Fertitta and Stone had to convince Tilman Fertitta a billionaire who bought the franchise when the Rockets ranked among the NBA's elite teams that intentionally bottoming out was Houston's most realistic path back to being a contender They also had to talk Tilman into sticking with the plan at times during the ensuing three seasons when Houston won a combined total of only 59 games and Sheppard have been selected with the picks from Brooklyn In a separate deal last summer, Houston gave Brooklyn back control of the Nets' first-round pick in the next two drafts in return for another pick haul. As a result, the Rockets own the Suns' 2025, 2027 and 2029 picks, as well as the Dallas Mavericks' 2029 first-rounder Houston also held on to first-round swap rights from the Nets in 2027 Those are the assets that would allow the Rockets to engage in any superstar trade discussions this summer -- if that's a path the team opts to take "Even though it can be exciting to feel like you are as close as you may be it's important to move with the same level of patience that got us to where we are and to make sure that we're always making decisions based on not just today but the future," Patrick Fertitta said "Because we never want to value the near term over the long term If the right opportunity presents itself where we feel like we can get materially better we're always going to do the work to know if it's the right thing to do we'd love to see this group grow up together as they already have and become contenders in this league we think that this group that we have today has the ability to compete in May and June -- and hopefully sooner than later." playKelvin Sampson explains what went wrong for Houston on final play (1:38)Houston coach Kelvin Sampson explains the breakdown for Houston's offense that failed to get a shot off in the closing seconds vs SAN ANTONIO -- Nearly an hour after Houston coach Kelvin Sampson walked off the court amid flurries of Florida-colored orange and blue confetti he stood in front of a black curtain in a hallway at the Alamodome faced a phalanx of television lights that illuminated him at his most crushing professional low The lights shined on his close-cropped hair With his arms folded across his chest and an NCAA National Final pin adjacent to the UH logo on his gray polo, Sampson distilled the disappointment of Houston squandering a 12-point lead in the second half and ending the national title game with four consecutive turnovers in a 65-63 loss to Florida "There's a lot of teams that are not built for six straight wins," Sampson said referring to the number needed to win the NCAA tournament this team had the character and the toughness and the leadership This team was built to win this tournament We got here and had a chance and just didn't get it done." The scene unfolded as the inverse of Houston's stunning comeback win over Duke in the national semifinal somehow not having a ball touch the rim on the final three possessions Nearly 48 hours after scoring the game's last nine points in 33 seconds to stun the Blue Devils on Saturday Houston managed to lose a game it controlled throughout and trailed for only 63 seconds Florida's first lead in the second half came with 46 seconds remaining. Sampson called it "incomprehensible" that the Cougars couldn't get a shot off on the final two possessions, as Houston closed the game with back-to-back turnovers by star guard Emanuel Sharp Florida mustered the third-biggest comeback in NCAA title game history and that left the Houston locker room a mirror image of the devastation it had wrought two nights earlier On Monday night, as reporters entered that locker room, Cougars guard Milos Uzan escorted Sharp away from the media Sharp wore a towel over his head as he walked away and he could be heard wailing as Uzan attempted to console him An intermittently flushing toilet occasionally cut through the awkward interviews in the quiet locker room. Houston's Joseph Tugler summed up the devastation simply: "That broke everybody's heart." Sharp's pain stemmed from the back-to-back possessions to end the game which Sampson termed "a couple tough possessions decisionwise." With Houston facing its first deficit of the half in the final minute, Sharp drove to the basket with nearly 30 seconds remaining and got stripped by Florida's Will Richard Richard essentially forced Sharp to kick the ball out of bounds with 26 seconds left After Florida's Denzel Aberdeen made one of two free throws Houston had the ball down two with 19 seconds left Florida's defense stymied Houston's early offensive action then Sharp caught the ball nearly 6 feet behind the 3-point line with five seconds remaining Sharp went straight up to attempt a long 3-pointer, but what would have been a 28-footer never got off. Walter Clayton Jr. sniffed out his desperation and lunged at him midair with an outstretched left hand and it put Sharp in the unenviable position of getting his shot blocked or letting the ball drop Sharp shielded Clayton as the ball hit the floor, and Florida's Alex Condon made the hustle play to seal the game by snagging his fourth steal of the night Sharp slumped down a few feet from his final turnover his elbows perched atop his knees and fists covering his face as he looked toward the floor "I told him I loved him," Sampson said when asked what he told Sharp and I really focused on the job he did on Clayton He made a couple reads that I'm sure he wish he'd had over Sharp played gritty defense on Clayton as Houston's primary defender on the Florida guard Clayton finished with 11 points on 3-for-10 shooting taking more than 32 minutes to score a field goal Clayton will have the most replayed contest The other two Houston