Month: January 2022

Rockets Lose First of Sacramento Double-Header, Fall to Kings, 126-114

Losing Control.    No Match for Bags.    Changing Flavors.

After the first quarter, the outlook seemed bright for the Rockets. Houston held a 40-31 lead after one, but they play four quarters for a reason. Houston fell apart after the first frame, losing the first of two in Sacramento, 126-114, to the Kings. Christian Wood led the Rockets with 26 points and 8 rebounds, but was outplayed by Sacramento’s Marvin Bagley. Houston had no answers defensively for Bagley, who had his best game of the season, recording 26 points, 13 rebounds, and 2 blocks on the night. De’Aaron Fox also proved to be unstoppable against the Rockets defense. Fox led the Kings with 27 points, while also registering 8 assists, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals. Jae’Sean Tate had another outstanding game for the Rockets. Tate almost recorded a triple-double, garnering 17 points, 10 rebounds, and for the evening. Eric Gordon and Kevin Porter Jr. scored 16 points apiece, but the Rockets didn’t have much help outside of those players. D.J. Augustin was solid in only 11 minutes of action, scoring 11 points. And Jalen Green’s shooting struggles continued against the Kings. Green shot 5-for-18 for only 11 points on the night, his lowest output since returning from injury.

Alperen Sengun returned after missing seven games with an ankle sprain. Sengun scored 9 points and grabbed 4 boards in only 14 minutes of playing time. Garrison Matthews went scoreless for the second straight game. Houston hopes Garry Bird breaks out of his slump in the second half of this double-dip, which takes place on Sunday. The Rockets need a change in flavors for this second scoop if they want to come away victorious at least once in Sac-Town this season. Houston shot 5-for-11 from long range in the first quarter. But once the second quarter rolled around, so did  the Rockets shooting woes, as they only shot 8-for-32 from deep for the rest of the night.

The Rockets are 1-1 in the second match against teams after playing them in the previous game. Houston aims to improve that record to 2-1 on Sunday, but they’ll need to play with focus and efficiency for four quarters. Houston started off Friday night looking poised to win their second in a row, even building an 11-point first quarter lead. But the Rockets have struggled putting four quarters together all season long. Can they get back to their winning ways, and keep Bags under control in Part 2? We’ll find out as Houston looks for a brighter result in their next test, when these squads take part in the rematch on Sunday afternoon in Sacramento.

Rockets Head to Sacramento for First of Two Against Kings

Part 1.    Building a Streak.    Fox Hunting.

Eric Gordon and the Rockets take their show into Sacramento for a weekend series, as they face the Kings this Friday and Sunday. Houston is coming off an impressive comeback win over the Spurs in San Antonio that kicked off their current five-game road trip. The Kings have a similar record to the Spurs. They just snapped a five-game losing streak with a win over the Lakers in their previous game. Sacramento’s a half game ahead of San Antonio in the standings, meaning the Rockets should have a decent chance to win at least one of these two upcoming games in Sac-Town.

Despite still sitting in last place in the Western Conference, Houston is only 5 games out of the final play-in spot. Despite losing streaks of 15 and 7 games this season, the Rockets still have a legitimate chance to make the playoffs. However, they’ll have to play with the desire and requisite composure they showed in San Antonio if they want to climb up in the standings. It’s still more unlikely Houston makes the playoffs, but, despite everything they’ve been through this season, the parity in the NBA hasn’t knocked any team out of contention yet. The Rockets have a chance to build a small winning streak in Sac-Town if they display the discipline they’ve yet to show after a morale-boosting win. Houston has suffered from the hangover of still basking in their previous victory when playing games that have come after big wins for the Rockets. The squad will look to avoid that hangover in Sacramento, before the road-trip becomes incredibly tough, with stops in Utah and the Bay Area.

Just like in their previous game, the best player for Houston’s opponent is their point guard. In this case, Sacramento’s De’Aaron Fox is having another quietly solid season for the Kings, who get little national recognition, because of their location, and their lack of talent. Fox doesn’t lack talent, and Houston needs to maintain the Kings best player from having a big night. Similar to Dejounte Murray, Fox is capable of having a big triple-double, and single-handedly carrying the Kings. The Rockets need to hunt down Fox at every opportunity and force other Sacramento players to try and beat them. After several off-shooting nights, it’s time for Jalen Green to have a bounce-back performance for Houston. The Rockets roster gets a boost tonight, as Alperen Sengun returns to the lineup after missing several games with an ankle injury. Houston is only four games behind the Kings in the loss column, a measure they could potentially cut in half… if they conquer the Kings over the weekend.

