Kelvin Sampson's team lost a few players from that squad, but returned key pieces and NBA Draft prospects Joseph Tugler and Milos Uzan. Additionally, the team added a few high-profile freshman who have already looked impressive for Houston.

Reed Sheppard dropped a career-high 27 points for the Houston Rockets in their 112-109 NBA Cup loss to the Denver Nuggets Friday.

Rockets All-Star Kevin Durant has reunited with veteran center Steven Adams this season, as the two played together during their time with the Thunder. Durant revealed what this season has meant for him and Adams as the new guy in Houston.

This article was originally published on www.si.com/nba/rockets/onsi as Rockets Have No Reason to Panic Following NBA Cup Loss to Nuggets.

Nikola Jokic outplayed Alperen Sengun and Kevin Durant as the Rockets took a tough loss that has both NBA Cup and Western Conference implications.

The Timberwolves are 4-2 in the last six games and 6-2 since Anthony Edwards return. While the record is impressive, Minnesota has beaten Washington, Dallas, Sacramento twice, and Utah twice with losses to Denver and New York. Minnesota actually hasn’t beaten a team with a winning record yet and can with a road game at Phoenix next.

Few college basketball players have made as much of an impression in the early season as Houston freshman Kingston Flemings, and NBA scouts are noticing.

Today’s NBA slate features Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets facing off with the Cleveland Cavaliers in what should be an exciting matchup.