miscues to close the game included one turnover off an offensive rebound by Tugler and another on a baseline drive to nowhere by L.J. Cryer that culminated when Cryer essentially flipped the ball into Condon's chest in the paint Cryer summed up the overall tenor of missed opportunity this way: "It was definitely there for the taking." A win would have marked Sampson's 800th career victory and his first national title and likely would have pushed him to the Basketball Hall of Fame on the first ballot he hustled off the court in disbelief after the handshake line As Houston's assistant coaches sat in their locker room and stared into space summed up the fickle bounces of the tournament's fate this way every team is so good and you don't get here without a team that's connected playBilas breaks down how Florida overcame deficit vs Houston (2:14)Jay Bilas explains how the Gators erased a 12-point deficit in the second half to beat the Cougars for their third national championship Men's March Madness delivered on its namesake promise from early-round upsets to Final Four comebacks The road ended in San Antonio, where the finale between Florida and Houston went to the wire at the Alamodome with Florida ultimately winning the 2025 men's NCAA championship Our reporters on-site broke down how the Gators mounted another come-from-behind victory to cut down the nets in San Antonio Jump to: Relive the action How Florida won: For the Gators, the leadup to Monday's game centered almost entirely around Walter Clayton Jr The All-America guard was on a run not seen since Shabazz Napier and Kemba Walker carried UConn to a pair of titles in 2011 and 2014 It was immediately evident that Houston's scouting report focused on Clayton After scoring a combined 64 points in his previous two games Clayton didn't score his first point until the 14:57 mark of the second half against the Cougars He didn't make his first field goal until there was 7:54 left in the game It was the recipe for a comfortable Houston championship win inevitably continuing the narrative about the Cougars' top-ranked defense But Florida's supporting cast kept the Gators in the game just long enough for Clayton to get going in the second half, erasing a 12-point deficit on their way to a 65-63 win for Florida's third national championship since 2006. » Read more from Jeff Borzello Pivotal moment: There were so many stretches that seemed decisive in this game. Houston took a 12-point lead early in the second half after a wild sequence that featured a foul on Will Richard followed by a technical on the Florida bench The Cougars seemed to keep the Gators just out of reach from there but didn't take another double-digit lead over the final 13:24 of the game Clayton had been quiet for the most of the game but his 3-pointer with 3:14 to go not only tied it at 60 but also seemed to reinvigorate the Gators who used that as fuel until a defensive stop at the buzzer sealed the title Pivotal player: Although he struggled in the second half Richard's 14 points in the first kept Florida in the game as Clayton went scoreless in a half for just the third time this season Richard was pivotal for a Gators team that didn't have a lot of answers for the Cougars' tough defense early Will Richard led Florida in scoring with 18 points in the championship win over Houston on Monday night. AP Photo/Brynn Anderson playHouston fails to get a shot off in final seconds as Florida wins national championship (0:21)Down 12 in the second half Florida holds on in the final seconds to complete its comeback and win its third national championship SAN ANTONIO -- With four seconds on the clock, the entire Alamodome stood still. Both Florida and Houston paused Cougars guard Emanuel Sharp had gone up to shoot a potential winning 3 with 4.9 seconds left but was forced to adjust when Walter Clayton Jr Sharp dropped the ball with 4.2 seconds left hoping a teammate would pick it up and bail him out Gators forward Alex Condon finally dove on the ball with 2.0 seconds left and Houston coach Kelvin Sampson looked on in stunned silence The Florida Gators were national champions, erasing a 12-point second-half deficit before holding on for a 65-63 win over Houston "I was kind of just thinking about what to do if I should go for it and leave my man," Condon told ESPN "But once he kind of backed off and tried to guard off Walt I realized he is not going to pick up the ball So I dived as hard as I could and got the ball It was a fitting ending for a game that flipped narratives Monday's title game was billed as a matchup between two of the most dominant units in the sport this season: Florida's offense versus Houston's defense But it was the Gators' defense that made the difference down the stretch Houston had just four turnovers in the first 36:35 of Monday's game but gave it away five times in the final 3:24 -- including three times in the final minute Florida got stops on nine straight Houston possessions "We've been a top-10 defense all year also We've been able to stand up against really good offensive teams and find a way to get stops," Florida coach Todd Golden said That's what made this team special all year physicality and bullying teams into submission at the defensive end and on the offensive glass the team imposing its will -- especially in the second half -- was Florida The Gators had fewer offensive rebounds than Houston but more second-chance points They forced more turnovers after halftime than the Cougars And after Houston was forced to go with a four-guard lineup because of foul trouble "We were starting to wear them down," Florida associate head coach Carlin Hartman told ESPN "That is very unusual for a Kelvin Sampson-like team because they're the