Month: February 2023

Rockets Visit Heat to Begin Road-Trip

First of Five.    Stopping Herro Ball.    Three to Go.

Houston sets out on the road for the first of five games starting with a matchup against the Miami Heat tonight. The last time these teams squared off, Tyler Herro torched the Rockets for a career-high in scoring, and led the Heat to a close win in the final seconds. Just like in Houston’s previous game, a controversial loss to the Kings, their was controversy in the first matchup with Miami. An out-of-bounds call was incorrectly ruled in Miami’s favor with a couple of seconds remaining. The Rockets should have had the ball for one last chance to tie or win the game, but they never got the chance due to the refs. Houston will attempt to wash the bad taste of the previous game on Wednesday out of their mouths as they hit the road.

The Rockets need to do a better defensive job on Tyler Herro if they want any chance to upset the Heat tonight. Jimmy Butler is capable of having a big game on any night, but Herro is a more lethal threat from beyond the perimeter, as he displayed in the first matchup between these squads.

Counting tonight, Houston has only three games remaining before the All-Star Break. After tonight they’ll travel to Philly to play the 76ers on Monday, before flying to OKC to battle the Thunder in the final game before break. All three matchups are on the road and will be tough tests for Houston, but it would be nice to see the squad win at least one more game before the intermission.

Miami-Dade Arena: Miami, Florida

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (13-42): Black

Miami Heat (30-25): White

Tip-Off: 7:00 PM CT

TV: AT&T Sportsnet SW, NBA League Pass

Rockets Collapse in Final Seconds, 130-128, as Kings Sweep Season Series

Royal Hosing.    Improper Sendoff.    On the Road Again.

In one of the worst calls of the entire NBA season, De’Aaron Fox, was able to somehow draw a foul on Eric Gordon in the final seconds. Replays clearly showed EG didn’t touch Fox, and no foul was anywhere to be seen. Unfortunately Stephen Silas had used his challenge, and the Rockets were at the mercy of the referees, who made sure that once again, Houston wouldn’t be in store for a victory. Fox nailed all three free throws, as the Kings snuck past the Rockets, 130-128, to deal Houston their fourth straight loss.

Jalen Green had one of his best games of his entire career, scoring 41 points on an efficient 14-for-22 shooting. Alperen Sengun fell one rebound shy of a triple-double, registering 18 points, 11 assists, and 9 boards on the night. And in his final game as a Rocket, Eric Gordon scored 9 points, and unfortunately his last moment was being called for the terrible foul call.

Gordon was dealt to the Los Angeles Clippers before the trade deadline. Bruno Fernando and Garrison Mathews were also traded, both to the Atlanta Hawks. Other than cap space and draft picks, the Rockets received Frank Kaminsky, after several other players, including former Rocket John Wall, were waived by Houston. Justin Holiday also request to be dealt to a different team, as the Rockets acquired him along with Kaminsky. For now, Houston’s roster doesn’t appear much different other than the absence of EG. Gordon had long been in trade rumor discussions, dating back even several seasons, so this comes as no surprise to Rockets fans. Houston will miss EG, he was the longest tenured Rocket, and the only player remaining from the 2017-2018 team that set the regular-season franchise win record, with 65, and fell one game short of making the NBA Finals.

The Rockets now hit the road for five straight games, with the All-Star break smashed in between. Houston will play three more road games before the break, then head back to Houston, Utah, or vacation. After the intermission, the Rockets start their post-All Star break schedule with two road games before finally returning home to Toyota Center in late February.

Rockets Aim for Different Result, Host Kings in Rematch

Part 2.    Last Chance.    Home Cooking.

The Rockets host the Kings on Wednesday night as these teams will meet for the second time in as many games. Sacramento won the previous matchup easily, 140-120, on Monday. Houston will try to beat the Kings for the first time all season, and this is their last chance, as this is the final meeting between the squads this season.

After tonight, the Rockets hit the road for five straight games, with the All-Star break meshed in between. Houston’s fans won’t get to see the team play for a few weeks after tonight, so the Rockets will try and give the hometown crowd their money’s worth in Wednesday’s rematch.

This game is also the final game before the trade deadline, so it could be the last game in Rocket uniform for several players. Eric Gordon’s name has been the most mentioned in the trade rumor mill, but other Houston players could be dealt as well. If it is EG’s final game for the Rockets, hopefully he ends his tenure here with a dominant performance, and leads Houston to a victory.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Sacramento Kings (30-23):  Black

Houston Rockets (13-41):  Red

 

Tip-Off:  7:00 PM CT

TV:  AT&T Sportsnet SW,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Suffer Royal Beatdown in 140-120 Loss to Kings

Chef Murray.    Defensive Letdown.    Back At It.

Sacramento’s sophomore Keegan Murray scored a career-high 30 points, as the Kings snapped their two-game skid, handing the Rockets a 140-120 loss on Monday night. Murray did his best Steph Curry impression, setting a rookie-record with 8 made threes in the contest. Jalen Green led the Rockets with 27 points on a solid 10-for-21 shooting from the floor. KJ Martin added 18 points and 8 boards as he continues to display excellent consistency with Houston having holes in their lineup. K-Mart has taken full advantage of the extra opportunities and playing time.

