Month: November 2023

Rockets Visit Denver, Seek Third Straight Win Over Nuggets

Mile-High Challenge.    Wounded Unit.    Whitmore Time?

Houston limps into the Mile-High City for the first time this season, as they meet the Denver Nuggets. The Rockets have already beaten Denver twice this season, albeit both those matches were in Houston. Tonight’s contest presents a different sort of challenge for these Rockets… a truly Mile-High Challenge. It’s always difficult to play in the Rocky Mountain altitude of Denver, and this season is no different. The Nuggets haven’t lost a home game all season, while the Rockets haven’t won a road game all season. Denver is also the defending champions, and they have a plethora of pride. they don’t want to lost to Houston three times in a row. The Nuggets rested Nikola Jokic in their previous win over the Clippers, to ensure he was ready to finally take on Alperen Sengun and the Rockets, who have had Denver’s number this season.

Unfortunately, Houston enters tonight’s tilt a bit shorthanded. Fred VanVleet and Jae’Sean Tate are out with injuries, and Tari Eason is questionable. That’s a lot of leadership and hustle the Rockets will be missing on the court tonight. It’s time for everyone else on the roster to step up and seize their added opportunities tonight. Amen Thompson is still out with his injury, and will join the G-League first to get some reps in before he returns to the squad. So, is now a good time to finally see some action from Cam Whitmore? Oh, and to make matters worse for Houston, Jamal Murray makes his return tonight after missing nearly a month with an injury. Denver’s second best player will certainly ignite the home crowd upon his return to the lineup.

The man who was heralded as the steal of the draft has been playing in the G-League, but he’s ready to go, as evidence by his dominant play in the NBA’s “minor league.” A main reason he was sent to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers was because his position is the most crowded on this Houston roster. With all these absences, there’s finally room for him to show his talents and progression to this coaching staff. Will Coach Ime Udoka give him a chance in a game the Rockets are very unlikely to win? We’ll find out tonight, as the bruised and battered Rockets battle the restored and healthy defending champion Denver Nuggets in their house, where they haven’t lost in eight games played at Ball Arena this season. Houston faces their toughest challenge so far this year, with a chance to still pull off the season’s biggest upset yet.

 

Ball Arena:  Denver, Colorado

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (8-7):  Black

Denver Nuggets (12-6):  White

 

Tip-Off:  8:00 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Collapse Late in 121-115 Loss to Mavs, Fail to Advance in Tournament

Unfortunate Trend.    Down the Stretch.    Rocky Turnaround.

For a moment, it appeared the Rockets were on their way to advancing to the knockout stage of the In-Season Tournament. Houston held a four-point lead entering the final frame, but were outscored by Dallas 37-27 in the fourth, as the Mavs rallied to deal the Rockets a 121-115 defeat. The loss prevents Houston from advancing in the In-Season Tournament, and keeps the squad winless on the road. The Rockets trailed by 7 after the first period, but battled back to hold a lead entering the fourth quarter. However, Houston’s unfortunate trend of losing close games on the road in the final minute continued. This game wasn’t as close as the losses in L.A., but a Jabari Smith Jr. three-point shot cut the lead to 2 points with 10 seconds remaining. The Rockets just couldn’t foul anyone in time to get another reasonable chance, and ended up losing another nail-biter in the final minutes. Alperen Sengun scored a season-high 31 points to lead Houston, as he continues to impress his teammates and opponents with his vastly improved play this season. Dillon Brooks and Jabari Smith Jr. chipped in 16 points apiece. Jalen Green regressed to his inefficient shooting, scoring only 12 points. Fred VanVleet contributed 10 points and 12 dimes as he continues to be the perfect playmaker running the point for this young Rockets squad.

Houston played well enough to win this contest, but they lost this game because of decision making on both ends of the court. And Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving combing for 68 points certainly didn’t help matters for the Rockets. Doncic scored 41 points to go along with 9 rebounds and 9 assists. After a slow start, Kyrie Irving sparked Dallas’ fourth quarter comeback, as he finished with 27 points on the night, including some huge shots to deter any hopes of a Houston comeback win.