ones that normally do the wearing down and the punking and so forth But the fact that we have four really good bigs that can play different styles but also be very physical and be very disruptive Florida had to overcome a significant second-half deficit Texas Tech led by as many as 10 in the second half and nine with three minutes to go Auburn had a nine-point lead early in the second half Houston led by 12 in the second half -- giving the Cougars a 93.9% chance to win according to ESPN Analytics -- before the Gators came back It's tied for the third-largest deficit overcome to win a national championship game "You have to have the mental toughness to be able to withstand a little adversity," Golden said. "Our guys knew that it wasn't going to be easy. Didn't panic when it got tough. As Will [Richard] talked about they did a great job of never getting too high We got rewarded because of that toughness that we displayed." "Our back is against the wall," Alijah Martin told ESPN There is a case to be made that Florida didn't play a complete game in the NCAA tournament after it beat Norfolk State in the first round And it's a testament to the Gators' resilience that they were able to beat the nation's best defense without getting another incredible performance from All-America guard Clayton The leadup to Monday's title game centered almost entirely around Clayton who was on a run not seen since Kemba Walker and Shabazz Napier carried UConn to a pair of titles in the early 2010s It was evident immediately that Houston's scouting report did Clayton didn't score his first point against the Cougars until the 14:57 mark of the second half not allowing him to get in a rhythm going left Clayton took what Houston's defense did give him racking up seven assists before he scored his first point During a second half that quickly devolved into a game of whistles an endless parade of players going to the free throw line He had two three-point plays in less than a minute then hit a huge 3-pointer with 3:14 left to tie the game at 60 getting a steal that led to points when Florida trailed by 10 and then guarding Sharp late in the game forcing him into the game-sealing turnover winning the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player award "He's put together the greatest individual campaign in the history of Florida basketball and it's a campaign for the record books," said Jonathan Safir Florida's director of basketball strategy and analytics "He did it with a ridiculous display of shotmaking and the best part of it all is the last possession of the game and he deserves to have his jersey retired in the O'Connell Center." Monday marked Florida's third national championship since 2006 and made the 39-year-old Golden the youngest head coach to win a title since Jim Valvano guided NC State to a championship in 1983 After the final buzzer and the cutting down of the nets Golden was one of the first Florida coaches back at the locker room he stood outside waiting for everyone else to join him He high-fived and hugged every player and staff member before they went in the locker room to the sounds of Chief Keef's "Faneto" and 50 Cent's "Many Men." Golden built a team this season predicated on offense a group that could push the ball with pace and shoot plenty of 3-pointers it was everything else that allowed them to win the title "I do think what separates us and has separated us all season long is our team talent how our guys have played together and for each other all year," he said we can call each other national champions for the rest of our lives." playDuke falls to Houston in chaotic ending (0:49)Houston takes down Duke after a chaotic ending involving a missed Cooper Flagg jumper and foul with Tyrese Proctor coming up short on a last-second heave Florida and Houston were strong during the regular season Both dominated their conference tournaments And both defeated tough opponents to reach Monday's championship game in San Antonio everything is on the line in the March Madness finale (8:50 p.m The Gators are looking for their first national championship since their back-to-back titles in 2006 and 2007 with Billy Donovan while the Cougars are seeking their first in program history Myron Medcalf and Jeff Borzello break down each team and pick which will cut down the nets This has been the primary question for every Houston opponent for the past 11 years Kelvin Sampson's Houston teams have finished top-15 in adjusted defensive efficiency in seven of the past eight seasons which means Florida's bigs will have to be relentless in rebounding attacking the paint and playing exceptional interior defense Houston outscored Duke 19-12 on second-chance points Saturday and the Gators will have to close that gap to win The Blue Devils were exhausted by the end of Saturday night -- a byproduct of a grueling Florida needs its big men to avoid foul trouble challenge the Cougars around the rim on offense and defense and have the stamina to play an intense pace for two halves It's a daunting task that only one team has achieved since Nov Richard is the only member of Florida's starting backcourt who has had three single-digit efforts over the past five games The 6-foot-4 senior made 38% of his shots from beyond the arc in league play but was 0-for-5 from the 3-point line in his previous two games Duke and its three projected lottery picks and the national player of the year needed more help against Houston The Gators' potential fatal flaw: Giving opponents too many opportunities at the free throw line Florida was a top-25 defensive team over the final month of the season It's a key element of its comebacks throughout the NCAA tournament But the Gators also have committed too many