<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/thunder-news-shai-gilgeous-alexander-best-world-take-dillon-brooks-battle');   ga('set', 'title', 'Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s ‘best in the world’ take on Dillon Brooks battle');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Thunder-news-Shai-Gilgeous-Alexanders-best-in-the-world-take-on-Dillon-Brooks-battle.jpg"></figure><h1>Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s ‘best in the world’ take on Dillon Brooks battle</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-15T13:15:06-08:00">December 15th, 1:15pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-15T13:15:06-08:00">December 15th, 1:15pm</time><address><a>Josue Pavon</a>Josue Pavon is an Associate Editor and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat writer for ClutchPoints. He started his career as a credentialed media member writing about the Boston Celtics for WEEI.com in Boston, where he grew into a local on-camera NBA reporter and podcast host for CLNS Media. Alongside the Celtics radio broadcaster and two-time NBA champion Cedric Maxwell, Josue is the co-host of the Cedric Maxwell podcast.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>After beating the Houston Rockets 111-96 in the NBA Cup semifinals, Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander talked about going one-on-one with Dillon Brooks. The Canada men’s basketball team teammates are friends off the court, and after head coach <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/thunder-news-mark-daigneault-stage-nba-cup-final-bucks-fastball-take" rel="noopener">Mark Daigneault set the stage for the final</a>, Gilgeous-Alexander talked about his battle against Brooks and the Rockets. </p><p>For Shai, it’s the best of both worlds facing off head-to-head, he <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGqXCOalKww&amp;t=185s" rel="noopener">said</a> during his media availability postgame.</p><p>“It’s fun. It makes you better,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “That’s what this league is about, competing against the best in the world, and defensively, he is that for sure. And I like to think that of myself offensively. So, he gives me a chance to really see where I’m at, a good test. I’d say I handled it pretty well.”</p><p>Gilgeous-Alexander scored 20 of his 32 points in the second half of the Thunder’s 15-point win as the Thunder pulled ahead late. They finished with 36 fourth-quarter points, outscoring the Rockets by 16 (70-54) in the second half. Thunder starting center Isaiah Hartenstein finished with 21 points and eight rebounds, Jalen Williams added 20 points and five assists, and Lu Dort registered 19 points, nine rebounds, and three steals.</p><p>“We stayed to our principles, to our identity. We knew that we’d be able to kick in enough shots if we stayed with it, and we just focused on getting stops the whole night,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “We knew if we did that at a high level, we’d give ourselves a chance, and that’s what happened.”</p><p>Amen Thompson’s 19 points off the bench led six Rockets players in double figures, including Jabari Smith Jr. and Dillon Brooks, who finished with 14 points. Alperen Sengun added a double-double (13 points, 11 rebounds), while Jalen Green and Tari Eason scored a dozen points.</p><h2><b>Mark Daigneault sets the stage for NBA Cup final vs. Bucks</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Thunder-head-coach-Mark-Daigneault-2.jpg"><figcaption>Kyle Terada-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>After All-Star <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/thunder-news-okc-messes-shai-gilgeous-alexander-nba-cup-postgame-interview">Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s walk-off interview with his Thunder teammates</a>, head coach Mark Daigneault turned his attention to his NBA Cup final matchup against the Bucks. He anticipates the Thunder to continue to play at a high level.</p><p>One win away from winning the NBA Cup, Daigneault wouldn’t expect anything less from his Thunder team.</p><p>“We have a competitive group of guys… when you put anything on the line, the guys will be amped up for that… I think both teams will bring their fastball on Tuesday,” Daigneault said.</p><p>On Tuesday night, the Thunder will face the Bucks in the NBA Cup final in Las Vegas.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s ‘best in the world’ take on Dillon Brooks battle

