Month: December 2023

Rockets Aim for Third Straight Win, Host Reeling Spurs

Texas Payback.    History-Making.    No Easing Up.

After finally getting their first road win of the season, the Rockets return home to host the reeling San Antonio Spurs on Monday night. Houston’s seeking their third straight win tonight, after beating OKC at home and Denver on the road in their previous two games. Monday’s matchup is the only time (besides the November 22 game versus Memphis) that the Rockets have been favored in a game all season. And tonight is only the third bad team they’ve played all season (with the others being the Memphis Grizzlies and Charlotte Hornets). The Spurs won the first matchup between these Texas foes in San Antonio’s home opener in the second game of the season. Since that matchup, these in-state rivals have been heading in opposite directions.

The Rockets recently weathered one of the most difficult schedule stretches in NBA history. It’s a marvel Houston has a 10-9 record despite the brutal group of opponents they’ve played over their first 19 games. Coming off a victory in Denver, the Rockets won the season-series against the defending champion Nuggets. It marks the first time any team has beaten Denver three times in a season since the 2021/2022 campaign. On the other side, the Spurs have lost a franchise-tying record 16 straight games after getting off to a 3-2 start. Miraculously, that isn’t even the longest losing streak in the league at the moment. The Detroit Pistons are mired in a 19-game losing streak,  sneakily approaching the NBA-record 28 game skid by the Philadelphia 76ers that stretched from the end of the 2016 season into start of the 2017 campaign.

Houston can become part of history tonight if they can deal the Spurs a 17th straight loss, which would mark the longest skid in San Antonio’s acclaimed history. The Rockets are also getting some extra help with the return of Amen Thompson to the lineup. The rookie suffered an ankle early early in the season, but is prepped to finally make his return to the lineup tonight. Thompson will likely come off the bench, and it will be intriguing to see how Houston’s rotation shifts with the rookie back in the lineup. Victor Wembanyama’s off to a solid start to his rookie season. However, the Rockets already got a look at the front-runner for Rookie-of-the-Year, in Chet Holmgren, when they beat the Thunder two games ago, and shut him down in the process. They’ll look to exert their physicality to bother Wemby tonight. The phenom had one of his better games in the first matchup, finishing with 21 points and 12 boards, resulting in a heartbreaking overtime loss for Houston.

Thankfully, the Rockets look like a completely different team since that second game of the season. The squad now returns home for a stretch featuring some very winnable games. It’s the first time seemingly in weeks that Houston isn’t facing a playoff team or championship contender. Regardless, the Rockets can’t afford to ease up, and play soft just because the challenge on the court may not be as difficult. It was one of Houston’s worst trends over the past three seasons under coach Stephen Silas. However, unlike Silas, current head coach Ime Udoka has shown he won’t let these players slide. This Rockets team is a completely different group defensively compared to teams of the Silas era. Houston should be able to get the win tonight, although the Spurs are a desperate team, and they won’t keep losing forever. Gregg Popovich has too much pride, and is one of the greatest coaches in NBA history. Expect a closer contest than expected tonight between these Texas rivals. The Rockets have enough firepower to beat the Spurs, and are hungry for some payback for that loss back in October to San Antonio. Houston is also gunning for their tenth straight home win of the season. The Rockets haven’t lost at Toyota Center since their home opener, back on October 29th. The squad will look to extend both streaks tonight, as they battle Wemby and the Spurs for the second time this season. San Antonio’s streak will eventually end… just hopefully not tonight in Houston.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

San Antonio Spurs (3-18):  Black

Houston Rockets (10-9):  Red

 

Tip-Off:  7:00 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Hold Off Nuggets, 114-106, Earn First Road Win

Road Warriors.    8:26 to Live.    Thrice as Nice.    

Finally, after a long enduring wait, Houston got their first road win of the season. The Rockets held-off a late, furious Denver rally to beat the Nuggets, 114-106, on Friday night. Houston led by as many as 25 points, and appeared on their way to a blowout victory. However, the squad morphed into cruise control in the fourth quarter. An Aaron Holiday jumper with 8:26 remaining was the last basket the Rockets would make for the game. The Nuggets went on an 18-0 run to make the proceedings interesting, but Houston managed to hang on for the win. Luckily, they were able to make enough free throws and play solid enough defense to withstand Denver’s comeback attempt.

Fred VanVleet led Houston in scoring with 26 points. Jalen Green added 25 as he had his second consecutive consistent game playing in the altitude of Denver. Green had 26 in the first matchup in the Mile High City. The Rockets need their young guard to start stringing efficient performances together. Green’s biggest weakness in his early career has been his inconsistency. Well, Green was on tonight, and he’ll look to keep rolling when Houston returns home for a couple of games at Toyota Center. Alperen Sengun registered 17 points, 10 boards, and 7 assists against Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets. The Joker led Denver with 23 points, 16 rebounds, and 5 assists, but even those gaudy numbers are indicate a below-average performance from Jokic, who was stifled by the Rockets defense once again.

The victory is Houston’s first road win in nine tries this season, as the team is currently 1-8 on the road. They’ve played a brutal schedule so far, one that will ease up in the coming weeks. The loss is Denver’s first home loss of the campaign, and their first loss in the Mile High City since last March. The victory also breaks a losing streak of ten games in Denver for Houston dating back several years. That’s how dominant the Nuggets have been at home. The Rockets came in and earned their most impressive victory of the season, despite almost collapsing in the fourth quarter. Houston also became the first team to beat Denver three times in a season since 2021-2022, two years ago. Up next, the Rockets return home to face the Spurs, and then the Grizzlies. Two very winnable games for Houston as long as they don’t take their foot off the gas as they did with 8:26 remaining in Denver. Finally… the Rockets schedule eases up with some upcoming very winnable games as the squad returns home.

