<!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', '/nba/houston-rockets/rockets-news-steven-adams-agrees-39-million-contract-extension');   ga('set', 'title', 'Rockets, Steven Adams agree to $39 million contract extension');   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/2025/06/Steven-Adams-during-Rockets-game-in-2025.jpg"><figcaption>Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Rockets, Steven Adams agree to $39 million contract extension</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-14T11:43:27-07:00">June 14th, 11:43am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-14T12:21:44-07:00">June 14th, 12:21pm</time><address><a>Alex House</a>Alex House is a sports journalist who covers the NFL, NBA, and MLB for ClutchPoints. He grew up in a New York sports-heavy region in Connecticut and earned his journalism degree at the University of Rhode Island. His in-depth knowledge of two of the most passionate and raucous fan bases in the country gives him a truly unique writing voice.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Houston Rockets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>After spending a year and a half on the sidelines with a knee injury, it was unclear if veteran center Steven Adams would ever make a meaningful impact in the NBA again. He decisively answered those questions while helping the Houston Rockets grab the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference last season. He is now reaping the rewards of those stalwart efforts, courtesy of a three-year, <a href="https://x.com/ShamsCharania/status/1933954097821974734" rel="noopener">$39 million contract extension</a>, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.</p><p>The Rockets are moving with purpose, making a swift deal ahead of what many expect to be a highly active summer in Space City. While a $13 million average annual salary admittedly seems expensive for a player who logged 13.7 minutes per game during the regular season, those who watched the playoffs are fully aware of the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/houston-rockets/rockets-news-steven-adams-explanation-massive-game-6-impact-warriors">noticeable impact Adams still provides</a> inside.</p><p>If not for the 31-year-old big man, Houston would not have pushed the Golden State Warriors to a Game 7 in the opening round of the postseason. He averaged 5.7 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.1 block in 22.1 minutes per contest during the series.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/houston-rockets/rockets-rumors-houston-backup-target-steven-adams">The Rockets were considering alternative options</a> at the backup center position, with 2021 NBA champion and former All-Star Brook Lopez sitting atop that list, but they clearly covet the defensive toughness that Adams brings to this squad. A successful youth movement cannot take shape without valuable veterans lending a helping hand. Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso proves as much. Houston is trying to follow in OKC’s footsteps by retaining one of its most experienced members.</p><p>This season was about breaking through and ending a five-year playoffs drought. During the 2025-26 campaign, the Rockets will look to establish themselves as an undeniable contender in an always loaded Western Conference. Re-signing Steven Adams may just be the first step they take toward achieving that goal.</p><p>All eyes are on this revitalized franchise as a potentially historic offseason lies ahead.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Rockets, Steven Adams agree to $39 million contract extension

<!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', '/nba/houston-rockets/rockets-rumors-houston-backup-target-steven-adams');   ga('set', 'title', 'Rockets rumors: Houston’s backup target if ‘priority’ Steven Adams leaves');   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/2025/06/IMG_1614.jpeg"><figcaption>Troy Taormina-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Rockets rumors: Houston’s backup target if ‘priority’ Steven Adams leaves</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-03T09:30:15-07:00">June 3rd, 9:30am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-03T09:30:15-07:00">June 3rd, 9:30am</time><address><a>David Yapkowitz</a>David Yapkowitz is an NBA Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He is a credentialed reporter based in Los Angeles who covers the NBA/WNBA, NCAA/NCAAW and boys/girls high school basketball.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Houston Rockets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Houston Rockets head into the 2025 offseason looking to continue their ascent in the Western Conference. Following their <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/rockets-news-ime-udoka-drops-blunt-take-game-7-loss-warriors">early exit in the opening round</a> of the NBA Playoffs by the Golden State Warriors, the focus is continuing to build towards being a contender. That includes addressing the Rockets’ own players, such as Steven Adams, once the free agency period rolls around.</p><p>Steven Adams is reportedly the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6396071/2025/06/03/rockets-steven-adams-giannis-antetokounmpo-nba-draft/" rel="noopener">top priority in the offseason</a> in terms of the Rockets internal free agency options, as per Kelly Iko of The Athletic. But Iko reports that if Adams should opt to sign elsewhere in free agency, the Rockets could turn their attention to another two-way caliber big man.</p><p>“If Adams leaves, team sources said the Rockets could reignite their interest in Brook Lopez,” Iko reports. “The 37-year-old, who averaged 13.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game shooting 37 percent from 3 in Milwaukee last season, was previously a target for Houston and would theoretically be a fit, given his two-way production and health.”</p><p>Following <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/houston-rockets/rockets-news-steven-adams-explanation-massive-game-6-impact-warriors">Adams’ strong showing the playoffs</a>, the veteran center is sure to draw interest on the free agent market from opposing teams. In the Rockets’ seven playoff games, Adams averaged 5.7 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.1 blocked shots while shooting 60 percent from the field. He would be a solid addition for any team looking to add frontcourt depth.</p><p>But per Iko, the Rockets are heading into the offseason working under the assumption that Adams has strong interest in re-signing with the team.</p><p>But in the event that Adams does depart in the offseason, Brook Lopez would not be a bad replacement for the Rockets. The former lottery pick has transitioned into becoming one of the top stretch-bigs in the NBA. His overall numbers took a hit in the playoffs during the Bucks’ opening round exit against the Indiana Pacers.</p><p>But during the regular season, Lopez shot 37.3 percent from the three-point line and 50.9 percent overall. He put up 13.0 points, which is close to his career average of 15.9. In more of a backup role with the Rockets, Lopez could thrive.</p><p>In any case, it’s going to be an important offseason for the Rockets if they wish to mold themselves into a West contender.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Rockets rumors: Houston’s backup target if ‘priority’ Steven Adams leaves