fouls recently Nine of their past 11 opponents had at least 22 free throw attempts Houston benefited Saturday night from a couple of costly fouls by Duke making four crucial free throws in the final seconds That could happen again Monday night if the Gators put the Cougars on the free throw line too often it will likely mean the Gators -- ranked second in the nation in adjusted offensive efficiency -- are rolling and have found the holes in that vaunted Houston defense it will complicate everything Florida wants to do against Houston especially if the Gators have another second-half deficit standing between them and their title dreams If anyone's going to slow down Walter Clayton Jr. and doesn't make anything easy for opponents The Cougars will likely look to deny Clayton easy catches in rhythm and make sure he doesn't get clean looks But Clayton didn't have a ton of clean looks against Texas Tech or Auburn and still put up historically good performances One area to watch will be the 3-point line and contesting Flagg's potential game-winning shot He was inconsistent over the past month or so and also missed two games because of an ankle injury He'll have to be at his best against Florida and its elite frontcourt That means being active and aggressive on the offensive glass and staying out of foul trouble at the other end of the floor The Gators have size and depth to throw at Houston on Monday night The Cougars' potential flaw: Houston doesn't have many weaknesses But two areas to watch will be the free throw line and whether the Cougars can avoid the offensive droughts that nearly dug them too big a hole against Duke Houston was 12th out of 16 Big 12 teams in defensive free throw rate and 14th in offensive free throw rate The Cougars averaged fewer free throw attempts per game than their opponents Meanwhile, L.J. Cryer single-handedly kept Houston within striking distance Saturday hitting multiple 3s against the Blue Devils -- but didn't get much help from his teammates until late in the second half (Though Florida is huge and even better at offensive rebounding Houston's guards will have to stick to their principles against Clayton Auburn had some early success blitzing him on ball screens and forcing the ball out of his hands he consistently got to his left hand and into a rhythm blitzing to get the ball out of Clayton's hands and making sure he doesn't get a clean look After Tyrese Proctor's free throw put Duke up by 14 points with 8:17 left in the second half That was cemented when Flagg buried a 3 to extend the Blue Devils' lead to nine with three minutes remaining Except Houston's culture doesn't allow concessions "It ain't over because they still got time on the clock," Cougars guard L.J. Cryer said after the game Houston went on a 9-0 run in the final 35 seconds to win 70-67, shocking Duke and the Alamodome crowd to advance to Monday's national championship game against Florida Cryer led the way with 26 points and six 3-pointers 7 rebounds and 4 assists in what will likely be his final college game who advanced to the title game in 1983 and 1984 Saturday night was a combination of a stunning Duke collapse and desperate Houston comeback Houston responded with a 10-0 run to shift the momentum But Duke pushed the lead back to nine with 3:03 left on Flagg's corner 3-pointer The Blue Devils didn't make another shot from the field "Houston is a team that doesn't quit," Duke coach Jon Scheyer said So my messaging throughout the whole way with the team was After Cooper Flagg hit two free throws with 11:54 to go to put Duke up 56-42 Houston closed the game on a 28-11 run to complete an improbable Final Four comeback In a sequence remarkably similar to Houston's comeback win over Kansas in January the Cougars stole James' inbounds pass that led to Tugler's putback dunk with 25 seconds remaining "I think that one we sent Tyrese deep and it was Kon and Cooper," James said Houston's pressure defense had caused constant issues for Duke down the stretch with Tugler's wingspan forcing James to make difficult inbounds passes or use timeouts "When they were inbounding the ball and it was almost a five-count, it gave me deja vu vibes. Like, this could happen again," said senior guard Mylik Wilson comparing it to Houston's comeback win over Kansas when the Cougars rallied from down six with 10 seconds left to force double overtime "Just keep playing hard and just trying to deny Encouraged him to throw it long because JoJo's wingspan is 7-6½ I thought we could take everything over the top Proctor was sent to the free throw line but missed the front end of a one-and-one. J'Wan Roberts boxed out Flagg who was called for an over-the-back foul while going for the offensive rebound with 19.6 seconds left who shot 3-for-8 from the free throw line in last year's Sweet 16 loss to Duke went to the stripe and made both free throws to give Houston its first lead since the 15:25 mark of the first half "We didn't lose to Duke last year because of Jamal [Shead]'s ankle," Houston assistant Kellen Sampson said "We lost because we didn't make free throws We could have still beaten them last year if we'd have stepped up and made big free throws." Duke's late-game issues were one of the big storylines of the first month of the season. The Blue Devils lost to Kentucky and Kansas in November They had been in a single one-possession game since their Nov but said all week they had watched film of late-game scenarios and were prepared if it happened again Flagg had struggled on the final possessions in both of those losses but Scheyer understandably had confidence that the Wooden Award winner gave Duke the best chance to win Flagg faced up against Roberts on the left wing turned back toward the