Month: December 2023

Rockets Return Home for a Battle with the Hawks

Home, Sweet, Home.    Dangerously Underwhelming.    No Mercy.

After an unsuccessful road trip which saw Houston lose two out of three games, the Rockets return home to host the Atlanta Hawks. It’s the beginning of a lengthy home stretch for Houston, who have been red-hot to start the season at Toyota Center. The Rockets 11-1 home record is the best in the Western Conference. Tonight, they’re aiming for their 12th straight win at home, as they host Trae Young and the disappointing Hawks.

Atlanta is off to an underwhelming 11-15 start, but they still have a lot of talent on their roster. Besides superstar point-guard Trae Young, Dejounte Murray is a threat in the perimeter as well, as Atlanta boasts one of best starting backcourts in the league. Murray is a former All-Star who was traded from the San Antonio Spurs last season to Atlanta. Young is still the Hawks’ biggest offensive threat, but Murray can easily go off for 30 points on any given night. Atlanta also has former-Rockets center Clint Capela still manning the middle for their roster. Capela has played well against his former team, and will be looking to have another strong performance tonight. Alperen Sengun has a difficult challenge on his hands, but he’s having an All-Star caliber season, and should win the matchup inside tonight.

The Rockets need to improve their free throw shooting, and they can’t afford to take this Atlanta team lightly because of their record. Sengun and company have to show the Hawks no mercy tonight. If Houston gets off to a slow start, they could be in trouble, as the Hawks have plenty of firepower on the offensive end. We’ll also see the return of another ex-Rocket, former fan favorite Garrison “Garry Bird” Mathews returns to Toyota Center. Houston needs to keep an eye on Mathews, who shot the ball well in this building during his tenure as a Rocket. Every player likes going up against their former team, especially when they were traded. They want to show their previous squad that they “made a mistake”, as Dillon Brooks said in the Rockets’ last win over the Grizzlies. Expect the Rockets to play better as they return to Toyota Center, where they’ve been red-hot. Tonight’s matchup won’t be easy, as Atlanta has several All-Stars and a few former Rockets looking for revenge. Houston needs to stay disciplined from the start and bring the defensive intensity they displayed before the road trip… and they should be able to earn their 12th consecutive home win on Wednesday night.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Atlanta Hawks (11-15):  Black

Houston Rockets (13-11):  Red

 

Tip-Off:  7:00 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass

Road Trip Ends with Crushing Loss in Cleveland, as Rockets Fall to Cavs, 135-130, in Overtime

Land of Heartbreak.    The Green Problem.    Change of Scenery.

In heartbreaking fashion, the Rockets lost another thriller on the road, falling to the Cavaliers, 135-130, in Overtime. Houston is now 0-2 in extra time this season, and the loss gives the Rockets a 2-10 record on the road. The squad had a chance to win the game in regulation, but one of Alperen Sengun’s signature “Flamingo’s” rimmed out as time expired, forcing overtime. Cleveland took over in the extra frame, as Donovan Mitchell scored 37 points to lead the Cavs. Going back two seasons, Cleveland has now won 11 straight overtime games, a streak that’s hard to fathom. Fred VanVleet was tremendous with 27 points and 17 assists to lead the Rockets. Sengun registered a solid 24 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 dimes, as he’s continues pushing for his first All-Star bid, as voting started on Tuesday. Jeff Green continues to be a revelation off the bench in limited minutes. Uncle Jeff scored 15 points, and Houston always seems to play better when he’s on the court.

As for Jalen Green, the Rockets third-year guard continues to struggle mightily with his efficiency. Green scored only 12 points on 2-for-12 shooting, another ugly shooting night for the swingman. Green needs to turn his performance around, or Ime Udoka may even consider a lineup change. There’s a reason Green has been benched in several fourth quarters and late in games. He just hasn’t made the leap or had the breakout season many people expected from him this season. Houston gets a break as they play a bunch of games at home coming up, and Jalen has been much better at Toyota Center as opposed to the road. Maybe a change of scenery will get his game back on track.