<!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', '/nba/houston-rockets/rockets-news-steven-adams-explanation-massive-game-6-impact-warriors');   ga('set', 'title', 'Steven Adams’ simple Rockets explanation for massive Game 6 impact vs. Warriors');   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/2025/05/Rockets-Steven-Adams-guards-Stephen-Curry.jpg"><figcaption>© Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Steven Adams’ simple Rockets explanation for massive Game 6 impact vs. Warriors</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-05-03T07:02:49-07:00">May 3rd, 7:02am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-05-03T07:36:32-07:00">May 3rd, 7:36am</time><address><a>Benjamin Adducchio</a>Benjamin Adducchio is a journalist and writer with more than a decade of experience in covering sports news. Ben is a passionate sports fan who loves college football, basketball, and the New York Yankees.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Houston Rockets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Houston Rockets big man Steven Adams hustled on both ends of the floor, as his team got a massive win Friday over the Golden State Warriors. Houston defeated Golden State in Game 6 of their playoff series, 115-107. Following the game, Adams <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1918526848926970255" rel="noopener">had a simple response</a> to why he had such a strong performance.</p><p>“I just follow the game plan, bro,” Adams told reporters afterward. “The defensive game plan. Read, communicate.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">"I just follow the game plan, bro."</p><p>Rockets big man Steven Adams kept it simple on his impact in Game 6 😅</p><p>(via <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNNBA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ESPNNBA</a>)<a href="https://t.co/Ruo2BKnF4X">pic.twitter.com/Ruo2BKnF4X</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1918526848926970255?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Adams finished the contest with 17 points. He also grabbed five rebounds in 31 minutes of action.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/rockets-news-drop-savage-tari-eason-meme-game-6-win-warriors">The Rockets have forced Game 7 in this series</a> by winning back-to-back contests. Houston was paced by Fred VanVleet on Friday, who poured in 29 points in the win.</p><p>Houston and Golden State play for all the marbles on Sunday. The winner advances in the postseason to the next NBA Playoff series.</p><h2><b>The Rockets have the momentum against the Warriors</b></h2><p>The Rockets seemed like they were left for dead after falling behind 3-1 in this series. Houston lost some close games by not being able to hit free throws.</p><p>In Game 5, the Rockets looked sharp on offense to battle back with a powerful 131-point performance. Then in Game 6, things looked even brighter. Houston hit 72 percent of their free throws, and the Rockets won a very close and tough battle.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/warriors-news-golden-state-melts-down-4th-quarter-rockets-game-7">The Rockets relied heavily on defense</a> to close out the game. Adams and other Houston players forced the Warriors to shoot off-balance in several possessions in the fourth quarter. The Warriors missed 14 of their first 15 <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/44976105/rockets-too-much-warriors-late-stay-alive-game-6-win" rel="noopener">fourth-quarter shots</a>, per ESPN.</p><p>Rockets star Fred VanVleet said he and the team were just poised and ready.</p><p>“You work all year and train all summer for these moments, and I’ve always prided myself on trying to rise to the occasion,” he said. “I’ve taken a different role for this team over the last two years and just trying to squeeze as much juice out of this group as possible. I’m ready and willing when the time comes to step up and make big plays.”</p><p>Houston and Golden State play their pivotal Game 7 Sunday at 8:30 ET.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Steven Adams’ simple Rockets explanation for massive Game 6 impact vs. Warriors