The Rockets have now given up a combined 293 points in their last two games, as their defense has been atrocious. Houston needs to find some consistent level of acceptability on the defensive end or they’re going to get torched on a nightly basis.

These two squads will square up right back in H-Town for a rematch on Wednesday night, similar to when these teams first met in Sacramento for two straight games. The Rockets will aim for a different result in the next matchup, and try to beat the Kings for the first time all season in their final chance on Wednesday.

Rockets Face Kings in First of Two Matchups at Toyota Center

Part 1.    Containing Fox.    Home Boost.

Houston hosts the Sacramento Kings on Monday night, in the first of two straight matchups between these teams. These squads will square off for a rematch on Wednesday night at Toyota Center. De’Aaron Fox is returning to the lineup after missing the previous two games for personal reasons. Hopefully, these “personal reasons” weren’t being snubbed from the All-Star team, as Fox was arguably the biggest snub from the Big Game. Look for Fox to potentially have an explosive night in his hometown in his first game since being snubbed from the All-Star team.

Both these teams are coming off 32 point losses. Sacramento was blown out last night in New Orleans. Houston suffered a blowout loss on Saturday night to the Thunder. Expect both teams to play better basketball on Monday night. The Rockets have fared better at home as of late, so hopefully a couple of home games can get the squad moving in the right direction heading into All-Star break.

This is the second-to-last home game for Houston before the break, as they’ll wrap pre-All Star festivities up at Toyota Center with a rematch against these Kings on Wednesday night. The Rockets can’t play any worse than they did in their ugly showing in OKC over the weekend. Expect, at the very least, a more completive game on Monday night, as Houston tries to dethrone the Kings for the first time all season.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

Jersey Colors:

Sacramento Kings (29-23):  White

Houston Rockets (13-40):  Black

 

Tip-Off:  7:00 PM CT

TV:  AT&T Sportsnet SW,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Blown Out in 153-121 Defeat to Thunder

Heavy Storm.    Third Time’s the Harm.    Bad Meets Ugly.

In what was essentially a non-competitive match from the opening tip, the Rockets suffered a 153-121 beatdown at the hands of the OKC Thunder on Saturday night. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander bounced back with 42 points, after scoring only 24 in Wednesday’s matchup between these teams. Josh Christopher and Daishen Nix both scored a career-high 20 points apiece to lead the Rockets, but this was one of the ugliest games of the season for Houston.

The Rockets trailed by as many as 45 points, as this contest was never competitive. After beating OKC twice earlier this season, Houston found the road waters of Paycom Center more difficult to navigate than the friendly confines of Toyota Center.

Up next, the Rockets will now return home to face the Sacramento Kings for two matchups, the final games at Toyota Center before the All-Star Break. Houston plays the Kings first on Monday, and then on Wednesday, before heading back on a three-game road-trip before the All-Star break begins. Houston will be playing a tough, third-seeded Sacramento team, but it’s hard to imagine a worse result than Saturday night’s affair in OKC… so the only direction the Rockets can go from here is up.

Rockets Visit Thunder, Hoping to Replicate Earlier Success

Repeating History.    The Rest Factor.    A Green Return.

The Rockets visit the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday night, in the second matchup between these teams in the last three games for Houston. The Rockets are 2-0 against OKC this season, and 5-1 in their last 6 games overall. They’ve had more success against the Thunder than any franchise over the past two years. The squad will try and repeat history on the road Saturday night, as these teams square off in OKC for the first time this season.

The Thunder haven’t played since the previous matchup between these squads, and have had two days off. Houston, meanwhile, lost a tough match to the Raptors at home last night. The Rockets certainly won’t be as rested, but they’re a young team, and back-to-backs shouldn’t take a toll on Houston like they do to veteran teams.

Jalen Green returns after missing the previous three games with an injury. Eric Gordon has notched season-highs in scoring in the past three games, carrying the offensive load for the Rockets while Green was out. Hopefully Green returns ready to showcase his young, All-Star talent. Like Houston, Green’s been inconsistent this season. And the Rockets have struggled mightily on the second night of back-to-backs, but if there’s any team they’d want to be facing, one has to think it’s this OKC team, given Houston’s recent success over the Thunder. Expect Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to have batter performance than his sub-par 24-point night back on Wednesday. If the Rockets can contain SGA again, and find more success from beyond the arc, they have a chance to stay undefeated against the Thunder this season.

 

Paycom Center:  Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (13-39):  Red

Oklahoma City Thunder (24-27):  White

 

Tip-Off:  7:00 PM CT

TV:  AT&T Sportsnet SW,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Lose Steam Late in 117-111 Loss to Raptors

Game of Runs.    Troublesome Trio.    Death by Three.