middle of the floor and got up a contested 12-foot jumper A shot I'm willing to live with in the scenario Said James: "We trust him in that spot 100 times out of 100." Cryer hit two free throws with 3.7 seconds left and Proctor's desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer went long who had produced the most efficient offense in college basketball since at least the 1996-97 season made just one field goal in the final 10:30 Though Duke's lack of offensive execution late in the game was the more obvious issue Scheyer pointed to the Blue Devils' uncharacteristically poor defense as a key contributor in the blown lead "We could talk about not scoring down the stretch," he said The opening minutes of Saturday's game had all the hallmarks of a game that Sampson and Houston would want to play Tugler got a hand on Flagg's first shot from the field Houston had five offensive rebounds in the first four minutes and a loose ball led to Wilson's layup and an early Cougars lead The entire first half checked a lot of boxes that would Duke had multiple field goal droughts of more than four minutes and Flagg wasn't finishing consistently at the rim Houston rebounded nearly 43% of its misses And the Cougars had a 3-point barrage near the end of the half burying three triples in the final 1:43 to bring their perimeter shooting percentage to 45.5% for the opening 20 minutes And yet Duke entered the break with a six-point lead The Blue Devils led by as many as 12 points in the first half which was only the second time this season Houston trailed by double figures Duke also did it without getting a ton of production from its ancillary players. Khaman Maluach played just nine minutes in the first half Proctor missed a couple of shots that would have extended an early Duke lead "We were really focused on those other guys," Sampson said "We did a great job of not allowing Proctor to turn the corner and get in the paint off pin-downs We stayed down on every shot fake that he had Cooper was not going to beat us by himself." In the lead-up to Saturday's game against the Cougars' top-ranked defense Scheyer stressed one thing: staying the course "I want us to be us," Scheyer said Thursday I think that's an important thing when you play them You really have to take advantage of that window of opportunity." 1 pick in June's NBA draft and two other lottery picks a team that entered the NCAA tournament and the Final Four as the favorites to cut down the nets He added: "We fully believe that we had the best team in the country and we had a chance to prove it." Cryer (4) celebrates with teammates after Houston beat Duke in the national semifinals at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament Duke’s Tyrese Proctor (5) loses the ball as Houston’s Joseph Tugler (11) defends during the second half in the national semifinals at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament Duke forward Cooper Flagg reacts against the Houston during the second half in the national semifinals at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament Duke’s Khaman Maluach (9) and a teammate leave the court after Houston beat Duke in the national semifinals at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament Duke forward Cooper Flagg walks off the court after their loss against the Houston in the national semifinals at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament Duke’s Cooper Flagg (2) misses a shot as Houston’s J’Wan Roberts (13) defends during the second half in the national semifinals at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament Houston’s J’Wan Roberts (13) celebrates against Duke during the second half in the national semifinals at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament Duke’s Cooper Flagg (2) reacts after being called for a foul against Houston during the second half in the national semifinals at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament Houston’s Emanuel Sharp (21) goes up for a shot against Duke during the second half in the national semifinals at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament Duke’s Cooper Flagg (2) shoots as Houston’s Joseph Tugler (11) defends during the second half in the national semifinals at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament Houston’s no-room-to-breathe defense wiped away a 14-point deficit over the final eight minutes erased Cooper Flagg and Duke’s title hopes and brought the Cougars within a win of a championship of their own Saturday night with a 70-67 stunner over the Blue Devils The Blue Devils’ second-to-last attempt during their contest-ending 1-for-9 stretch was a step-back jumper in the paint by Flagg that J’Wan Roberts disrupted The last was a desperation heave by Tyrese Proctor that caught nothing at the buzzer and sent Flagg and company shuffling off in shock “We just had to keep that belief and keep the faith,” said L.J who won a title with Baylor in 2021 and led the Cougars in this one with 26 points This is the program’s first trip to the final since 1984 — which marked the official close of the Phi Slama Jama era a fun-and-gun dunkfest that never won the title despite the efforts of Clyde Drexler and Hakeem Olajuwon Houston has allowed the fewest points this season and even against Duke Kon Knueppel (16 points) and a roster with five or six NBA prospects it made things impossible down the stretch “Got to give them a lot of credit for what they do every single night they play,” Flagg said “We could have been a little bit more sharp down the stretch executing some things It was Roberts’ two free throws with 19.6 seconds left that gave the Cougars their first lead since 6-5 Cryer made two more to push the advantage to three