The Rockets need to improve their fourth quarter play and execution down the stretch of games. Houston is 0-6 on the road, but besides the opener, all of these road games have been close and completive contests. And almost all of them have been decided in  clutch time or the final minute. The Rockets need to learn how to close games on the road. They’ve been able to win close games at home, as evidenced by their 8-1 home record. Houston has a capable squad to win these close road games, they’ve just had the toughest schedule so far in the NBA. And it’s not close. If you’re hesitant to believe this, just check the results and the opponents the Rockets have played so far. It’s impressive this squad is 8-7 and still above .500 despite the torturous schedule they’ve had to endure in the early going of this season.

It doesn’t get any easier for Houston in their next game. In fact, the Rockets next matchup could be the toughest of the season. Tomorrow, they travel to Denver to battle the Nuggets on the second night of a back-to-back. Denver has already lost to Houston twice this season, and will be licking their chomps at the chance at revenge. The Rockets will need to dig deep and compete harder, and most importantly, smarter, if they want a chance to pull off the huge upset on Wednesday night.

Rockets Aim to Advance in Tournament, Visit Mavericks

The Marbles.    Road Hunting.    Backcourt Nightmare.

If it feels like the Rockets haven’t had a game of this magnitude since the James Harden era, it’s because they haven’t. On Tuesday night, Houston travels to Dallas in search of their first road win of the season. The Rockets are 0-5 on the road, as opposed to a dominant 8-1 start at home. On the bright side, Houston’s faced tough competition on the road so far this season. They’ve battled both L.A. teams, the Golden State Warriors, and an Orlando Magic team who is the surprise of the Eastern Conference so far. The Rockets also lost a tough overtime thriller in their second game to the San Antonio Spurs. Besides the opener in Orlando, all of Houston’s road games have been competitive, and many have gone down to the final minute. And their circumstances aren’t getting any easier.

After tonight, the Rockets head to Denver to face a Nuggets team they’ve already beaten twice. Back-to-backs are tough. Even more so when playing in the Rocky Mountain altitude. And especially when facing the hungry and revengeful defending champs. Denver is determined to avoid what would be a sweep by Houston if the Rockets can beat the Nuggets in the season-series finale on Wednesday night. After that game, Houston heads to L.A. to face LeBron and the Lakers for the third time. L.A.’s been playing considerably better since getting blown out by the Rockets in their first matchup earlier this season. Tonight’s road matchup has the most on the line, but tomorrow night in Denver against the champs will be the toughest to win, as it’s also the second part of a back-to-back. So if Houston can’t get a win in Dallas on Tuesday night, their road woes could continue for a while.

Tonight, the Rockets battle a Mavericks team that’s off to a 10-6 start to the season. Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving compose arguably the best backcourt in the entire league. Both All-Star guards are headaches for opponents, and Houston’s perimeter defense needs to retain their discipline if they want to slow down one of the NBA’s most lethal duos. Dallas also has seasoned veteran, and experienced Rocket-Killer, in Tim Hardaway Jr. The lethal shooting veteran always seems to score at least 25 points when he faces Houston.

The Rockets are hoping to earn a spot in the In-Season Tournament’s knockout round. A victory tonight over the Mavs would punch Houston’s ticket to the quarterfinals. This battle isn’t “for all the marbles”, but it’s as close to a playoff game as the Rockets have had in nearly four years. Dallas has already been eliminated from the knockout round. The Mavs boast a 1-2 record in group play after losses to the Nuggets and the Clippers. Regardless, this games counts in the standings just like any regular season match, as these squads continue their ultimate journey towards the playoffs, a place Dallas has expected to be since Doncic evolved into one of the game’s greatest players. For the Rockets, the playoffs were an afterthought for most spectators and NBA “experts” entering this season. However, Houston’s early season run is starting to turn heads and put the league on notice. Get ready and strap up your boots for a Texas face-off in a game unlike any we’ve witnessed in regular season history.