The winning times came to an end on Friday night, as the Rockets were edged by the Raptors, 117-111, Houston’s first loss in three games. This truly was a game of runs. The Rockets scored the game’s first 9 points, and started the game on a 19-6 run. However, Houston failed to score for the final four minutes of the period, hanging onto a one point lead after the first quarter. Toronto started the second half on a 14-2 run, and while the Rockets got back in the game and made it competitive, Houston was outplayed by a better team.

Fred VanVleet, Gary Trent Jr., and Pascal Siakam combined to score 84 points, as Houston and no answer for the Raps’ lethal trio. Eric Gordon scored a season-high for the third straight game, this time nothing 28 points for the night. KJ Martin’s consistency continues to be on full display. K-Mart scored 20 points and grabbed 6 boards in another start for Houston. Josh Christopher scored a season-high 15 points in 19 minutes, as he continues to make the most of his sparse playing time. And Alperen Sengun finished with 21 points, 4 boards and 4 assists on the night.

The Rockets didn’t shoot terribly, they just were destroyed from beyond the arc. Toronto outscored Hosuton by 24 points from three, which was essentially the difference in the game. Too many clutch threes late from VanVleet and Trent Jr. prevented a Rockets comeback. The squad will get right back into action on Saturday night, as they fly to Oklahoma City to take on a familiar foe in the Thunder, for the second time in three games. Hopefully the winning times can return on the road… Houston is 2-0 against OKC so far this season.

Rockets Aim for Third Straight Win, Raptors Visit Town

Transitional Nightmare.    Taming the Backcourt.    Extra Effort.

Houston hosts the Toronto Raptors on Friday night, as the Rockets aim to win three games in a row for the first time all season. Toronto is in the midst of a seven-game road-trip. This is stop number six for the Raptors, who come into tonight’s matchup with a record of 23-30. They’re right outside the playoff picture in the East, and should likely sneak into the playoffs by the Spring. O.G. Anunoby, one of their best players, has been out with a wrist injury, and will miss tonight’s matchup. Toronto still has plenty of players who can do damage on the court. Fred VanVleet is a former All-Star, Gary Trent Jr. is lethal, Scottie Barnes is the reigning Rookie-of-the-Year, and their best player, Pascal Siakam, was announced to the All-Star game as a reserve yesterday. The Rockets have plenty of problems to solve on the oppositions side tonight.

Houston is still without Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr., both out with injuries. Can the Rockets tame the lethal backcourt of VanVleet and Trent Jr.? They’ll need to contain them comparable to how they put the defensive clamps on SGA in their previous win. Regardless, for a team that rarely wins two games in a row, three consecutive victories is asking a lot from this Rockets team. They’re going to need another big night from Tari Eason, who enters tonight’s contest riding three-straight double-doubles.

The biggest problem tonight for Houston will be on transition. All of the Rockets weakness’ play into Toronto’s strengths. Houston turns the ball over more than any team in the league, while the Raptors take care of the ball better than anyone in the NBA. They also feast off opponents’ turnovers. If the Rockets run into transitional trouble, they won’t have much of a chance to upset the Dinos tonight. However, victory isn’t out of the picture. If Houston continues to play with this blue-collar, hard-nosed manned they’ve displayed over their last couple games, they have a chance to upset Toronto, and make it three straight wins. The Raptors are a better team than the Thunder, Houston’s previous opponent. Regardless, expect tonight to be another close battle at Toyota Center. 

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Toronto Raptors (23-30):  Red

Houston Rockets (13-38):  Blue “City Edition”

 

Tip-Off:  7:00 PM CT

TV:  AT&T Sportsnet SW,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Weather Storm, Edge Thunder, 112-106

Better by the Dozen.    Hard Hats and Lunch Pails.    Deja Gordon.

For the second straight game, Eric Gordon notched a season-high, scoring 25 points, as the Rockets staved off the Thunder, 112-106, for their second consecutive victory. EG led Houston with 25 points, but it was Tari Eason’s hustle and determination that was at the heart of this victory. Eason had a career-high 20 points, and 13 rebounds, including 12 on the offensive glass. Tari was a beast on the boards all night, even grabbing four offensive rebounds on a single possession. Eason provided his third straight double-double on Wednesday night. The Rockets managed to survive once again without their starting backcourt, Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr., once again. KJ Martin finished with 18 points and 7 boards, as he’s slowly becoming the most consistent Rockets player this season. KJ’s evolution from fighting for a rotation spot, to being a key piece of this Houston team, is the best story of this grim season for the Rockets.

Including the victory in Detroit, the Rockets have been playing much harder basketball. Strapped with their hard hats and lunch pails, this team has been playing with an edge unforeseen from the squad this season. Houston even managed to contain one of the NBA’s hottest players, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. SGA was held to 24 points, 6 below his average of 30 a night. The Rockets did a great job of not allowing him to explode for a big game.

Eric Gordon has consistently been a solid veteran presence for this young Rockets squad. With Green and KPJ still out, EG has picked up the scoring slack, as he’s led the team in scoring the past two games. Up next, Houston welcomes the Toronto Raptors to town on Friday night. The Dinos are on on the outside-looking in at the playoffs in the East, but they’re not far from sneaking in. Expect a much tougher game for the Rockets on Friday night.