 

Golden 1 Center:  Sacramento, California

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (12-31):  White

Sacramento Kings (17-27):  Black “City Edition”

 

Tip-Off:  9 PM CT

TV:  AT&T Sportsnet SW,  NBA League Pass

Gordon’s 31 Points Lift Rockets Over Spurs, 128-124, as Houston Snaps Skid

Splash Brother.    Tate’s Perfection.    The Closer.

His teammates have changed, and as the only remaining player from the James Harden era, Eric Gordon is still having fun on the court, regardless of who’s playing with him. EG had arguably his best game of the season, rallying the Rockets to a 128-124 victory over the Spurs on Wednesday night. The win gives Houston a boost to start their five-game road trip. Gordon put on his own Splash-Brother impersonation, scoring 31 points on 9-of-10 shooting from the floor. EG nailed 6 of his 7 three-point attempts and was huge in the clutch. Houston led after the first quarter, but a late first-half run gave San Antonio the lead at the break. The Spurs built a 9-point edge in the third quarter, but EG, Jae’Sean Tate, and Kevin Porter Jr. led a second-half Rockets rally. Houston also spoiled Dejounte Murray’s career night. The Spurs’ star had the best game of his life, registering a triple-double with 32 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists. Murray, the league’s leader in steals per game, also had 3 takeaways, but it wasn’t enough for the San Antonio, as the Rockets managed to escape the Alamo City with a win, breaking their three-game losing streak.

Jae’Sean Tate was a perfect 6-for-6 from the floor on Wednesday for 13 points. But Houston’s energizer bunny made contributions across the board. Tate also accumulated 7 assists, 6 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 1 steal during an extremely efficient performance. Tate doesn’t always show upon the highlight reel, but Houston doesn’t win this game without him. If only the rest of the roster could play with Tate’s unrelenting energy. But, everyone’s built and wired differently… not every player has the stamina to match Tate’s all-out hunger on every play.

His appetite came later in the contest, but Kevin Porter Jr. showed up when the Rockets needed him most. KPJ played the role of the closer, scoring 12 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter, including some impressive shots from long range, helping Houston stave off the Spurs for the win. It was a nice bounce-back performance from Scoot, who’s struggled overall since returning from injury. Jalen Green had another off-shooting night, connecting on only 4 of his 14 shots, for 14 points. Christian Wood secured another double-double with 23 points and 11 boards, as the Rockets took advantage of a Spurs team that was dealing with some health-and-safety protocol issues.

Houston is now 6-2 in games decided by 5 points or less, proving they can perform in the clutch moments. The Rockets just haven’t gotten many opportunities for clutch performances, given they’re blown out on a consistent basis. The squad will look to avoid that trend that haunted them for the first half of the season as we wind down to the final 39 games of the season. Up next, Houston takes their show to Sacramento, where they’ll battle the Kings for the next two games. Sacramento has a similar record to San Antonio. Before the road trip concludes with matches against two daunting opponents, the Rockets have a chance to garner similar results they saw in the Alamo City… and rack up two wins against the Kings.

Rockets Clash with Spurs, as I-10 Showdown Begins

Slumping Rivals.    Silver Linings.    On the Road Again.      

Jalen Green and the Rockets hit the road for their first showdown this season with their I-10 rivals, the San Antonio Spurs. Both teams are skidding closer towards official draft lottery contention. Houston is 2-13 in their last 15 games. The Spurs are 1-7 in their last 8 games. Something’s gotta give tonight, in this battle of slumping rivals. No matter how sloppy or incongruent the contest becomes, their will be a winner determined tonight in the Alamo City. The Rockets need to focus on containing San Antonio’s Dejounte Murray. The Spurs’ point guard is having a break-out season, posting All-Star caliber stats on a nightly basis. He’s by far San Antonio’s best player, and projected to be their point guard of the future. In the interior, Houston needs to keep bodies on Jakob Poeltl, who’s the type of scrappy player who could have a big game tonight against the Rockets if they’re not physical with the Spurs’ center.

