In a shocking loss at home, the Rockets fell to the rebuilding Nets (16-33) and also lost starting point guard Fred VanVleet to injury.

The Houston Rockets list Alperen Sengun as questionable and rule out Fred VanVleet for their matchup against the New York Knicks.

The Houston Rockets and Fred VanVleet appear to be aligned on the potential of a long-term future together, with both sides showing mutual interest in an

VanVleet hasn’t been the sole reason for the Rockets’ improvement — they added fellow vet Dillon Brooks and are seeing growth from young players like Amen Thompson, Alperen Sengun, Jalen Green, Tari Eason and more — but there’s no coincidence that his arrival coincided so directly with Houston’s climb to the top of the standings.