 

American Airlines Center:  Dallas, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (8-6):  White

Dallas Mavericks (10-5):  “City Edition” Black

 

Tip-Off:  7:30 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Eliminate Nuggets’ Tourney Chances in Defiant 105-86 Victory

Ousting the Champs.    Balanced Equation.    One More Step.

“Home is where the heart is,” and that’s certainly been the case for the Rockets, as they won their 8th straight game at home, beating the Nuggets with a defiant 105-86 victory on Friday night. The win keeps Houston’s hopes alive of advancing to the knockout stage of the In-Season Tournament. With the victory, the Rockets officially eliminated Denver from the knockout stage, as the Nuggets finished with a 2-2 record in the group stage. Jalen Green led the Rockets latest win with 25 points on an efficient 10-for-18 shooting from the floor. Alperen Sengun continues to play at an All-Star level. Houston’s center finished with 21 points, 15 boards, and 8 assists in a career-high 43 minutes of action. Sengun continues to play exemplary basketball on a nightly basis for the Rockets, and is cementing himself as the cornerstone of this franchise moving forward. Fred VanVleet scored 17 points and dished out 11 dimes, and Jabari Smith Jr. contributed a 16-point, 15-rebound double-double, as Houston used a balanced attack to beat the defending champs for second straight time this season. The Rockets had seven players score at least seven points in Houston’s most impressive win to date this season. Denver cut the lead to 9 points in the final period, but Houston ended the game on an 11-2 run to eliminate the Nuggets’ chances at victory.

Similar to how they beat the Denver in the first matchup, the Rockets focused on stopping the Nuggets’ supporting cast, and let the Joker feast. Nikola Jokic had another monster performance, registering a ridiculous 38 points, 19 rebounds, and 8 assists for the night. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added 20 points, and Michael Porter Jr. chipped in 14 points, but the rest of Denver’s team combined for just 14 points against a stellar Houston defense. The Nuggets shot only 32% from the field, their worst shooting percentage in seven years. The Rockets’ defense has improved immensely since last year’s campaign. And they’ll need that defensive intensity to travel on the road if they want to move on to the knockout round of the tournament.

Up next, Houston plays their final in-season tournament group-stage game, as they travel to Dallas to face the Mavericks. The squad has one more step before they can advance to the knockout round of the In-Season Tournament: beating this talented Mavs’ team. Dallas is already eliminated from contention, holding a record of 1-2, with losses to the Nuggets and the Clippers. The Rockets are still winless on the road this season. The stakes will be high, especially for Houston, and Dallas is coming off a loss, and has high hopes for the playoffs this season. Expect a tight and close game (like the majority of Rockets road games so far this season) on Tuesday night in Dallas. Houston has the resiliency and determination to prevail. Can they stop a Mavs’ team loaded with offensive firepower? Hopefully the heart the Rockets play with at home travels with them on the road, as they seek to advance in the tourney, and earn that first win away from home.

Rockets Host Nuggets in Crucial In-Season Tournament Tilt

Tourney Time, Part 3.    Upping the Stakes.    Mountainous Challenge.

The Rockets resume their In-Season Tournament play, as they host the defending champion Denver Nuggets on Friday night. Houston won the first matchup between these squads at Toyota Center, back on November 12th. Since then, the Nuggets have struggled. Denver has lost three of four games, and has gone 2-3 since falling to the Rockets in the first matchup. Tonight’s game, however, has a little more at stake. Friday night marks the third In-Season Tournament game for the Rockets. They essentially need to win on Friday, and then next Tuesday in Dallas, and Houston advances to the knockout stage. A task much easier said than done.