We’re now officially into the second half of the season. Houston commenced this latter stage with a blowout loss to the Sixers on Monday night. The Rockets will try and find silver linings as we wind down to the final 40 games of the season. Houston’s playoff hopes are all but officially non-existent this season. The Rockets will definitely be back in the draft lottery, but that’s no reason to tank the final 40 games of the season away. If the squad keeps their current pace, Houston will lose the majority of their remaining matchups. The team;’s mindset should be: play hard, improve on the fly, and see if we can upset a few teams. We’ll see if the Rockets can start these final 40 games on a positive note.

Tonight’s game is the first of five straight on the road for Houston, all against Western Conference teams. After tonight, the Rockets will head further West to face the Kings twice in a row, followed by a pair of brutally tough matchups to close the trip, against the Jazz and Warriors respectively. It’s unlikely Houston pulls off an upset in the final pair of games on this trip. If the Rockets exert more energy and effort defensively, they have a shot against the struggling Spurs. In fact, tonight may be Houston’s best chance for a victory on this entire road trip… as they face their bitter in-state rivals for the first time all season.

 

AT&T Center:  San Antonio, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (11-31):  Red

San Antonio Spurs (15-25):  White

 

Tip-Off:  7:30 PM CT

TV:  AT&T Sportsnet SW,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Drop Third Straight in 111-91 Loss to Sixers

First Half Misery.    Embiid-ed Again.    On to San Antonio.

The Rockets actually played a more competitive game, hanging around until the Sixers pulled away in the third quarter, as Philly dealt Houston their third loss in a row, 111-91, on Monday night. Joel Embiid dominated once again for the Sixers, leading Philly’s charge with 31 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 blocks. Christian Wood and Jalen Green scored 14 points apiece to lead the Rockets, who had no answers for Embiid or the Sixers defensively. Philly dominated in the interior, outscoring the Rockets 56 to 28 in the paint. Despite crawling back into the game in the second quarter, Houston continued their trend of first half with seemingly absent defense.

Philly scored 62 first half points, as the Rockets have now given up at least 55 points in the first half in seven straight games. Houston needs to buck that trend if they want to end this losing streak. The squad now heads out West for a five-game road trip beginning in San Antonio. They’ll play their in-state rivals before facing the merely average Sacramento Kings twice in a row. However, their trip ends with matchups against two of the West’s best, Utah and Golden State.

Houston will have to be even more competitive as they take their scrappy play on the road, another test for this young squad. Can the Rockets win a game on this trip, or are they in the midst of another long skid? Answers can be found at the Alamo… as the Rockets are on to San Antonio Wednesday night, where they’ll start their competitive road trip out West.

Rockets Square-Off Against 76ers to Close Home-Stand

Starting the Second.    More Trouble.    Avoiding a Repeat.

The Rockets begin the second half of their season on Monday night, as they play host to the Philadelphia 76ers. And hopefully avoid a repeat of what occurred a week ago in these squads’ first battle. Last Monday in Philly, the Sixers pounded Houston for a 133-113 victory. If the Rockets want to make tonight’s contest more completive, they need to exert more energy defensively. It’s easier said than done, but it comes down to effort for these Rockets. And as they commence the second part of this journey, Houston could be in for more trouble tonight. Monday marks the final night of what’s been an ugly thee-game home-stand so far for the Rockets.

After losing their last two games by a combined 42 points, Houston hosts a far tougher opponent in Philly on Monday night. Joel Embiid torched the Rockets only a week ago with a monstrous triple-double, registering 31 points, 15 boards, and 10 assists. The good news for Houston is they didn’t have Christian Wood in that game. Wood will be playing tonight, but will he make enough of a difference?

Tonight’s game is the second half of a back-to-back for the Rockets, who haven’t won the latter of these contests all season. Houston hopes the second half of the season brings better fortune than the first, and they avoid repeating blowouts, and poor starts. Whether it be getting out of the gate, or coming out of the break, the Rockets have struggled revving up all year. That will have to change tonight if the Houston wants any chance of pulling off the upset against the Sixers. Philly’s won six straight games, and are playing their best basketball of the year after sitting in Average Lane for the first quarter of the season. Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr. struggled in the Rockets’ previous two blowout losses. Especially KPJ, who other than his game-winner, has performed below-expectations since returning from injury. The backcourt needs to have a strong performance if Houston wants to turn their chance of victory into a realistic one tonight. Otherwise, the Rockets could be in for a repetitive, ugly start to the second half of this season.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Philadelphia 76ers (22-16):  Navy “City Edition”

Houston Rockets (11-30):  Red

 

Tip-Off:  7 PM CT

TV:  AT&T Sportsnet SW,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Dominated by Wolves in 141-123 Beatdown

Too Much Towns.    No Defensive Force.    Searching for Answers.