The Rockets came out much sharper in Cleveland as opposed to Milwaukee, and played well enough to win this game. However, missed free throws down the stretch was Houston’s achilles’ heal in this loss, along with careless turnovers. The squad was one Sengun Flamingo away from escaping with a win, but basketball is a game of seconds, and every single one counts. Houston now returns home, where they’ll play 9 of their next 10 games at Toyota Center. The Rockets have been dominant at home, with an 11-1 record, the best in the Western Conference. Hopefully, a return to the friendly confines of The Yote will allow the squad to get back on track.

Rockets Aim to Get Back on Winning Track, Face Cavaliers

Fighting Human Nature.    Seize the Opportunity.    End of the Road.

The Rockets don’t have to wait long to wash their previous loss to the Bucks away, as they travel to Cleveland to face the Cavaliers on Monday night. It’s the second half of a back-to-back for Houston, and their third game in four nights. They’re in midst of a busy stretch with a lot of games on the schedule this month. The squad may be fighting tired legs and human nature tonight, but this Cavs team will not pose the mighty challenge Milwaukee gave the Rockets last night. Compared to the Bucks, Cleveland are not as good of a team overall. Currently, they have a record of 14-12, which puts them eight currently in the Eastern Conference. The Cavs will likely make they playoffs, but they’re not a true title contender like the Bucks.

Fortunately for Houston, the Cavaliers are missing some key pieces due to injury tonight. Darius Garland and Evan Mobley are expected to miss multiple weeks with their injuries. Both players are key pieces for this Cavs team. However, the Rockets still need to get off to a faster start. This Cleveland team still has the best player on the court tonight in Donovan Mitchell, who scored 70 points in a game once. Jarrett Allen will make his presence felt in the paint. Houston needs to match the Cavs’ physicality, and pray the refs don’t screw them with the whistle on so many calls like they did last night. So, this Cavs squad still has plenty of firepower to beat the Rockets, and they’re playing at home with more rest. Regardless, Houston has the more talented team, and should be able to at least make this a close game.

This is the second-to-last road game in 2023 for the Rockets. They’ll play in new Orleans next Saturday night, but other than that, after this matchups with the Cavs, Houston is homebound for a while. Houston plays nine of their next ten games at home after tonight’s tilt in Cleveland. That include another seven-game home-stand which begins on Boxing Day. The Rockets have been stellar at Toyota Center, with a record of 11-1, the best home record in the entire Western Conference. They’re struggles on the road have been well documented, as the team currently sits at 2-9 away from Toyota Center on the season. Now, most of these games have been against top-tier competition. They’ve already played in Denver twice, LA three times, once in Dallas, and last night in Milwaukee, just to mention a few of their tough early road challenges. They’ve had one of the toughest schedules, particularly on the road, to start the season. However, tonight’s matchup isn’t on that tier of difficulty. If the Rockets lose this game against the Cavs, it’ll be because Houston beat themselves. This young Rockets should have enough energy to pull out a victory in Cleveland tonight. They’ll need to get off to a fast start, they cannot wait around for a long time to become interest in the contest. Houston did a great job hanging with the Bucks last night, in the end, Milwaukee showed why they’re a legit title contender, and had monster performances from their superstar duo. Expect Rockets coach Ime Udoke to have his team fired up after they were basically beat by two players the officials last night. As they they aim to bounce back tonight, this young Rockets squad should have enough energy to pull out a victory in Cleveland.

 

Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse:  Cleveland, Ohio

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (13-10):  Black

Cleveland Cavaliers (14-12):  White

 

Tip-Off:  6:00 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass

Rockets’ Streak Comes to a Halt in 128-119 Loss to Bucks

Faltering Defense.    Deadly Duo.    On to Cleveland.

Houston started stronger in Milwaukee, trailing by seven points after the first period. They would fall behind by double-digits, rally to cut the deficit to only three points. However, the Bucks had too much firepower, as they ended the Rockets streak by dealing them a 128-119 loss on Sunday night. The defeat ends Houston’s five game winning streak, but the Rockets will have a chance to bounce back quickly as they play again tomorrow night. After allowing on average 105 points a game, good for second in the league, Houston’s defense faltered in Milwaukee, as they allowed the Bucks to explode for 128 points. And the Rockets were not bad by any means in this game offensively. The squad had six players score at least 16 points in a balanced attack, but in the end, Giannis Antetohounmpo and Damian Lillard were too dominant offensively for Houston to outscore the offensive firepower that are the Bucks.