The Nuggets stroll into Houston hungry for revenge after losing their first tilt with the Rockets. Houston needs to be prepared for a disciplined Denver team who will try and pounce on them from the opening tip. If the Rockets can weather the Nuggets’ early storm, and keep the game close entering the final period, they have a chance to upset the Champs for the second time this season. Nikola Jokic went off for a monstrous triple-double in the first matchup, but Houston got the best of the matchup, winning the contest by forcing everyone else to beat them, which worked in the Rockets’ favor.

Expect Denver to play much better on Friday night, as the Champs have no plans to be ousted from the NBA’s inaugural In-Season Tournament. The Lakers have already wrapped up a slot, and as more teams do, the rest of the teams who have a shot will be even more eager to secure their slot. Houston can’t earn a spot in the lockout round with a win tonight, but they can eliminate Denver’s hopes if they knockoff the Nuggets for a second time this season. This is the final In-Season Tournament game for Denver unless the Nuggets advance to the next stage. For Houston to eventually advance to the knockout round, the Rockets will need to beat the Mavericks in Dallas next Tuesday in their final In-Season Tournament group matchup. But we’ll discuss that scenario if Houston can manage to pull off the upset… and beat a very determined Denver team on Friday night.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Denver Nuggets (10-5):  Navy

Houston Rockets (7-6):  “City Edition” White

 

Tip-Off:  7:00 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Tame Grizzlies, 111-91, Snap Losing Streak

Home Cooking.    Green Light.    Back to Business.

For the seventh straight time at home, the Rockets came out victorious, as they handed the Grizzlies a 111-91 loss on Wednesday night. Memphis kept the game interesting until midway through the third period, when Houston gained control of the game, and coasted to victory in a drama-less fourth quarter. Jalen Green had the green light to be as aggressive as needed, and shined with a season-high 34 points. Green continued to struggle from beyond the are, connecting on only 3 of his 13 three-point attempts. However, he finished the game shooting 50% from the floor, nailing 13 of his 26 jumpers overall. Jabari Smith Jr. continues his recent trend of consistent play. The sophomore forward contributed 18 points and grabbed 9 rebounds for the night The Rockets have now won seven straight at home, after losing their opener to the pesky Warriors. However, Houston remains winless on the road, and their next two chances away from home are tough contests.

An opponent like Memphis gave the Rockets the opportunity to take a breather from all the tough and desperate competition they’ve faced early this season. Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane chipped in with 23 points apiece for the Grizz, but they never threatened Houston’s balanced attach late in the game. So the Rockets handled business like they should have, and easily beat the Grizzlies. However, the road gets rockier again as the next three games on the schedule are incredibly difficult. The Rockets will face the defending champion Denver Nuggets twice in the next three games, and sandwiched in between is a matchup against the upstart Dallas Mavericks.

Expect the urgency to be dialed up for the next two games for the Rockets, as they close out their In-Season Tournament group play with two tough matchups. First, the squad hosts the Nuggets on Friday, before traveling to play the Mavericks next Tuesday. Houston still has a chance to advance to the knockout stage of the inaugural tourney, but they need to win these next two games to have any chance. The Nuggets will certainly be salivating at the chance for revenge after losing to the Rockets in their first trip to Houston earlier this season. If the home squad can dial up their sense of urgency, and clean up their poor shot selection and turnovers, the Rockets have a chance to extend their winning streak at home to eight games… and stay alive in the In-Season Tournament. 

Rockets Return Home Hoping to End Skid, Host Grizzlies

Break but No Brake.    Dangerously Swag-Less.    Must-Win?