For the second straight game, the Rockets were blown out on their home floor, as the Timberwolves feasted on a 141-123 victory in Houston. Karl-Anthony Towns was unstoppable, as the Rockets had no answers for KAT defensively. Towns led Minnesota with 40 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists. De’Angelo Russell added 22 points, and Anthony Edwards chipped in 19, but KAT was the beast who ultimately made sure Houston had no chance.

The Rockets once again weren’t lacking versatility, seven players scored in double-figures, led by Christian Wood, who had 22 points. Josh Christopher continues to play well. The rookie scored 19 points, the same amount as Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green combined, as Houston’s backcourt has struggled over the last two matchups. And defensively the Rockets have been an embarrassment over the past couple games. Since Kevin Porter Jr.’s game-winner in D.C., Houston has given up a whopping 271 points over the last two games. That’s an average of almost 136 points a night. If this level of defense continues, so will the losses for Houston. On Star Wars Night at Toyota Center, the “force” certainly wasn’t with the Rockets on defense.

Houston’s now lost two straight games by a combined total of 42 points, and remains a team searching for answers. The Rockets have a lot of young, talented players with potential, but something’s missing. Granted, the lack of experience will lead to letdowns like Sunday’s, but Houston is too talented to be getting blown out this frequently. Having played 41 games, the Rockets are now officially halfway through the season. Has the squad run out of gas too early? It’s going to be hard to snap out of this funk soon for Houston, as they get right back to action on Monday night. Only the opponent is more difficult than the last two teams the Rockets got torched by. The Philadelphia 76ers come to town on Monday night, exactly one week after blowing out Houston, 133-113, in these squads’ first matchup back on January 3rd. And if the Rockets want to be more completive than their recent losses, they’ve simply need to play with more energy and force, especially defensively.

Rockets Look to Bounce Back, Welcome Wolves to Town

Midway Point.    Back to the Basics.    Hungry Like the Wolves.

Houston hosts the Minnesota Timberwolves in what will be the 41st game of the season, exactly the halfway point of the journey for the Rockets. So far, Houston has certainly had its share of ups and downs, as as has any team in the NBA. However, at the midway mark, it’s clear the Rockets have plenty to work on as they continue to progress through the current rebuilding state of the franchise. Houston is in last place in the Western Conference, and has the third-worst record in the league behind Detroit and Orlando. Which basically means the Rockets have a legitimate chance in this summer’s draft to potentially land another top pick.

After their embarrassing loss on Friday, Houston simply needs to play harder. The Rockets played with no effort against Dallas, who kicked them back to reality after they were in a haze from KPJ’s awe-inspiring game-winner in Washington D.C.The Timberwolves are riding a three-game winning streak as they stroll into H-Town. The Wolves have their own “Big Three,” consisting of Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Edwards, and DeAngelo Russell. The trio combined for 70 points in Minnesota’s previous game. Houston will have their hands full trying to contain these All-Star caliber players tonight.

Houston will have to be hungry like this improved Wolves squad, who currently sit in 8th place, good for a playoff spot in the West. Minnesota has been much better than people expected. Towns is one of the best Centers in the league, but it’s been Anthony Edwards, in the midst of a breakout-season, who’s been garnering the most attention in Minnesota. Edwards is one of the most explosive players in the league, and the Rockets need to eliminate his transition opportunities, where he flourishes as one of the league’s best finishers. After getting kicked in the mouth by Dallas on Friday, Houston has nowhere to go but up, and if they play hard… possibly seal the first half of the season on a positive note.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Minnesota Timberwolves (20-18):  Blue “City Edition”

Houston Rockets (11-29):  Red

 

Tip-Off:  6 PM CT

TV:  AT&T Sportsnet SW,  NBA League Pass

No-Show: Rockets Late to their Own Party, Blown Out by Mavs, 130-106

Nothing to Offer.    Pompous Comfort to Agonizing Reality.    The Kick-Back.