Giannis and Dame combined for 64 points. Lillard led the way for Milwaukee with 39, and proved no matter what jersey he’s wearing, he’ll always be a Rocket-killer. Fred VanVleet led Houston with 22 points, and Alperen Sengun scored 20 in a bounce-back game after two subpar performances. But the Bucks showed why they’re legitimate favorites to win the NBA Championship in June. The Rockets at least made the Bucks beat them, and the refs had another terrible night. Dillon Brooks and Head Coack Ime Udoka were both ejected in the game, after arguing a terrible call near the end of the contest.

Houston needs to move on from this loss, and quickly. They’re back in action on Monday night, as they travel to Cleveland to face the Cavaliers on the second half of this back-to-back. The Cavs are a much more beatable team than this Milwaukee team Houston just squared off against. And Cleveland is missing a few key pieces due to injury. It’ll be the Rockets third game in four nights, but if the squad can get off to a strong start, the have a great chance to get back on the winning track on Monday night.

Tough Task on Hand as Rockets Travel to Battle Bucks

The Mean Streets.    Hot Freak.    Strong Start.

The Rockets roll into the mean streets of Milwaukee, Wisconsin riding a five-game winning streak. Tonight, that streak will be put up to the ultimate test. Houston faces a red-hot Milwaukee Bucks team. After a slow start, the Bucks are 13-3 over their last 16 games, improving their record to 18-7, and holding the second spot in the Eastern Conference. Giannis Antetokounmpo is coming off arguably the best game of his career. The Greek Freak dropped a career-high 64 points on the Indiana Pacers in their serious win. In an odd display of events, Indy somehow stole the game ball from Giannis, who was furious after the match. He even chased into the Indiana side of the tunnel after the game demanding the game-ball. The Pacers apparently gave it to a rookie who scored their first career point, but they were just salty they lost. The Rockets are seeking their third road win of the season tonight, after coming off an emotional victory Wednesday night in Dillon Brooks’ return to Memphis. Hopefully, Houston isn’t emotionally drained from their huge comeback win in the previous game, as they’ve gotten off to poor starts recently and can’t afford to start slow tonight.

All of this is bad news for the Rockets, who now face one of the hottest teams in the NBA. After a few games against inferior competition, tonight’s contest is another toughie for Houston. The Bucks are legitimate championship contenders. They were ousted (by the Pacers) in the knockout round of the NBA’s Inaugural In-Season Tournament. A tourney which saw LeBron and the Lakers hoist the trophy. There’s no doubt Giannis and Milwaukee still have the main prize on their eyes: the NBA Championship. Giannis already has one ring, and the Bucks are a dangerous threat as ever to hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy once again in June.

If Houston wants any chance to pull a major upset tonight, and keep their winning streak alive, they need to get off to a stronger start. The Rockets trailed the Grizzlies by as many as 17 points early in their previous game, yet managed to claw their way back to victory. That trait won’t works against the Bucks. If Houston falls behind early in Milwaukee, the road to a comeback for the Rockets won’t be as smooth as it was in Memphis. In fact, a comeback win is the most unlikely scenario for tonight’s outcome. The Greek Freak is one of the few superstar’s who plays hard every single night, and his team follows suit.

Besides Giannis, Houston has a handful with the Buck’s newest member, superstar Damian Lillard, on their hands. Lillard demanded a trade from the Portland Trail Blazers in the offseason, and got his wish as he was dealt to Milwaukee. The Rockets have a defensive two-headed monster in these two superstars on the court tonight. They must prevent from getting hot in the clutch and turning this game into “Dame Time.” Houston has to find a way to foster a defensive wall against the avalanche that is Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Greek Freak is one of the best transition players in basketball. The Rockets need a solid showing from Jalen Green, who’s coming off several sub-par games. And the squad needs to continue to play with the defensive intensity that’s so far given them the second overall rating in the league defensively. Expect a close matchup if the Rockets can hang around with the Bucks. If not it could be a long night, and Coach Udoka may want to rest his players if the game gets out of hand. Tonight is the first of a back to-back for Houston, as they’ll travel to Cleveland to play the Cavaliers on Monday night. Toughness is the key to tonight’s victory. If the Rockets are the more physical, tougher team on the court… they’ll have a chance to escape the mean streets of Milwaukee with a win.