<!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', '/nba/houston-rockets/rockets-news-fred-vanvleet-gives-steven-adams-a-wild-compliment-after-game-6-win');   ga('set', 'title', 'Rockets’ Fred VanVleet gives Steven Adams a wild compliment after Game 6 win');   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/2025/05/Rockets-center-Steven-Adams-12-dunks.jpg"><figcaption>© Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Rockets’ Fred VanVleet gives Steven Adams a wild compliment after Game 6 win</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-05-02T22:12:48-07:00">May 2nd, 10:12pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-05-02T22:12:48-07:00">May 2nd, 10:12pm</time><address><a href="https://letterboxd.com/splooshpuhrty/films/by/your-rating/">Jedd Pagaduan</a>Jedd Pagaduan is a certified Clippers and Gunners fan, which means he's a very sports-traumatized individual. He now writes about sports instead as a form of therapy.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Houston Rockets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Houston Rockets big man Steven Adams has emerged as a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/golden-state-warriors/warriors-news-golden-state-melts-down-4th-quarter-rockets-game-7">major thorn in the Golden State Warriors’ side</a> during their first-round matchup in the 2025 NBA playoffs. Adams continues to provide a world of difference for the Rockets, with his mere presence on the floor being a huge threat to the Warriors’ small-ball approach. On Friday night, with the Rockets’ backs against the wall in Game 6 against the Warriors, Adams was a +15 off the bench in a 115-107 victory.</p><p>Simply put, Adams is proving himself to be a difference-maker for the Rockets, prompting Fred VanVleet, who has come alive over the past three games, to <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1918516094010040474" rel="noopener">shower him with some wild praise</a>.</p><p>“He’s the ultimate man. He’s just an enforcer down there. He’s like a big caveman in this era of small basketball. An old big just roughing everybody up. He’s impacted us on another level, a historical level honestly. Made his free throws tonight. We’re gonna play him until he dies out there,” VanVleet said in his postgame interview with ESPN SportsCenter’s Scott Van Pelt.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">"He's like a big caveman in this era of small basketball. An old big just roughing everybody up. … We're gonna play him until he dies out there."</p><p>Rockets guard Fred VanVleet to Scott Van Pelt on Steven Adams 😂<a href="https://t.co/lO80SPUGF0">pic.twitter.com/lO80SPUGF0</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1918516094010040474?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Adams is causing major problems for the Warriors on the interior on both ends of the floor; not exactly known as a premier shot-blocker in the NBA, the Rockets veteran swatted three shots in an elimination game and was a bruising presence on the glass, allowing Houston to control the paint game on both ends of the floor. Not a big time scorer, Adams scored 17 points in Game 6 (he hasn’t scored that many points in the playoffs in nearly five years).</p><p>It’s quite impressive to see how <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/houston-rockets/rockets-news-steven-adams-two-year-journey-overcome-injury-struggles">Adams has managed to bounce all the way back from a serious knee injury</a> that forced him to miss the entirety of the 2023-24 season. He looks to be as spry as ever, and the Rockets have managed to force a Game 7 thanks in large part to the way he’s able to survive in today’s NBA despite having the skillset of a throwback big man, as VanVleet hilariously alluded to.</p><h2><b>Steven Adams is such a perfect fit for this Rockets team</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Draymond-Green-1.jpg"><figcaption>Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Steven Adams, like most other traditional big men, struggle to guard the perimeter. But this Rockets team provides so much cover for him on that end of the floor, and it helps that Adams is able to sag off of a Warriors non-shooter, such as Draymond Green.</p><p>While Adams is deservedly getting plenty of credit for his impact for the Rockets this series (Houston is a +53 during his minutes for this series and is a +46 over the past three games), the veteran big man said that <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNNBA/status/1918523883545559421" rel="noopener">he is simply doing</a> what the coaches are asking of him.</p><p>“What difference do I make? I’m not sure. I just follow the game plan bro. Defensive game plan, we communicate,” Adams said in his postgame presser, via the official NBA account on X (formerly Twitter).</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">"I just follow the game plan, bro."</p><p>Steven Adams on the difference he made during the game 😅 <a href="https://t.co/y0gsZq6Ngh">pic.twitter.com/y0gsZq6Ngh</a></p><p>— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNNBA/status/1918523883545559421?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Rockets’ Fred VanVleet gives Steven Adams a wild compliment after Game 6 win

