With a rotation featuring three centers (Alperen Sengun, Steven Adams, and Clint Capela), it shouldn't come as a surprise that the 2025-26 Houston Rockets lead the NBA in rebounding.
But their 50-27 advantage in Sunday's comeback win at Milwaukee was especially ridiculous, and 20 of those 50 came on offense — often leading to second-chance scoring opportunities.
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In his weekly power rankings, where the Rockets (6-3) check in at No. 3 in the league, NBA.com's John Schuhmann offered some context:
The Rockets played nine guys in Milwaukee, and four of the nine grabbed at least four offensive rebounds, with Clint Capela getting his four in less than seven minutes of playing time. In total, it was the best offensive rebounding game for any team this season and took their season-long offensive rebounding percentage to 41.4%, easily the highest mark in the 30 seasons for which we have play-by-play data.
On a per-minute basis, Adams is widely viewed as the NBA's best offensive rebounder, and he averages 8.9 boards (4.8 offensive) in 22.1 minutes per game. While Adams was with the Rockets in 2024-25, as well, it's worth noting that his minutes totals and efficiency were limited in his first season back from knee surgery.
This season, the 32-year-old appears to be fully healthy, and the enhanced productivity reflects that.
Combine Adams' presence with two more strong centers in Sengun and Capela and a 6-foot-7 athletic phenom in Amen Thompson — who averages just under seven rebounds per game as the starting point guard — and it's easy to see why Houston's model is so unique, at least among its rotation players.
With rebounding as a key factor, Houston won six out of its last seven games, overall, and the Rockets are looking to build on that momentum when they host the struggling Washington Wizards (1-10) on Wednesday night.
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Tipoff from Toyota Center, where Houston is beginning a three-game homestand, is at 7:00 p.m. Central. That Rockets-Wizards game will be televised regionally on Space City Home Network and nationally via NBA League Pass.
More: Washington Wizards at Houston Rockets: Stream, lineups, injury reports, broadcast (11/12)
This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Rockets begin 2025-26 season on historic pace for offensive rebounds