 

Fiserv Forum:  Milwaukee, Wisconsin

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (13-9):  Black

Milwaukee Bucks (18-7):  White

 

Tip-Off:  6:00 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass

Villain’s Revenge: Brooks’ Late Dagger Seals Rockets’ 103-96 Comeback Over Grizzlies, For 5th Straight Win

Revenge is a Dish Brooks Served.    Fighting Back.    Busy Road Ahead.

In his first game back to Memphis, Dillon Brooks made sure to leave a lasting first impression against his former team. Brooks scored a season-high 26 points, including a clutch three-pointer with under a minute remaining that sealed a 103-96 victory for the Rockets. The win is Houston’s fifth straight, and puts the team’s record at 13-9, good for 7th in the brutally competitive Western Conference. The Memphis fans were very classy as they saw a familiar face for the first time in different threads. They cheered for Brooks when the Grizzlies displayed a tribute video for their former player during a first half timeout. You could tell this was not just another game for Dillon the Villain. Brooks shot 10-for-20 from the field and fueled a second-half Houston comeback.

The Rockets got off to another slow start in Memphis, and found themselves fighting to get back into the game. Houston trailed by as many as 17 points, 29-12, late in the first quarter. Luckily, the squad was able to weather the early storm, and another strong game from Desmond Bane, who had 28 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Grizz. Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 22 points, but the Rockets did an improved job on Triple J in this contest, preventing another 40-point explosion. Jabari Smith Jr. continues to be a force on the boards, grabbing 12 in his latest outing. This was truly a team victory for Houston, and that’s how this squad is winning.

The Rockets are now 3-0 against the Grizzlies this season, and they’ve had a different leading scorer in each win. First it was Jalen Green, last game Tari Eason, and in this contest, Dillon Brooks.  Alperen Sengun leads the team in scoring, but has struggled particularly against Memphis. Sengun had 15 points and 7 boards on a night that saw six Houston players reach double-figures in scoring. Jeff Green continues to be a savior off the bench for the Rockets. At age 37, Green is still one of the best role players in the entire league. Along with Tari Eason, Jae’Sean Tate, and Jabari, he leads the charge for Houston when they need toughness on the court. Green scored 12 points in only 19 minutes, providing the squad with another efficient performance in limited minutes off the bench. Jalen Green came alive for a little bit during the comeback, but overall shot just 4-for-12 form the floor for 14 points, as he continues to be the definition of inconsistency on the court.

The road ahead is tough, and busy for the Rockets. Up next, Houston embarks on a stretch where they’ll play five games in seven nights. First up is a back-to-back in Milwaukee and Cleveland. The Bucks will give the Rockets one of the toughest challenges they’ll face all season. Milwaukee is hot, and Giannis is coming off a 64-point game, and a stolen game ball. Houston can’t afford to fall behind early against the Bucks. The Rockets desperately need to get off to a faster start if they have any chance of extending their winning streak to six games.

Rockets Meet Grizzlies in Memphis, Aiming to Sweep Set

Part 2.    Drive for Five.    Road Replicate.

The Rockets battle the Grizzlies again, as these teams meet for the second time in as many games, this time in Memphis. Tonight’s matchup is the first of a three game road trip for Houston. The squad will travel to Milwaukee, and then Cleveland, on Sunday and Monday. The Rockets are seeking their fifth straight win, and only second road win on the campaign. Houston is 2-0 against Memphis this season after beating the Grizz in the previous two meetings at Toyota Center. Luckily for the Rockets, Ja Morant is still out for the Grizzlies, as he eyes a return next Tuesday, as his 25-game suspension is nearing an end. And Desmond Bane is also unlikely to play once again tonight for Memphis.

For now, Houston still has a handful to deal with on the court Friday night. It’s hard to beat the same team twice in a row in this league. Despite beating the Kings twice in a row earlier this year, both those games were at home. Tonight’s matchup is certainly a tougher test compared to those Sacramento matchups. Memphis may not have the most talent, but they play hard every night. And it’s hard to win on the road in the NBA, as evidenced by Houston’s 1-8 road record. However, the Rockets have the more talented squad on the floor tonight. If they can play harder for a full 48 minutes, Houston should be able to earn their second road win in Memphis.