As they honored the legendary Houston broadcaster Bill Worrell, the Rockets unfortunately had arguably their worst game of the season. Houston got out to an early 6-2 lead, but that’s when things began to go south for the Rockets in this battle of Texas rivals. By the end of the first quarter, Houston already trailed Dallas by 20, and the squad wouldn’t get any closer. The Rockets were blown out of their own building, 130-106, by the Mavericks, on Bill Worrell night of all days to sour the wound. Houston simply played with no effort. Dallas didn’t even have their two best players, Luka Doncic and Kristpas Porzingis, yet had no issues manhandling the Rockets. Tim Hardaway Jr. led the Mavs with 19 points, and Dallas had five different players score 15 or more points. Adding insult to Houston’s lack of injuries, the Mavs didn’t seem to miss from long range, and punished the Rockets poor defense all night.

Christian Wood led Houston scorers with 20 points, but the Rockets were clearly suffering a hangover from their previous win. Kevin Porter Jr.’s game-winner carried over to certainly affect the proceedings at Toyota Center on Friday night. The team as a whole was too comfortable. Their in-state rival Mavs came they a kick in the face it appears they needed. After trailing by 20 at home all night, Houston can only seeming go up from here in their next game. Hopefully the Rockets turn on the jets and get back to business.

Up next, Houston hosts Minnesota in the first of a back-to-back on Sunday night. At least it would seem affairs on the court can’t get any worse for the Rockets. Expect a motivated Houston squad to play with more effort in their next contest. That legendary game-winner’s in the past, and hopefully these 20-point home losses are as well.

Rockets Host In-State Rival Mavs on Historic Night

Hometown Hero.    Money Green.    Stopping the Kill.

After the most jubilant victory of the season, the Rockets return home to host their in-state rivals, the Dallas Mavericks. And just as Dallas honored Dirk Nowitzki in their previous game, Houston is honoring a face close to the franchise tonight, and a hometown hero, in Bill Worrell. Worrell was the Rockets’ play-by-play announcer for four decades, and will be recognized for his greatness on Friday night. Worrell was born in Houston, and worked with the Astros and the University of Houston, but he’s best known as the voice of the Rockets for nearly 40 years, including the Championship glory days and the birth of “Clutch City.” Can Houston bring their clutch momentum back home with them for an encore. It’s possible, as Dallas is likely short-handed tonight.

Luka Doncic is doubtful to play heading into tonight’s matchup. Which means Rocket-Killer Tim Hardaway Jr. will receive a plethora of chances to damage Houston’s historic night. If the Rockets can contain Hardaway Jr. and keep him from having an explosive game, Houston should have a good shot at victory. The Mavs are coming off an impressive win over the team with the NBA’s best-record, the Golden State Warriors. Houston is coming off a rousing game-winning shot by Kevin Porter Jr. in Washington D.C. A shot the Rockets hope will change the aura of their entire season.

Hopefully Scoot’s game-winner in DC will spur KPJ to have a better overall shooting night against Dallas. Scoot was 3-for-13 against the Wizards, but hit the biggest shot of the night. Christian Wood will again look to return with a vengeance after one of his best games of the season. With the controversy cloud (presumably) in the past, the Rockets should be excited to start another winning streak. It was easy to get caught up in Houston’s drama over the past few days. Just don’t be surprised when Jalen Green keeps rolling. Green has been superb since returning from a hamstring injury. The Rockets rookie is finally looking like the Rookie of the Year many predicted him to be before the season began.

The Rockets are aiming to prove their previous win wasn’t a fluke, and return to more efficient basketball. This contest will give fans a better idea of where KPJ and Christian Wood stand moving forward. Was the win in the Nation’s Capitol just a game won out of frustration? Or a sign of more victories to come in the future? Friday night’s in-state rivalry matchup will answer a lot of those questions. Just like Dallas secured a win when honoring Dirk in their previous game, Houston hopes to have similar results when they honor their own legend tonight. Worrell was a part of so many special moments as the voice of the Rockets. On flashback Friday, Houston will aim to do what Worrell witnessed so many times first-hand… win.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Dallas Mavericks (20-18):  White

Houston Rockets (11-28):  Navy “City Edition”

 

Tip-Off:  7 PM CT

TV:  AT&T Sportsnet SW,  NBA League Pass