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/rockets-news-is-dillon-brooks-playing-vs-thunder-latest-nba-cup-injury-update');   ga('set', 'title', 'Dillon Brooks available for NBA Cup game vs. Thunder');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Is-Dillon-Brooks-playing-vs.-Thunder-Latest-NBA-Cup-injury-update.jpg"><figcaption>ClutchPoints</figcaption></figure><h1>Dillon Brooks available for NBA Cup game vs. Thunder</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-14T09:33:50-08:00">December 14th, 9:33am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-14T16:57:43-08:00">December 14th, 4:57pm</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Houston Rockets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Houston Rockets (17-8) have listed forward Dillon Brooks as <a href="https://official.nba.com/nba-injury-report-2024-25-season/" rel="noopener">questionable</a> for Thursday’s <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/2-reasons-rockets-pull-off-nba-cup-upset-thunder">NBA Cup semifinals against the Oklahoma City Thunder</a> (19-5) in Las Vegas due to an undisclosed illness. His availability remains uncertain, with a game-time decision likely as the team evaluates his condition ahead of the 8:30 p.m. ET tip-off.</p><p>Brooks played a key role in the Rockets’ narrow 91-90 quarterfinal victory over the Golden State Warriors. In that game, he contributed nine points, four rebounds, two steals, a block, and an assist. The win ended a 15-game losing streak against the Warriors, which had spanned several seasons.</p><p>This season, Brooks has been a consistent presence for Houston, averaging 12.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game while shooting 42.4% from the field and 38.1% from beyond the arc. His defensive intensity and versatility have been instrumental in the Rockets’ strong start, placing them fourth in the Western Conference standings.</p><p><i><b>*Watch NBA games LIVE with fuboTV <a href="https://www.fubo.tv/lp/nba/?irad=356361&amp;irmp=492408" rel="noopener sponsored">(Get Access | Save $30)</a>*</b></i></p><h2><b>Dillon Brook’s injury status for Rockets’ NBA Cup semifinals clash vs. Thunder</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Dillon-Brooks-9-takes-a-three-point-shot-against-the-Golden-State-Warriors.jpg"><figcaption>© John Hefti-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/rockets-news-jalen-green-honest-houston-take-thunder">Rockets face a formidable opponent in the Thunder</a>, who boast the best record in the Western Conference at 19-5. The two teams have split their season series so far, with Houston securing a 119-116 win in their most recent matchup behind Fred VanVleet’s season-high 38 points.</p><p>The Thunder, led by All-Star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, have emerged as one of the league’s top contenders this season. Gilgeous-Alexander continues to shine as one of the NBA’s premier offensive threats, anchoring Oklahoma City’s success with his scoring and playmaking.</p><p>The NBA Cup semifinal represents a playoff-like clash between two young and dynamic franchises. Meanwhile, for Houston, Brooks’ status could be a determining factor, as his defensive prowess would be critical in slowing down the Thunder’s potent offense.</p><p>The good news for the Rockets is that Brooks is <a href="https://x.com/Jonathan_Feigen/status/1868093889133076606" rel="noopener">available to play</a> against the Thunder after being deemed questionable, per Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle.</p><p>The winner of Thursday’s semifinal will advance to face either the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-cup-semifinals-how-to-watch-tv-stream-schedule-preview">Atlanta Hawks or Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Cup championship game</a>, which is scheduled for Tuesday evening in Las Vegas. The highly anticipated conclusion to the league’s second annual in-season tournament will crown the NBA Cup champion for the 2024-25 season.</p><p>So, when it comes to the question of if Dillon Brooks is playing tonight vs. the Thunder, the answer is yes.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Dillon Brooks available for NBA Cup game vs. Thunder