That matched Houston’s biggest lead of the night will play Florida on Monday night for the championship It closed the game on a 9-0 run over the final 33 seconds he did it on 8-for-19 shooting and never got a good look after his 3 at the 3:02 mark put the Blue Devils (35-4) up by nine “Knowing going into that game that he was the player of the year that he brought his team to the Final Four we knew it would be challenging,” Roberts said A team that prides itself on getting three stops in a row — calling the third one the “kill stop” — strung together two stretches like that Duke settled for a measly three free throws over the final 3 minutes One came when Tugler got a technical for batting the ball from Sion James’ hands as he was trying to throw an inbounds pass That didn’t make things any better for the Blue Devils then Emanuel Sharp (16 points) made a 3 to cut the deficit to three Mylik Wilson stole the next inbounds pass and missed a game-tying 3 but Tugler tipped it in to cut the deficit to one Proctor missed the front end of a 1-and-1 with 20 seconds left to set the stage for the Roberts free throws Duke’s slow walk off the court came through a phalanx of Houston fans who waved goodbye to Flagg who will likely be off to the NBA as the first pick in the draft Houston held Duke to 37.5% shooting in the second half; that was nearly 20% lower than its first four games of the tournament which included a blowout over the nation’s best offense “We held that team to 67 points,” Houston coach Kelvin Sampson said The Cougars finished with six steals and six blocked shots and a bunch more altered by Roberts and Tugler who might be the best shot blockers to wear that Cougars uniform since Olajuwon himself for the heart Houston showed after the country’s best player had all but buried them with 8 minutes to go “Cooper was not going to beat us by himself,” Sampson said these guys will tell you what I was talking about in the huddle was the AI bracket will get more points in the contest and the disruptor playJohni Broome drills 3 after return from injury (0:34)After exiting the game Johni Broome returns and knocks down a 3 for Auburn The men's Final Four is set -- and it's all No With all chalk on the San Antonio River Walk who do our college basketball experts see facing off in the national championship on April 7 They break down how each team reached the NCAA tournament national semifinals and its keys to advancing to the title game and also predict the winners Jump to: Auburn vs. Florida | Duke vs. Houston 1 factor that helped Florida reach the Final Four: No team in America has been able to turn games in their favor with devastating runs the way the Gators have Down nine points with 3:14 to play against Texas Tech they ended the game on an 18-4 run akin to ones we have seen from them multiple times this season they outscored Maryland 47-33 in the second half of their Sweet 16 win and had 53 points in less than 17 minutes against Norfolk State in the opening round They have launched those same knockout punches against other elite teams Florida was tied with Tennessee at 16 with 11:30 to play in the first half Florida is college basketball's equivalent of a home run hitter in the bottom of the ninth inning It's never over with the Gators because of the way they can seize control of games play0:35Walter Clayton Jr.'s late 3s propel Florida to the Final FourFlorida's Walter Clayton Jr hits a pair of clutch 3-pointers late to send the Gators to the Final Four Florida's key against Auburn: Walter Clayton Jr.'s brilliance Florida might have the biggest star of them all in Clayton Jr His sheer will and talent could be the deciding factors in whether the Gators win the title 1 factor that helped Auburn reach the Final Four: Tightening up defensively When Auburn had its struggles down the stretch of the season the Tigers basically fell apart defensively They allowed at least 1.13 points per possession in all three of the defeats committing too many fouls and struggling to defend the rim they have looked much more like the team that started the season 27-2 Bruce Pearl's team has done a much better job limiting easy opportunities allowing only Creighton to reach one point per possession Johni Broome and the Auburn Tigers punched the last Final Four ticket with Sunday's win over Michigan State. Brett Davis-Imagn ImagesAuburn's key against Florida: Johni Broome Broome took an awkward fall midway through the second half of Sunday's Elite Eight win over Michigan State and immediately went to the locker room, offering words of encouragement to Chaney Johnson and giving his parents an update on the way It looked like his night -- and perhaps more -- was over But Broome came out of the locker room after only five minutes of game action and checked back in then quickly buried a 3-pointer to give Auburn a boost He seemed healthy enough to perform at a high level this Saturday but he will need to be at 100 percent to compete with Florida's deep and talented frontcourt The Gators have the size and depth inside to make life difficult for Johni Broome and can win in more ways than the Tigers can 1 factor that helped Houston reach the Final Four: 3-point shooting The easy answer would be D -- and we will get to the Cougars' elite defensive unit But the biggest difference between this year's team and previous iterations of Kelvin Sampson's program is the Cougars' ability to consistently make shots from the perimeter making nearly 40% of their shots from behind the arc with three starters shooting 42% or better Houston has averaged nine made 3s per game in the NCAA tournament and it was able to take all the life out of Tennessee in the Elite Eight with dagger 3 after dagger 3 late in the