After a road-trip that saw valiant efforts, but resulted in no victories, the Rockets return home to the Toyota Center to host the Memphis Grizzlies. Houston has won six straight games at home after losing their home opener to the Golden State Warriors back on October 29th. Hopefully a change of scenery will help the Rockets break this losing skid. They also get a break in tough, desperate competition. The Grizzlies are struggling to start the season. At 3-10, Memphis is near the bottom of the standings in the West, and is is without All-Star Ja Morant for the first 25 games of this season due to a suspension. His absence, and other changes, are a big reason why the Grizz are off to a poor start. This is also Dillon Brooks’ former team, and he’s shined to start his Rockets’ career. But this Grizzlies team is still a professional ball club, and capable of beating anyone if they’re overlooked. Houston has two big in-season tournament games on the schedule after this Memphis matchup. The Rockets can’t afford to overlook this Grizzlies team, or they might suffer their worst loss of the season tonight. And Dillon Brooks might have given his previous squad some motivation, as he said  the Grizzlies have “no swag,” when asked about his former team.

Well they may be lacking swagger, but this Memphis team is dangerously swag-less coming into tonight’s matchup. The Rockets need to pounce on the Grizzlies early. If Houston lets Memphis hang around, and this becomes a close game, anything could happen in the closing moments, as we witnessed in Los Angeles last weekend. The Rockets have no injuries, other than Amen Thompson, who’s been out almost the entire season, but is nearing a return in the coming weeks. Memphis has a quite a few injuries and players missing. Besides Morant, Steven Adams, Brandon Clarke, and a laundry list of players are out for season for the Grizz. Regardless, other players have stepped up. Desmond Bane is having the best season of his career. He’s coming off 30 points in a close two-point loss to the team with the NBA’s best record, the Boston Celtics. So don’t let their record fool you. If Memphis, like any NBA squad is overlooked, they’ll pull a surprise and end up upsetting the better team. The Grizzles have a solidly underrated three-headed monster in the middle, a beast that will likely gives Rockets star Alperen Sengun fits. Sengun will need help on both ends, as he battles the likes of the reigning defensive player of the year, Jaren Jackson Jr., Bismack Biyombo, and the rising Santi Aldama. Keep an eye on Aldama, as he’s slowly taken over the most minutes of this trio and has responded with exceptional play of late. Most people have never heard of Aldama, but he’s coming off back-to-back double-doubles, including a season-high 28 points and 12 rebounds in their loss to Boston. If the Rockets can contain Bane and this three-headed interior monster, they have a great chance to get back on the winning track.

So is tonight’s matchup a must-win for Houston? It certainly feels that way. After playing three desperate, experienced, and talented teams in a row, all on the road, the Rockets get a break as they play a team they should beat at home. Houston can’t afford to put the brakes on despite the opponent tonight. The Rockets have their final two remaining group stage In-Season Tournament Games coming up after tonight’s tilt with the Grizz. And they aren’t easy by any means. They host the defending champion Denver Nuggets on Friday. They’ve already beaten Denver the first time these squads played earlier in Houston, and the Nuggets will be hungry for revenge in part two. After that, they travel to play their in-state rival Dallas Mavericks, who are off to a solid 9-5 start to the season. Both of those games are increasingly more difficult that tonight’s matchup against the lowly Grizzlies. If Houston continues to play hard and respects their opponent’s abilities, they should beat Memphis on Wednesday night… and end their early-season skid.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Memphis Grizzlies (3-10):  Navy

Houston Rockets (6-6):  “City Edition” White

 

Tip-Off:  7:00 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass

Empty Trip: Rockets Drop Third Straight, Fall to Warriors 121-116

No California Love.    Rare Morphing.    Dirty Dozen.

Houston ended their California road-trip winless, as the Warriors fended off the Rockets, 121-116, on Monday night. The loss gives Houston three straight and keeps the squad winless on the road. Golden State snapped their own six-game losing streak with their victory over the Rockets. Alperen Sengun had another All-Star worthy performance. The big man registered 30 points, 13 boards, and 5 assists for Houston, as he became the first Rocket to eclipse the 30-point mark this season. Fred VanVleet had another high assist game as he dished out 14 dimes. Jabari Smith Jr. had one of his better games of the season with 17 points and 9 boards. Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green scored 16 points apiece. But none of this was enough, as the Warriors played with more urgency in their defeat of the Rockets. Despite being a five-point final score, this game was nowhere near as close as the two previous games in L.A., where the result went down to the final seconds. Golden State was in control for nearly the entire contest. Houston kept sticking around to make it interesting, but the Rockets never really threatened to over take the Warriors lead.