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/rockets-news-jabari-smith-jr-defends-dillon-brooks-from-critics-before-nba-cup');   ga('set', 'title', 'Rockets news: Jabari Smith Jr. defends Dillon Brooks from critics before NBA Cup');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Jabari-Smith-Jr.-Dillon-Brooks-Houston-Rockets.jpg"></figure><h1>Rockets news: Jabari Smith Jr. defends Dillon Brooks from critics before NBA Cup</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-14T07:45:21-08:00">December 14th, 7:45am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-14T07:46:29-08:00">December 14th, 7:46am</time><address><a>Tomer Azarly</a>Tomer Azarly is in his ninth season as the LA Clippers beat writer and NBA reporter for ClutchPoints. From the Lob City era to the Kawhi Leonard-Paul George era, he brings you everything you need to know about the Clippers as well as coast-to-coast coverage of the NBA.In his off time, Tomer likes to play basketball, video games, and draw.You can follow his Twitter for all Clippers content.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Exclusive</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>LAS VEGAS, NV – Jabari Smith Jr. and the Houston Rockets are <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/rockets-news-jalen-green-honest-houston-take-thunder">preparing to take on</a> the Oklahoma City Thunder in the semifinals of the NBA Cup on Saturday evening. As is the case for most Rockets games, forward Dillon Brooks will be an x-factor in the game for Houston.</p><p>Brooks, who will take on his teammates from the Canadian National Team in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luguentz Dort, has been someone who has stayed in headlines, but often times for the wrong reasons — whether it was people on the outside criticizing his over-intensity or others calling him dirty.</p><h2><b>Jabari Smith Jr. defends Rockets teammate Dillon Brooks</b></h2><p>Although he’s never received the accolades for it, Dillon Brooks has been incredibly impactful for his Memphis Grizzlies and Houston Rockets teams over his eight years in the NBA. It’s why Houston reached an immediate agreement on a four-year, $86 million deal with him as soon the 2023 free agency period began.</p><p>Ahead of Saturday’s contest between the Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder, Brooks’ teammate, Jabari Smith Jr., gave his insight into what it’s like to have the Canadian basketball player as a teammate.</p><p>“Oh, it’s great,” <a href="https://x.com/TomerAzarly/status/1867957884765839762">Smith Jr. told ClutchPoints</a> during Friday’s media availability. “He’s one of the most… I’m trying to think of the word. Like, misunderstood. Because people might view him on the outside looking in like he’s this crazy guy, but he really is a leader, he really loves basketball, he really is a hard worker.</p><p>“He’s everything you can ask for in a vet. I’ve grown closer to him as I’ve been with him as I’ve been with him the past two years, he’s like my big brother. We’ve built a relationship and it rubs off on everyone. The energy and the intensity he plays with, it definitely working, it’s definitely rubbing off on everyone. He’s helped us a lot.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Jabari Smith Jr. on Rockets teammate Dillon Brooks:</p><p>“He’s one of the most, like, misunderstood players. Because people might view him on the outside looking in like he’s this crazy [dude], but he really is a leader, he really loves basketball, he really is a hard worker. He’s… <a href="https://t.co/MN5dpM3ezK">pic.twitter.com/MN5dpM3ezK</a></p><p>— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) <a href="https://twitter.com/TomerAzarly/status/1867957884765839762?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 14, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Brooks left Memphis after averaging 14.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in 345 regular season appearances. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/grizzlies-news-memphis-wont-re-sign-dillon-brooks-nba-free-agency">The Grizzlies did not offer him</a> a new contract, with <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/grizzlies-news-real-reason-dillon-brooks-exit">reports citing concerns</a> over his wanting and increased role and his antics potentially negatively impacting younger players.</p><p>Did Jabari Smith Jr. have any kind of impression of Brooks that changed once the team acquired him?</p><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Jabari-Smith-Jr.-and-Dillon-Brooks-celebrate-during-a-Rockets-game.jpg"><figcaption>Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>“Yeah, a bit, but I didn’t really know him too much,” Smith Jr. admitted to ClutchPoints in the interview. “Just off of playing against him, but I ain’t judging a book off its cover, so I just really didn’t know what to expect. He ended up being real cool.