game The Cougars hit five treys in the final 5:30 on Sunday ruining any chance of a Volunteers comeback Houston's key against Duke: Defense > offense Saturday's Final Four showdown against Duke will feature the most efficient offense in the KenPom era (since 1996-97) against the nation's best defense. Can the Cougars slow down the Blue Devils? Duke has been torching teams all season, capable of beating opponents in a variety of ways, whether it's via Cooper Flagg 3-point shooting or using its superior size to finish around the rim make sure it stays mostly in a half-court setting and then try to lean on its experience and physicality to get Duke's young stars out of their rhythm Will the best defense be better than the best offense 1 factor that helped Duke reach the Final Four: Duke is simply more talented than any other team but the fleet of talent down the roster has enhanced everything that coach Jon Scheyer has done with it How many teams are bringing players of that pedigree off the bench there just isn't a team in the field that can assemble a comparable collection of elite players play1:57Bilas explains how Duke shut down Alabama's offenseJay Bilas and Jay Williams break down Duke's emphatic win over Alabama in the Elite Eight Duke's key against Houston: The Blue Devils' ability to protect the rim and defend the paint This Duke team has one of the top defensive units in recent program history Against an Alabama squad that made 25 3-pointers in the Sweet 16 the Blue Devils forced the Crimson Tide into awkward Alabama plays at the fastest pace in America Alabama was outscored in the paint by double digits Saturday in part because Duke does not give opposing teams space to get comfortable in the post This is going to be an incredible contrast of elite offense versus elite defense featuring one of the youngest teams in the country versus one of the oldest teams The problem for the Cougars is that the Blue Devils also have an elite defense to go with their historically good offense Duke can switch everything and is able to run good shooters off the 3-point line with Khaman Maluach in the paint to protect the rim but the Blue Devils' offense has been unfazed by pretty much anything all season It is a massive difference in experience and basketball maturity but it's not like the Houston guys are unaccomplished The Cougars have won 159 games in the J'Wan Roberts-Kelvin Sampson era can also claim the nation's longest current winning streak They have lost just once since November and have lost only once in regulation all season but I'm taking the experienced veterans over the most talented freshmen in the tournament By providing my email address, I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. England -- A Scottish golf course owned by U.S President Donald Trump will host a tournament on the European tour in August Trump International Golf Links Scotland will stage the Scottish Championship from Aug 7-10 after being added to the 2025 schedule by the tour Tuesday The course in Aberdeen is one of two owned by Trump in Scotland which is one of 10 courses on the rotation to host the British Open -- the oldest of the four major championships in men's golf -- but hasn't staged that event since 2009 It will be the first time Trump International has staged an event on the European tour though the course has been used for a tournament on the seniors' tour in 2023 and 2024 and will do so again this year executive vice president of the Trump Organization said hosting back-to-back events at Trump International marked a "significant milestone." The Scottish Championship was last played on the European tour in October 2020 Trump's courses also host events on the breakaway LIV Golf circuit has pointed to logistical and infrastructure issues as the main factor behind Turnberry's failure to be awarded the major since 2009 when Stewart Cink beat 59-year-old Tom Watson in a playoff said the Open would not be returning to Turnberry "until we are convinced that the focus will be on the championship the players and the course itself and we do not believe that is achievable in the current circumstances" -- perhaps a nod to Trump's ownership of the course The R&A's stance appears to have softened, though, under recently hired CEO Mark Darbon, who said last month that his organization was "doing some feasibility work" regarding a potential return to Turnberry has a panoramic view of offshore wind turbines not far from Aberdeen beach The Scottish government's approval of the wind farm drew the ire of Trump because he regarded the turbines as "unsightly" and spoiling the views at his luxury golf resort nearby CHICAGO -- Chicago White Sox outfielder Andrew Benintendi left Sunday's win over the Houston Astros because of left calf tightness Benintendi went 0 for 3, but he reached on an error in the fifth. He scored on Josh Rojas' bases-loaded walk with two down Brooks Baldwin hit for Benintendi in the sixth then remained in the game as the left fielder He is batting .224 with five homers and 12 RBI in 24 games Sunday's game was cut short by rain in the seventh inning The White Sox won 5-4 to secure their first series win over Houston since 2021 The Texans put significant draft resources into the wide receiver position and then taking Higgins’ Iowa State teammate with the 79th overall pick in the third round That leaves them with a crowded receiver room but General Manager Nick Caserio says Higgins filled one need and they were both good values for where they were picked “They’re different kind of in terms of their skill sets, how they play,” Caserio said, via the Houston Chronicle. “But it’s a good example of like, well, you guys drafted a receiver; ‘why would you draft another receiver?’ Well because Jaylin is a really good football player Higgins and Noel look like the fourth and fifth receivers behind a starting trio of Nico Collins Tank Dell may not play at all this season after a serious knee injury at the end of last season But if Higgins and Noel can play the way the Texans think they can it gives them good depth at a position that looked like one of need after Dell’s injury and the offseason departure of Stefon Diggs whose acquisition a year ago didn’t make the impact the Texans were hoping for when he missed half the season with a knee injury Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said the Texans wanted competition at wide receiver we set out to accomplish adding great football players to our team improve our team and come in and compete,” Ryans said Few expected one team to add two rookie receivers from Iowa State on the second day of the draft and it fulfilled a plan to get better at a position where they needed to get better A Division of NBCUniversal DISCLAIMER: This site and the products offered are for entertainment purposes only and there is no gambling offered on this site This service is intended for adult audiences No guarantees are made for any specific outcome If you or someone you know has a gambling problem Help Control Symptoms With These Air Purifiers We recognize our responsibility to use data and technology for good We may use or share your data with our data vendors The Weather Channel is the world's most accurate forecaster according to ForecastWatch, Global and Regional Weather Forecast Accuracy Overview This Astros' RHP prospect is making noise in Double-ASanta one of several players excelling early on Houston's farm in '25May 3rd HOUSTON -- The Astros haven’t developed many relievers in recent years save for Bryan Abreu and Logan VanWey and even now Forrest Whitley who was taken in the first round of the 2016 Draft as a starter before injuries and underperformance sent him to the bullpen prior to last season One of the biggest power arms in the system is right-hander a reliever who could push his way onto the radar soon Santa appeared in eight games for Double-A Corpus Christi in April and allowed two earned runs in 15 2/3 innings (1.15 ERA) He had a 0.89 WHIP and .222 batting average against Santa's fastball sat at 88-91 mph when he signed out of the Dominican Republic in February 2020 but he was limited to just 23 innings in his first two professional seasons due to the pandemic shutdown and elbow inflammation he has a lightning-quick arm that unleashes riding fastballs that sit at 94-96 mph and repeatedly touch 97-98 He has a tight slider that reaches the upper 80s a sweepier mid-80s version and an upper-70s curveball with more depth he’s got something he can throw to both bat sides between those three pitches,” said Astros senior director of player development and performance science Jacob Buffa “I think the velo on the breakers just makes him really difficult to hit.” Santa came to the United States about the same time as fellow right-hander Miguel Ullola but Santa’s injuries allowed Ullola to progress a little quicker Buffa said Santa’s ceiling would be comparable to Abreu which would be a good result for the Astros which means he throws two or three innings twice a week “We’re not huge fans of turning guys into straight relievers early in the Minor Leagues because mainly it limits [developmental] reps if you throw two innings in a week,” Buffa said “It’s difficult to get the reps in that you need to develop We have him basically going one time through the lineup and trying to throw him twice in a week.” What will allow Santa to take the leap to the next level is getting in the strike zone consistently with his breaking pitches you can no longer afford to let the hitter know a fastball is coming,” Buffa said Here’s a look around the rest of the system: Triple-A Sugar LandUllola, the Astros’ No. 5-ranked prospect (per MLB Pipeline) tied the longest outing of his career Thursday in a 3-0 win over Round Rock Ullola threw five innings and struck out five batters while allowing one hit and no earned runs He has a 6.00 ERA in 15 innings pitched this season allowing 10 walks while striking out 16 batters “We’re extremely happy with what we’ve seen,” Buffa said I think he’s lucky to be in this scenario of understanding how good his stuff is and understanding that he’s good enough to beat hitters in the zone he had tried to get too fine [and say] ‘I’ve got to hit the corner I’ve got to hit the corner.’ When in reality the stuff is so good he just has to be in the zone generally.” High-A AshevilleCenter fielder Joseph Sullivan (the team’s No. 12-ranked prospect) has shown a fantastic approach at the plate and elite bat-to-ball skills so far this year with 26 walks and five homers in 98 plate appearances The 26.5 percent walk rate probably isn’t sustainable for the rest of the year but it’s a positive sign for the Astros that he’s not chasing pitches Sign up to receive our daily Morning Lineup to stay in the know about the latest trending topics around Major League Baseball “That combination from someone who’s [22] years old of not chasing and hitting the ball hard is extremely exciting plus he can play center-field defense,” Buffa said Single-A FayettevilleRight-hander pitcher Bryce Mayer, 23, has a 2.51 ERA with 27 strikeouts, two walks, a 0.84 WHIP and a .192 opponents’ batting average in four appearances (including two starts) in April. The team’s No. 29 prospect, Mayer was drafted in the 16th round last year out of Missouri. “He’s got a [46.6] percent K-rate against both bat sides on the season and hasn’t walked a righty yet,” Buffa said. “He’s just mowing through guys down there right now.”