Stephen Curry scored 32 points to lead Golden State, who of course against Houston, were able to snap their skid. The Rockets have now lost 12 consecutive games against the Warriors. Hopefully, Houston can win one of the two remaining matchups this season and end this streak the Dubs have over the Rockets. Klay Thompson, who has been subject to trade rumors after a poor start to the season, morphed back into his usual self. Thompson usually plays well against Houston, and Monday night was no different, as he finished with 20 points, including five made threes. Chris Paul took delight in beating one of his former teams once again. The ex-Rocket finished with 15 points and 12 assists, and 6 boards. And Dario Saric had his best game of the season, exploding for 18 points off Golden State’s bench.

Houston just faced three talented, experienced, and desperate teams in a row. The Rockets could easily be 2-1, but unfortunately the team came away winless, going 0-3. We are now twelve games into the season, and Houston’s had one of the tougher schedules in the entire NBA so far. They’ve already played this Warriors team twice, the Lakers twice, the Clippers, and the defending champion Denver Nuggets, all teams expected to contend this season come playoff time. So 6-6 isn’t too bad especially considering the expectations for the Rockets entering this season. Despite currently riding a three-game losing streak, Houston has surpassed everyone’s expectations, and is one of the surprise teams in the league so far. The Rockets will now return home, where they’re won six games in a row at Toyota Center. They’ll look to make is seven straight, and end the skid, and they host the struggling Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night.

Rockets Seek First Road Win, Visit Reeling Warriors to Close West Coast Trip

Back Half.    End of the Road.    Unlovable Darlings.

It’s been long time since the Golden State Warriors lost six games in a row. Coming off two straight heartbreaking losses in the City of Angels, the Rockets wrap up their road trip with a matchup in the Bay Area against the reeling Golden State Warriors. Golden State is currently in the midst of a six-game losing streak, the longest of the Steve Kerr era. The Warriors are also coming off a heartbreaking loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in overtime a couple nights ago. So Houston faces a desperate team for the third straight game. It’s hard to imagine this Golden State losing streak reaching double-digits. The Rockets will need to play with more urgency than Golden State if they want to get revenge on the Warriors for beating them in the first matchup, Houston’s home opener back on October 29th. This is also the first time all season the Rockets will be playing for the second night in a row. It’s the first of 14 back-to-backs on the year. Tonight’s tilt is also the third game in four nights for the Rockets, so tired legs could evolve in the fourth quarter of this matchup.

The road trip finally ends Monday night in the Bay Area, in what has been an eventful, yet heartbreaking trip so far. Houston is still seeking their first road win of the season, as they’ll return home for two games after tonight, before heading back on the road. The Warriors are still without Draymond Green, who was suspended five games by the league after he put the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Rudy Gobert in a chokehold a few games ago. Golden State hasn’t won since as they’ve lost seven of their past eight games and are currently in the midst of a six-game slide. The Rockets need to take advantage of Green’s absence, and be the tougher team on the court tonight. Despite coming off two straight losses, Houston’s shown they won’t back down from any challenge. A late addition to the injury report, Alperen Sengun is listed as questionable for tonight’s matchup. Obviously, Sengun is an essential, if not, the most important player on the Rockets. Regardless if he suits up or not, expect Houston to fight hard against an experienced Warriors team tonight.