</p><p>“He’s got a lot more game than I thought from watching him. Because I watched him at Oregon, and I remember him being player of the year and all of that. So I knew there was some game in there, but he shown me in training camp and pick-up games. He’s shown me for sure.”</p><p>Dillon Brooks had a strong college career at Oregon from 2014-2017. During his sophomore season, Brooks averaged 16.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.1 steals per game on 47 percent shooting from the field and 33.8 percent from three in 32.8 minutes per game.</p><p>In his junior season, Brooks played seven fewer minutes per game at 25.3 a night, but still averaged 16.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.1 steals on better efficiency — 48.8 percent shooting from the field and 40.1 percent from three.</p><p>Brooks was named the Pac-12 Player of the Year in 2017, a two-time First-Team All-Pac-12 member in 2016 and 2017, and a Consensus Second-Team All-American in 2017.</p><p>The Rockets and Thunder will tip off their NBA Cup semifinal matchup on Saturday, December 14 at 5:30PM PST on ABC.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Rockets news: Jabari Smith Jr. defends Dillon Brooks from critics before NBA Cup

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/rockets-news-dillon-brooks-savage-message-warriors-jalen-green-presser');   ga('set', 'title', 'Rockets veteran Dillon Brooks’ savage message to Warriors during Jalen Green presser');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Rockets-news-Dillon-Brooks-savage-message-to-Warriors-overheard-during-Jalen-Green-presser.jpg"></figure><h1>Rockets veteran Dillon Brooks’ savage message to Warriors during Jalen Green presser</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-12T08:09:05-08:00">December 12th, 8:09am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-12T08:55:54-08:00">December 12th, 8:55am</time><address><a>Josue Pavon</a>Josue Pavon is an Associate Editor and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat writer for ClutchPoints. He started his career as a credentialed media member writing about the Boston Celtics for WEEI.com in Boston, where he grew into a local on-camera NBA reporter and podcast host for CLNS Media. Alongside the Celtics radio broadcaster and two-time NBA champion Cedric Maxwell, Josue is the co-host of the Cedric Maxwell podcast.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Golden State Warriors</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Whether intentional or not, Houston Rockets veteran Dillon Brooks crashed Jalen Green’s postgame interview after they beat the Golden State Warriors 91-90 in the NBA Cup’s quarter-finals. After eliminating the Warriors on Wednesday, head coach <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/rockets-news-ime-udoka-expertly-breaks-down-key-reason-behind-warriors-stunner">Ime Udoka pointed to the Rockets’ relentlessness</a> as a catalyst to edging out Golden State. At the same time, Brooks was eager to send them home.</p><p>His voice <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1867212052886155372" rel="noopener">can be heard</a> in the background during Green’s postgame interview, per Locked on Rockets’s Jackson Gatlin.</p><p>“Send they a** back to Golden State,”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">"Send they a*s back to Golden State."</p><p>Dillon Brooks in the background while Jalen Green was speaking with the media following the Rockets' NBA Cup win over the Warriors 😅</p><p>(via <a href="https://twitter.com/JTGatlin?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JTGatlin</a>)<br> <a href="https://t.co/Miaz4AqvQC">pic.twitter.com/Miaz4AqvQC</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1867212052886155372?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>After the Warriors’ Stephen Curry missed a three that would have given his team the lead, the Rockets regained possession on a loose ball foul toward the end of the fourth quarter, sealing the one-point win. After the victory, Udoka <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1867093539915698207" rel="noopener">said his team’s</a> never-give-up attitude made all the difference.</p><p>“We’re gonna continue to fight and not give up. Got stops when we needed to, hit big shots when we needed to. Got on the floor, loose balls, created that foul. Great job switching on the last possession to kind of bottle that up. But as I’ve said before, you can always rely on your defense when the shots aren’t falling,” Udoka said in his postgame presser via the official ClutchPoints account on X (formerly Twitter).