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This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

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Defector

NYC: Come To Our WNBA Comedy Show On May 16

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Live Event

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Ray Ratto

Buddy Hield of the Golden State Warriors reacts against the Houston Rockets after making a three-point basket during the fourth quarter in Game Seven of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs.

Golden State Warriors v Houston Rockets – Game Seven

Sometimes It’s The Buddy Hield Game

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Patrick Redford

Buddy Hield #7 of the Golden State Warriors celebrates after making a three point basket against the Houston Rockets during the third quarter in Game Four of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs.

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Buddy Hield To The Rescue

HOUSTON, TEXAS - APRIL 23: Jalen Green #4 of the Houston Rockets reacts in the first half against the Golden State Warriors in Game Two of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center on April 23, 2025 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)

Golden State Warriors v Houston Rockets – Game Two

Jalen Green Stops Killing The Rockets Long Enough To Kill The Warriors Instead

Fred VanVleet #5 of the Houston Rockets dives for the ball against Gary Payton II #0 and Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors during the first quarter in Game One of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs on April 20, 2025.

Golden State Warriors v Houston Rockets – Game One

The Warriors And Rockets Know Each Other’s Weaknesses

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 31: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles the ball during the second half against the Houston Rockets at Crypto.com Arena on March 31, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images)

Houston Rockets v Los Angeles Lakers

The NBA Playoffs Will Be A Clash Of Generations And Styles

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - FEBRUARY 06: Amen Thompson #1 of the Houston Rockets looks on against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the fourth quarter at Target Center on February 06, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Rockets 127-114. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)

Houston Rockets v Minnesota Timberwolves

Amen Thompson Breaks The Game

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Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.09

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Chris Thompson

Dillon Brooks and Anthony Edwards look at each other.

Dillon Brooks and Anthony Edwards

Dillon Brooks Will Continue Poking Bears Until He’s Left With Bloody Stumps

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 02: LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers stands next to Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors during the second quarter in game one of the Western Conference Semifinal Playoffs at Chase Center on May 02, 2023 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Los Angeles Lakers v Golden State Warriors – Game One

Everyone Thinks They Have A Shot

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Samer Kalaf

D'Angelo Russell celebrates after hitting a game-winner

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Nets Sabotage Their Own Tank With Thrilling Upset Of Rockets

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Giri Nathan

Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks celebrates a call in the first quarter against the Houston Rockets at Madison Square Garden on February 03, 2025 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Houston Rockets v New York Knicks

Jalen Brunson Plays Like A Rolling Rock

Jaylen Brown and Payton Pritchard look discouraged.

Jaylen Brown and Payton Pritchard

The Celtics Can Afford To Wait For Math To Come Back Around

HOUSTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 13: Amen Thompson #1 of the Houston Rockets shoots the ball against Zach Edey #14 of the Memphis Grizzlies during the second half at Toyota Center on January 13, 2025 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)

Memphis Grizzlies v Houston Rockets

The Basketball Is Really Good Right Now

HOUSTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 11: Head coach Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors reacts during the second half of a quarterfinal game against the Houston Rockets in the NBA Emirates Cup at Toyota Center on December 11, 2024 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)

Golden State Warriors v Houston Rockets: Quarterfinals – Emirates NBA Cup

Steve Kerr Flips Out After Latest Warriors Meltdown

Tari Eason and Amen Thompson defend a shot in a Rockets game against the Clippers.

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Hell Is Being Defended By Tari Eason And Amen Thompson

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Tom Ley

Boban Marjanovic #51 of the Houston Rockets smiles before the game against the LA Clippers on April 14, 2024 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California.

Houston Rockets v Los Angeles Clippers

Boban Delivered The Chicken

Investigations Editor. You can contact her at diana@defector.com or dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. She&#8217;s also on Signal @dmoskovitz.99

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Diana Moskovitz

Kevin Porter Jr. #3 of the Houston Rockets looks on during the game against the Golden State Warriors on March 20, 2023 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.

Kevin Porter Jr

Kevin Porter Jr. Accepts Plea Deal, Will Avoid Jail Time

DENVER, COLORADO - NOVEMBER 29: Head coach Ime Udoka of the Houston Rockets watches as his team plays the Denver Nuggets in the third quarter at Ball Arena on November 29, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Houston Rockets v Denver Nuggets

Ime Udoka Got Ejected For Being A Weird Asshole To LeBron James

HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 02: Dillon Brooks #9 of the Houston Rockets poses for a photo during media day on October 02, 2023 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

Houston Rockets Media Day

Dillon Brooks Believes He’s Being Targeted And Victimized For Punching People In The Balls

There’s A Reason The Rockets Think They Can Trade Kevin Porter Jr.

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Luis Paez-Pumar

Kevin Porter Jr. #3 of the Houston Rockets looks on during the game against the Golden State Warriors at Toyota Center on March 20, 2023 in Houston, Texas.

Golden State Warriors v Houston Rockets

Rockets Guard Kevin Porter Jr. Charged With Assaulting And Strangling His Girlfriend

The Houston Rockets introduce Ice Udoka as the next head coach during a press conference on April 26, 2023 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. All three men are sitting at a table. Udoka is in the center, with the team owner on the left and the team GM on the right.

Houston Rockets Introduce Ime Udoka Press Conference

Ime Udoka Is Not Here To Talk About The Past

A four-square of Brian Windhorst talking, with a little Windy in the middle as well

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Media Meltdowns

Brian Windhorst’s ESPN Article Wipes Detail About Stephen Silas Weeping After A Game

James Harden #1 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts against the Boston Celtics at the Wells Fargo Center on February 25, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

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Report: James Harden Pines For The Days Of Mailing It In With The Rockets

PORTLAND, OR - FEBRUARY 26: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers scores career-high 71 points during the game against the Houston Rockets on February 26, 2023 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE

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