Expect tonight’s game to be another close, nail-biter down the stretch. Hopefully, the Rockets can earn their first road win of the season. It won’t be easy. The experienced Warriors will be playing with a sense of urgency unforeseen by them in the regular season. They may not be the lovable darlings they were when their Dynasty was at its peak, but as evidenced on this road trip, they’re not the Houston Rockets. The Rockets have been the unfortunate victims of some poor officiating during this road trip that likely cost them at least one, if not both games, in L.A. They’re growing and gaining national attention with each game, but for now, these Rockets are unlovable darlings compared to the NBA’s glamour teams in L.A. and the fading Warriors. What does that translate into for tonight’s matchup? Well, we haven’t seen Houston’s Public Enemy Number One, aka Scott Foster, in a while. Don’t be surprised if he makes an appearance to ensure Golden State’s losing streak comes to an end. Regardless, the Rockets needs to stick to their plan, and make better decisions in crunch time executing their offense. If the squad sticks to their formula they have a great shot at winning another close nail biter, or suffering heartbreak for the third time in a row. Let’s hope the officials call a fair game, as Houston’s road trip wraps up tonight… believe it or not, these Rockets are good again for the first time in a long time.

 

Chase Center:  San Francisco, California

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (6-5):  White

Golden State Warriors (6-8):  “City Edition” Black

 

Tip-Off:  9:00 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Dealt Another L.A. Stinger in 105-104 Loss to Lakers

Heartbreak City.    Closing Lessons.    Unbridled Hope.    

It’s hard to imagine the Rockets enduring a more heartbreaking loss than their previous game against the Clippers. However, Sunday night brought Houston just that: another tough loss in the final seconds, 105-104, to L.A.’s other team, the Lakers. Tied at 100 once again in the game’s last minute, this time it was an Austin Reaves three-pointer that capped this loss for the Rockets. Alperen Sengun managed to tie the game at 104 apiece with 4 seconds remaining, but Dillon Brooks committed a silly foul as he went for a steal on LeBron James, leading James to make the winning free throw, and put the Lakers ahead for good. Otherwise Brooks had arguably his best game of the season. Besides that final possession, Brooks was once again brilliant on defense, and he scored a season-high 24 points, including going 6-for-11 from beyond the arc.

Fred VanVleet continues to be tremendous. FVV had a season-high 16 assists to go along with 15 points and some more big shots. The ball needs to be in VanVleet’s hand when games are close in crunch time. FVV is a veteran with championship experience and has shown he knows how to make the right decision. Houston didn’t provide him with enough opportunities to control the tempo in the closing moments of both L.A. losses. Hopefully the squad learns from these heartbreaking losses. Look for their late-game execution to improve as the season moves on. Alperen Sengun had another All-Star caliber performance, including the game tying bucket as he backed down LeBron James one-on-one near the end of the game. He also took the charge that fouled out Anthony Davis late in the fourth quarter. Sengun scored 23 points, grabbed 10 boards, and dished out 5 assists on the night. Jalen Green had a subpar performance with only 9 points on 3-for-10 shooting from the field. LeBron James, who entered this contest with a “questionable” tag, ended top scoring a season-high 37 points, and the Lakers need every single one of them to beat Houston.

Houston’s now suffered heartbreak in back-to-back nail-biting losses. The officiating wasn’t great, but it hardly ever is, so they can’t blame the zebras for their recent losses. The Rockets need to focus on better execution down the stretch. When the squad builds a lead, they need to change their pace of play, especially near the end of games, of Houston could become the victim of many comeback losses. It’s still early in the season, and the Rockets have a lot of learning to do, but they are way ahead of schedule. No one expected them to be contending for playoff spot after starting 0-3. After that opening night dud in Orlando, Houston has fought hard to the end in every single game. And while close losses hurt, it gives the squad, the city, and the fans some unbridled hope. The Rockets are good again. Despite riding a two-game losing streak, this team has shown it’s for real. Houston battled a team in the Clippers, with four future Hall-of-Famers, down to the wire. They forced the face of the league, in LeBron James, to drop a season-high 37 points on night he wasn’t even sure if he was able to play. And they lost both games on essentially two tough late three-pointers (courtesy of James Harden, and Austin Reaves). This Rockets team is for real. With a little time, these tough, heartbreaking losses will soon evolve into clutch, close wins for Houston.