</p><p>“A lot of good things. Eight 24-second [shot clock] violations. 30 points off their 22 turnovers. Only put them on the free-throw line nine times. That’s a recipe for success on the defensive end, for sure,” Udoka concluded.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">“That’s a recipe for success on the defensive end.”</p><p>Ime Udoka holds the Rockets to high praise after securing a tough comeback win over the Warriors 🗣️</p><p>(via <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NBA</a>)<a href="https://t.co/OUYo1gzCti">pic.twitter.com/OUYo1gzCti</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1867093539915698207?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Alperen Sengun’s double-double (26 points, 11 rebounds) led the Rockets. Jabari Smith finished with 15 points, and Green added 12 points and three steals. Jonathan Kuminga’s 20 points and seven rebounds led the Warriors. Curry scored 19 points, and Buddy Hield finished with 15 points.</p><h2><b>Alperen Sengun’s shocking claim for Rockets’ win over Warriors</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Rockets-center-Alperen-Sengun.jpg"><figcaption>Troy Taormina-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Before Wednesday’s win, Houston Rockets center <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/rockets-news-alperen-sengun-drops-eye-opening-claim-about-nba-cup-win-vs-warriors">Alperen Sengun had never seen his teammates so focused</a>. Perhaps that’s why Rockets veteran Dillon Brooks was so hyped up during Jalen Green’s presser. The one-point win proved how hungry they were against the Golden State Warriors, and they are now heading to Las Vegas for the NBA Cup’s semifinals.</p><p>Sengun <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1867086948801888650" rel="noopener">spoke to</a> TNT’s Stephanie Ready after the win.</p><p>“I’ve never seen my team this thirsty. We knew it was gonna be hard. They play aggressive. We play aggressive. I’m proud of my teammates, everyone,” Sengun said. “We worked hard. We came ready for this game so hard. So I’m happy [we won]. This is big time.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">"I've never seen my team this thirsty… We knew it was gonna be hard. They play aggressive. We play aggressive."</p><p>Alperen Sengun on the Rockets' tough win over the Warriors to qualify for the NBA Cup Semifinals 🗣️</p><p>(via <a href="https://twitter.com/NBAonTNT?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NBAonTNT</a>)<a href="https://t.co/FqJk44nhXY">pic.twitter.com/FqJk44nhXY</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1867086948801888650?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>The Rockets will face the Thunder in the semifinals on Saturday.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Rockets veteran Dillon Brooks’ savage message to Warriors during Jalen Green presser

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/clippers-news-rockets-jalen-green-dillon-brooks-hilarious-reactions-to-1st-game-at-intuit-dome');   ga('set', 'title', 'Rockets’ Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks hilarious reactions to 1st game at Intuit Dome');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Dillon-Brooks-Jalen-Green-Los-angeles-Clippers-Houston-Rockets-Intuit-Dome.jpg"></figure><h1>Rockets’ Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks hilarious reactions to 1st game at Intuit Dome</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-09T20:49:25-08:00">December 9th, 8:49pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-09T20:49:43-08:00">December 9th, 8:49pm</time><address><a>Tomer Azarly</a>Tomer Azarly is in his ninth season as the LA Clippers beat writer and NBA reporter for ClutchPoints. From the Lob City era to the Kawhi Leonard-Paul George era, he brings you everything you need to know about the Clippers as well as coast-to-coast coverage of the NBA.In his off time, Tomer likes to play basketball, video games, and draw.You can follow his Twitter for all Clippers content.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Houston Rockets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>LOS ANGELES, CA — Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, and the Houston Rockets played their first game at the LA Clippers’ all <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/timberwolves-news-rudy-gobert-hilarious-reaction-first-game-clippers-intuit-dome">new Intuit Dome</a>, with many folks coming away impressed.