<!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', '/nba/golden-state-warriors/warriors-news-jimmy-butler-steven-adams-key-game-winning-rebound');   ga('set', 'title', 'Warriors’ Jimmy Butler reveals Steven Adams key to game-winning rebound');   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/2025/04/Warriors-forward-Draymond-Green-celebrates-with-forward-Jimmy-Butler.jpg"><figcaption>Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Warriors’ Jimmy Butler reveals Steven Adams key to game-winning rebound</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-04-29T07:33:51-07:00">April 29th, 7:33am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-04-29T09:40:20-07:00">April 29th, 9:40am</time><address><a>Rexwell Villas</a>Rexwell Villas is an experienced sports writer covering a variety of sports, including the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and college football. He's a Communications Arts graduate from the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines, and he claims to have JR Smith's conscience with his shot selection. He has won a basketball, a baseball, and a football championship in fantasy all within a year.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Golden State Warriors</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Jimmy Butler just had <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/golden-state-warriors/warriors-news-jimmy-butler-buddy-hield-battle-continues-game-4-rockets-heroics">one of his most memorable games in a Golden State Warriors uniform</a> on Monday night at Chase Center in San Francisco. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/golden-state-warriors/warriors-news-jimmy-butler-gets-brutally-honest-on-good-pain-he-feels-after-injury-return">Coming back from a one-game absence</a> because of a pelvis injury, Butler helped the Dubs pull off a 109-106 win in Game 4 of the series against the Houston Rockets.</p><p>Butler had several notable moments in that contest, including his huge makes from the foul line near the end of regulation and the huge defensive rebound following a crucial miss by Rockets star big man Alperen Sengun with four seconds left in the fourth quarter.</p><p>Trailing the Warriors by a point with 13 seconds in the contest, the Warriors got the ball to Sengun. It looked as though the Rockets were trying to make Gary Payton II switch to Sengun for a mismatch, but the Warriors successfully denied that attempt, leaving Sengun on an island with former Defensive Player of the Year Draymond Green, who did what he always does best and forced a miss.</p><p>Butler then came flying in for the game-saving rebound before getting fouled. He would make both free throws off that foul to put the Warriors up by three, with Houston failing to force overtime as time in the final quarter expired.</p><p>After the game, Butler provided an insight on <a href="https://x.com/957thegame/status/1917107152596177041" rel="noopener">how his rebound came about</a> despite the presence of Rockets veteran center Steven Adams in the contest.</p><p>“I saw that I wasn’t battling with Steven Adams in the last play, Butler said in the postgame press conference (h/t 95.7 The Game). “So I was able to go up there. But I wanted to rebound, I told Dray [Green], if you get a stop, I will get the rebound. And he got the stop, and I got the rebound.”</p><p>Butler was all over the final minutes of Game 4. He scored nine of Golden State’s final 12 points. Overall, he had 27 points on 7-for-12 shooting from the field while making all his 12 attempts from the charity stripe, grabbing five boards and dishing out six assists in 40 minutes of action. His ability to contribute at a high level on both ends of the floor has proven to be a big plus for the Warriors, who can send the Rockets home as soon as Game 5 on Wednesday in Houston.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Warriors’ Jimmy Butler reveals Steven Adams key to game-winning rebound

Dante Exum

Caris LeVert

Nassir Little

Aron Baynes

Steven Adams

Shabazz Napier

Troy Daniels

Thon Maker

Jarred Vanderbilt

Gorgui Dieng

2013-14 All-Rookie

Oklahoma City Thunder

New Orleans Pelicans

Memphis Grizzlies

Houston Rockets

6 seasons

Career

1 season

https://twitter.com/RealStevenAdams/status/1583905618318209024/

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Bro @BlessedMMA the goat for the @KateBushMusic walk out 😂
#UFC276 #StrangerThings4

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Kenny McFadden was not just a coach. But a father figure for a lot of us who had the privilege of being coached by him. First impressions of him were always positive because of his contagious smile and swag.

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https://twitter.com/RealStevenAdams/status/1284164648347086848/

2024-25 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
3.6	5.2	1.0	0.4	0.3

2024-25 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
3.6	5.2	1.0	0.4	0.3

Steven
Adams

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