Matt & Ross In The Morning

Matt Thomas and Ross Villarreal of "The Matt Thomas Show with Ross" react to Alex Bregman agreeing to a three-year, $120 million deal with the Boston Red Sox. The $40 million annual salary is more than $10 million per year than other teams were offering, sources said. The deal includes two opt-outs and deferred money. Matt and Ross also:

• say "goodbye" to the Astros former third baseman
• talk with Chris Gordy from Astros Spring Training
• react to Framber Valdez saying he has not been offered a contract extension
• preview the Rockets hosting the Golden State Warriors with head coach Ime Udoka
• review comments from new Texans offensive coordinator Nick Caley's introductory press conference
• say "I Just Don't Get It" and more.

Even with Kevin Durant scoring 37 points, the Houston Rockets were able to rally late and secure a 119-111 victory over the Phoenix Suns. Amen Thompson recorded his fourth career triple-double, his second this month, with 18 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds. Phoenix, who were missing Devin Booker, entered the fourth quarter with an eight-point lead, but the Rockets, led by Alperen Sengun and Dillon Brooks, were able to regain control and pull away in the final minutes, taking advantage of Phoenix's 17 turnovers. "I think our activity was great," head coach Ime Udoka said. "They came up with a lot of steals." After a quiet first half due to the Suns' strong post defense, Sengun finished with 17 points and 13 rebounds to help the Rockets win a second straight. Sengun was named an NBA All-Star for the first time in his career and was selected for Charles Barkley's team in the mini-tournament. The 74th NBA All-Star Game will take place Sunday, but the Rockets have one more matchup before the break, hosting the Golden State Warriors on Thursday. "You want to lock in and finish on a good note," Udoka said.

Matt Thomas and Ross Villarreal of "The Matt Thomas Show with Ross" react to yet another Alex Bregman update regarding his free agency. The 30-year-old third baseman has still yet to sign with a team as spring training approaches. Matt and Ross also:

• discuss the future of Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce
• review Kevin Durant becoming the eighth player in NBA history to score 30,000 points
• preview the Rockets hosting the Suns
• talk with Cougars men's basketball head coach Kelvin Sampson
• debate who would win in a fight between former MLB pitchers Patrick Mahomes Sr. and John Rocker after the pair got into an argument on Bourbon Street in New Orleans
• tell people to "Shut Yo Bum Ass Up, Ain't Nobody Got Time" and more.

Cougars men's basketball is at the top of the Big 12 following another conference win Monday when Houston defeated Baylor 76-65. With their third straight victory, the Cougars move to 12-1 against Big 12 opponents and reach 20 wins for the tenth consecutive season. Last season, their first season in the conference, Houston captured the Big 12 regular season title and reached the Sweet 16 for the fifth straight year; however, the Cougars are looking to accomplish even more as the NCAA Tournament approaches. "I think our team is progressing," head coach Kelvin Sampson said. "Everybody settles into a role." When the Toronto Raptors selected Jamal Shead with the 45th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, the Cougars were unsure who would step up as their next point guard, but junior Milos Uzan embraced the role in his first season with Houston. The Oklahoma transfer recorded 12 points and six assists in the victory over Baylor. "[Uzan has] gotten tougher and more competitive," Sampson said. "We didn't have to recruit him. He chose us...He came in here with the right attitude." No. 6 Houston will visit No. 13 Arizona on Saturday.

Matt Thomas and Ross Villarreal of "The Matt Thomas Show with Ross" recap Luka Doncic scoring 14 points in his debut with the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers defeated the Utah Jazz 132-113 Monday. Matt and Ross also:

• discuss the future of the AFC following the Kansas City Chiefs' loss in Super Bowl LIX
• review the latest update in Alex Bregman's free agency
• react to the Saints hiring Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore as their new head coach
• recap the latest headlines in "Ross' NFL Rewind"
• give their "Gut Feelings" and more.

Matt Thomas and Ross Villarreal of "The Matt Thomas Show with Ross" recap Super Bowl LIX that saw the Philadelphia Eagles defeat the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 in New Orleans. Matt and Ross also:

• review Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl Halftime Show performance
• discuss how the Texans can reach the top of the NFL
• react to the Rockets snapping their six-game losing streak
• comment on the New York Jets moving on from quarterback Aaron Rodgers
• play "To Tell the Truth" and more.

Matt Thomas and Ross Villarreal of "The Matt Thomas Show with Ross" recap the Houston Rockets dropping their fifth straight game following Thursday's 127-114 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Head coach Ime Udoka and former NBA center and color commentator on Space City Home Network Ryan Hollins discuss the defeat following the trade deadline. Matt and Ross also:

• give a final preview of Super Bowl LIX with Chris Gordy, who goes live from Radio Row in New Orleans
• react to the Astros improving their offer to Alex Bregman
• discuss the NFL Awards that saw Josh Allen win MVP and revealed the next class for the Pro Football Hall of Fame
• tell their "Non-Florida Stories" and more on this "Anything Goes Friday."

Houston is one of the best road teams in the league with 17 wins, but the Rockets have struggled recently, losing their last four on the road. Anthony Edwards handed the Rockets their latest defeat Thursday, recording 41 points, seven rebounds and six assists to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 127-114 victory. The Rockets began the fourth quarter with a six-point lead but were then outscored 35-16 over the final 12 minutes. "The scoring droughts in the fourth have hurt us," head coach Ime Udoka said. The Rockets are second in the NBA in rebounds per game, but the Timberwolves outrebounded Houston 47-39. "Defensively, we've slipped in a lot of areas, rebounding, guarding in transition. So when you're not scoring to the level that we need to be, you have to be even more stingy on the defensive end." Point guard Fred VanVleet suffered an ankle injury in the second quarter of February 2's loss to the Brooklyn Nets, and his return to the floor is undetermined. "[VanVleet] is maybe the most important player as a point guard to get us organized," Udoka said. "Experience is one thing, but the IQ that he has and the understanding of when to be aggressive, when to get guys shots, when to get guys into certain spots is definitely missing." The veteran guard has seen a dip in production, marking 14.6 points per game, which is his lowest in the last six seasons, but his leadership is vital to the Rockets' game plans. "Teams want to attack us certain ways or switch up matchups and schemes. He's really good at diagnosing those and getting us in the right sets," Udoka said. With VanVleet out, Reed Sheppard has been able to garner more playing time, recording 17 minutes against the Timberwolves. "[Sheppard] needs to continue to improve in the IQ department... It's a young guy in a different position. He didn't always play the point guard, played off-ball a lot, and now he's being asked to be a secondary handler." The NBA trade deadline passed Thursday afternoon with the Rockets making minor moves, including acquiring center Cody Zeller from the Atlanta Hawks and guard Jaden Springer from the Boston Celtics (the Rockets have waived Springer). "We have a lot of depth and a lot of growth that we've seen this year so far...We want to see who we are going forward in real pressure situations, playoff situations and meaningful games down the stretch," Udoka said.

Matt Thomas and Ross Villarreal of "The Matt Thomas Show with Ross" react to the biggest moves happening moments before the NBA trade deadline. Matt and Ross also:

• discuss the Hawks trading Cody Zeller and a 2028 second-round pick to the Rockets
• preview the Rockets at the Timberwolves
• review the best analogies for Alex Bregman in free agency
• talk with Brian T. Smith of talkSPORT in London about the upcoming Super Bowl
• say "I Just Don't Get It" and more.

Brian T. Smith of talkSPORT in London joined "The Matt Thomas Show with Ross" live from Radio Row in New Orleans to preview Super Bowl LIX and discuss the possibility of future NFL championships being played overseas.