Jaren Jackson Jr. almost single-handedly led a comeback charge for the Grizzlies in the previous meeting. JJJ finished with 44 points, with the majority coming in the third quarter. It was Jackson Jr.‘s second straight 40-point game. The Rockets need to do a better job on the Grizzlies star forward to keep their win streak alive. Memphis guard Desmond Bane missed Wednesday’s game with an illness, and his status is once again questionable for Friday’s tilt. Along with Triple J, Bane has been playing at an All-Star level during Morant’s absence. His availability for tonight’s contest is a major factor for the matchup. The Rockets will have another major advantage if Bane can’t play, despite the game being in Memphis.

Along with Morant, Marcus Smart is still out with a foot injury, another key piece for the Grizz. Nonetheless, Houston has enough firepower to come out of Memphis with a win regardless who’s on the court, for either team. Will Tari Eason make it 3 straight beastly performances in a row? Can Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun play hard enough to earn minutes down the stretch? Tune in tonight to find out, as the Rockets aim to sweep this two-game set in Memphis.

 

FedExForum:  Memphis, Tennessee

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (12-9):  White

Memphis Grizzlies (6-17):  Blue

 

Tip-Off:  7:00 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Subdue Grizzlies, 117-104, Win 4th Straight

Gloves.    Secondary Finishers.    Quarter Mark.

In a game where Jalen Green nor Alperen Sengun played in the fourth quarter, one would think the Rockets had this game easily in hand. And they did, with a seemingly comfortable 14-point edge at halftime. However, a third-quarter outburst by Jaren Jackson Jr. and the Grizzlies made this a one-point game entering the final period. Thankfully, Ime Udoka pulled the right punches, utilized the Rockets’ deep roster, as Houston downed Memphis, 117-104, on Wednesday night. The win gives the Rockets their 11th straight home victory, and fourth overall. Jabari Smith Jr. scored 20 poijnts and grabbed 10 reboudns as he continues his strong play, nbut tonight once again belonged to Tari Eason. Coming off the best game of his season, Eason, or known to some as “Gloves”, a fitting nickname given to him by Alperen Sengun, had the best game of his career. Eason scored a career-high 25 points, grabbed a career-high 14 rebounds, and was a force on both ends of the floor. Gloves made his impact felt throughout the game, especially in the final period. Eason scored 9 of his 25 points in the final quarter, as he was one of several secondary finishers who helped guide Houston to victory. 

Ime Udoka wasn’t happy with the efforts of Jalen Green or Alperen Sengun through the first three quarters. Hence, they didn’t see any action in the final period, as Eason, and Jeff Green, who scored all 9 of his points in the final frame, helped lead the Rockets to a win. Uncle Jeff didn’t even play in this game until roughly midway through that dreadful third period. After holding a comfortable 14-point edge at the half, Houston got outscored by Memphis 38-25 in the third quarter, cutting the Rockets lead to only one point. Jaren Jackson Jr. nearly brought the Grizz back by himself, as he scored 44 points, his second straight 40-point game. Houston started the fourth quarter on a 6-0 run, giving them a cushion the Grizzlies never would overcome. Jae’Sean Tate was also tremendous off the bench for the Rockets. Tate scored 10 points and provided the defense Coach Udoka is looking for in 23 minutes of action.

We are now officially more than a quarter of the way through the season. Houston has weathered arguably the league’s toughest first-quarter schedule, and with a record of 12-9, are exceeding expectations league-wide. After entering the season with no one expecting Houston to make the playoffs, the squad currently holds the 8th spot in the West, which as of now would put them in the Play-In situation. There’s still a long journey to go, as Houston has 61 more games remaining on the schedule. As of now they’re on the right path, and barring any major setbacks, this team should be in the playoff mix when April rolls around. The Rockets are now 11-1 at home, and will look to improve on their 1-8 road record as they battle these same Grizzlies in Memphis on Friday night. It won’t be as easy, but if Houston’s starters play with more intesnity, expect the Rockets to snag their second road win of the season.

Rockets Welcome Grizzlies, Seek Fourth Straight Win

Home and Home.    Big Question.    Bouncing Back.