</p><p>Despite the losing their third game of the season against the Rockets, the Clippers drew praise from their players postgame.</p><h2><b>Rockets guards Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks react to Clippers’ Intuit Dome</b></h2><p>The Rockets defeated the Clippers, 117-106, on Sunday night. Jalen Green led the way with 31 points and four rebounds on 9-of-20 shooting from the field with five three-pointers. Amen Thompson dropped 22 points, eight rebounds, and four assists in the spot start for the injured Fred Van Vleet. Dillon Brooks was an all-around force, finishing with 19 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and two blocked shots.</p><p>After the contest, the Rockets expressed admiration for the new Stadium.</p><p>“I think it’s fire,” Rockets guard <a href="https://x.com/TomerAzarly/status/1866026138507808772">Jalen Green said</a> of the Clippers’ Intuit Dome. “It’s super futuristic. I was watching the, what’s it called, the intros. The intro for the Clippers. It was crazy, the whole wrap around of the [Halo board]. It was fire. It looked like a 2K game or something.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Asked Jalen Green about playing in the Clippers’ Intuit Dome for the first time:</p><p>“I think it’s fire. It’s super futuristic. I was watching the intro for the Clippers. It was crazy, the whole [Halo board] wrap around. It was fire. It looked like a 2K game or something.” <a href="https://t.co/7yIPGCYKf5">pic.twitter.com/7yIPGCYKf5</a></p><p>— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) <a href="https://twitter.com/TomerAzarly/status/1866026138507808772?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>“I think it’s nice,” Amen Thompson added. “It’s crazy. I like the little Halo thing. It’s fire. I didn’t even notice the Wall. Guys we were 100 percent from free throws today with The Wall. Nah, I’m playing. I did notice it.”</p><p>Even the ever-serious Dillon Brooks <a href="http://So%20far%20this%20season,%20opponents%20are%20shooting%20just%2072.8%20percent%20from%20the%20free%20throw%20line%20against%20the%20LA%20Clippers%20inside%20Intuit%20Dome.%20That's%20the%20worst%20opponent's%20free%20throw%20percentage%20of%20any%20opponent%20in%20the%20NBA.">took time after the victory</a> to praise Steve Ballmer and the Clippers for the Intuit Dome.</p><p>“It’s amazing,” Brooks said. “The locker room is great. They’ve got a lot of stuff for like cold tub, recovery, the way it’s shaped, it looks great. It’s like the newest, state of the art. I feel like it’s a great place to play.”</p><p>Brooks even admitted he caught himself watching the Halo Board throughout out the game.</p><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/The-Wall-during-the-Clippers-Rockets-game-at-Intuit-Dome.jpg"><figcaption>Jason Parkhurst-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>“Yeah, for sure. That’s a great idea to have everybody be able to see the Megatron or whatever it’s called, the Halo Board. It’s real good for the crowd, the fans, so shoutout to [Steve] Ballmer for figuring that out and being about the people.”</p><p>The Wall, however, is something Brooks said wasn’t anything new to him, although he did appreciate the effort.</p><p>“No, I’m used to that. In college, they’ve got that same thing in Arizona. It’s a great idea. I guess you’ve got to see the stats and see if they’ve got the lowest opponent free throw percentage and see if it actually works.”</p><p>We did look it up.</p><p>So far this season, opponents are shooting just 72.8 percent from the free throw line against the LA Clippers inside Intuit Dome. That’s the worst opponent’s free throw percentage of any opposing road team in the NBA. The next closest team are the opposing teams at the Houston Rockets’ Toyota Center, which shoot 74 percent from the free throw line.</p><p>It’s tough to say whether the Wall is directly impacting opposing team’s free throw shooting given teams switch sides at halftime. Still, it’s notable that teams are shooting their worst from the line when they visit the Intuit Dome and LA Clippers.</p><p>The Clippers have played 17 home games thus far, so there will be many more opportunities to see how real the Wall’s impact is.</p><p>Their next home game will be on January 16th against the Utah Jazz.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

2024-25 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
13.6	4.0	1.6	0.3	0.7

2024-25 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
13.6	4.0	1.6	0.3	0.7

Dillon Brooks

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