The Rockets invite the Grizzlies into Toyota Center on Wednesday night, as the teams square off in a home-and-home. These two teams will do battle again on Friday night in Memphis. Tonight, Houston is seeking their fourth straight win overall, and their 11th straight home victory on the season. The Rockets haven’t been this hot at home in nearly five years. And they’ll look to keep the good times rolling at home as they host a Grizzlies squad that limps in with injuries. Stephen Adams has already been ruled out of the season. Ja Morant is approaching his return from suspension, Tuesday of next week, but he won’t be available to face the Rockets in either of these next two games.

Desmond Bane has been Memphis’ best player so far this season. With Morant sidelined, his usage has skyrocketed, and he’s taken full advantage. He even almost dropped 50 points, with a 49-point game earlier this season. However, he’s questionable tonight for the Grizz. And that’s a big question with Bane being their primary facilitator and scorer on offense with Morant sidelined. Nonetheless, the last game showed Houston that anything’s possible in an NBA game. Idf the Rockets are still building a brick house like they did in their previous survival win over the Spurs, they’re going to be in trouble tonight. Unlike San Antonio, Memphis isn’t on 17-game losing streak. They’re record of 6-16 doesn’t make any team quiver in their boots, but the Grizz still boast a group of tough, gritty professionals. And some talented pieces despite Morant’s absence. Jarrett Jackson Jr. exploded for 41 points in Memphis’ previous game, a loss to Dallas at home. This Grizzlies team isn’t a joke despite their missing pieces.

It’s not usual you hear the term “bounce back” after a win, but the Rockets need to bounce back from their terrible offensive performance on Monday night. It seemed like Houston couldn’t hit a shot from beyond the arc, and if they weren’t playing a team on the verge of losing a franchise-record 17 games, the Rockets likely would have lost. It’s hard to beea the same team twice in a row. Houston’s best chance is tonight, especially considering the discrepancies they’ve shown at home compared to on the road. Expect Ime Udoka to have Houston prepared to “bounce back”… and secure their fourth straight win tonight.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Memphis Grizzlies (6-16):  “City Edition” Black

Houston Rockets (11-9):  Red

 

Tip-Off:  7:00 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Fend-Off Spurs in Rocky 93-82 Win

Ugly Christmas Sweater.    Beastin’ Eason.    Streaking.

In the ugliest game of the season so far, the Rockets managed to keep the Spurs at bay, winning a gritty 93-82 contest at home. And this game was ugly, not one to be saved as a classic game in NBA history by any means. Houston will remember this as the “Ugly Christmas Sweater” game of the season. The Rockets missed their first 8 shots and didn’t score until a little over two and half minutes into the game. Neither team deserved to win this one, but unlike hockey, basketball always produces a winner. Luckily for Houston, they kept kept their three-game winning streak alive, and extended their win streak at home to 10 games. It’s the longest winning streak at Toyota Center for the Rockets since a stretch during the late 2018 / early 2019 season. Houston also gave San Antonio a franchise-record 17th straight loss on the early season. After starting out 3-2, Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs are facing a low-point in the franchise’s performance on the court. Wemby himself didn’t have a poor performance. The rookie phenom scored 15 points and grabbed 18 boards for San Antonio in the loss.

Tari Eason led the Rockets with a season-high 18 points and 14 rebounds, for his first double-double of the season. Eason has that dog-like mentality. It’s no surprise one of the toughest players in the league performed well in this gritty affair. Fred VanVleet chipped in 16 points for the Houston, and Jalen Green remains the definition of inconsistency, as he scored only 7 points on 2-for-10 shooting. Jabari Smith Jr. had another strong outing on the boards, an area he’s improved on tremendously in recent games. Smith Jr. grabbed 12 rebounds to go along with 9 points on the evening. Alperen Sengun contributed 15 points and 9 boards, but wasn’t needed down the stretch as the Rockets pulled away late in their latest, ugliest win of the season.

With the victory, Houston has now won ten straight at home, improving to 10-1 at Toyota Center on the season. Another very winnable home game is next on the schedule, as the Rockets host the Grizzlies (6-16) on Wednesday night. Hopefully, the squad can garner the same result… and polish the ugliness off of their offensive showing from the previous game.