Rockets Seek First Road Win, Face Nuggets for Final Time

Death Row’s End.    From Idols to Rivals.    Break the Trend.

Fresh off another impressive home win, the Rockets are still seeking their first road win of the season. And their next challenge away from Toyota Center could be their toughest yet. On Friday night, the Rockets face the defending champion Denver Nuggets for the final time this season. It feels like Houston’s played half their games against Denver, as this is the fourth meeting between the teams in the last four weeks. The Nuggets are coming off a disappointing loss to the Clippers after they led by 15 points in L.A. after the first quarter, only to became prone to a Clippers comeback victory. Nikola Jokic is also coming off the worst shooting game (9-for-32) of his entire career.And the Rockets are already 2-1 against Denver this season, with the loss coming in the Mile High City. To make matters worse, the Nuggets are undefeated (9-0) at home, while the Rockets are winless on the road (0-8) to start the season. None of these factors bode well for this young Houston team’s chances tonight.

Nuggets head coach Mike Malone likely gave his team an earful after their latest loss. Expect Denver to be ready to play with energy from the opening tip. If the Rockets can match their intensity, they’ll have a chance tonight, but they’ll need some luck on their side as well. Alperen Sengun has fared well in his battles against the Joker. Jokic has gotten the better of Sengun, but Alpy has fared well down the stretch of games, especially in Houston’s two victories over Denver. Expect another competitive matchup between the big men, as Jokic has evolved from Sengun’s idol into his rival on the court.

If there’s any good news, this is the end of the Houston’s Death Row-like schedule to start the season. After tonight, the schedule eases up considerably. The Rockets returns home to host the Spurs, losers of 15 straight games, before playing the Grizzlies in a home-and-home, with the first game being in Houston, and second in Memphis. If the squad can’t earn their first road win tonight, expect them to take care of the 4-16 Grizzlies next Friday. So, Houston’s road woes shouldn’t continue much longer. The team has a chance to upset the Nuggets and win the season-series tonight, but it’s an incredibly challenging task at hand. It’s always hard for opponents to play in Denver, even when the Nuggets stink, because of the altitude. However, if the Rockets have shown people anything so far this season, it’s that they don’t back down from any challenge. And they’ve been relatively competitive in almost every game this season, despite having a 9-9 record. Other than Amen Thompson, who’s rehabbing in the G-League and should be prepped to return soon, Houston is fully healthy (minus Jock Landale). Denver’s also healthy, hungry, and determined to stay undefeated in their building. Can the Rockets final break the trend, and steal their first road win? With the odds stacked against them… a victory would defiantly be Houston’s most impressive of the entire season.

 

Ball Arena:  Denver, Colorado

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (9-9):  Black

Denver Nuggets (14-8):  White

 

Tip-Off:  8:00 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Silence Thunder, 110-101, Win 9th Straight at Home

Holiday Season.    Glass-Eaters.    Jekyll and Hyde.

Adding another impressive performance to their resume, the Rockets quieted the Thunder en route to a 110-101 victory on Wednesday night, and their ninth straight home win. Houston had contributions across the board, most notably Aaron Holiday. The youngest Holiday has quietly earned a spot in the rotation, and he had one of the best game of his career against the Thunder. Holiday scored a season-high 22 points, including a career-high six three-pointers on 6-for-7 shooting from deep. He also had 6 boards and 4 assists, as Holiday continues to seize full advantage of his playing time. Once Amen Thompson is ready to return to action, Holiday’s role may be reduced, but he’s forced his way into this Houston rotation with his exemplary play. Dillon Brooks led the Rockets in scoring with 23 points, and was exceptional on the defensive end. Alperen Sengun registered 21 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists, as he continues his efficient campaign towards an All-Star bid. Jalen Green scored 15 points on 50% shooting, and Fred VanVleet supplied 11 points and 9 assists for Houston, who continues to persevere at Toyota Center.

The Rockets dominated the battle on the boards, imposing their size to help win this game. Houston out-rebounded OKC, 53-30, thanks in large part to Jabari Smith Jr., who had a career-high 18 rebounds on the night. Besides attacking the glass, the Rockets were also a force defensively in this matchup. The Thunder entered this game as the best three-point shooting team in the league, and averaging about 120 points per game. Houston held the Thunder to 101 points on a dismal 27.6% shooting from three, well below their averages. OKC also entered this game as one of the league’s best road teams, boasting a 7-2 record away from home. The Rockets didn’t blink, as a fast start (Houston outscored OKC 32-22 in the first quarter), allowed them to be in control for the rest of the contest. Dillon Brooks, Tari Eason, Jae’Sean Tate, and the entire Rockets defense did a fantastic job on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. SGA still scored 33 points, but they were tough buckets on great defensive contests from Houston defenders. The squad also didn’t allow SGA to get his teammates going, holding the Thunder superstar to only 6 assists. The Rockets built a 17-point lead in the fourth-quarter, and SGA almost brought the Thunder back by himself, but he had little to no help. The second highest scoring OKC player was Jalen Williams, who chipped in with 13 points. Sengun dominated his matchup with Chet Holmgren. Houston’s stellar defense held Holmgren to a career-low 4 points, and while he did record 6 blocks, the Thunder’s rookie sensation never found his groove against the Rockets.

Securing their ninth home win in a row, the Houston Rockets continue their Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde journey to start this season. The winning streak is the longest at home for the Rockets since December of 2018, back when James Harden was the face of the franchise. The disparity between venues for Houston is almost unfathomable. The Rockets are now 9-1 at home, but remain a winless 0-8 on the road. A glance at Houston’s opponents on the road so far will explain why they haven’t quite captured their first win away from home. The squad has had the toughest schedule so far in the NBA. It’s admirable that the team is still at .500 with a record of 9-9 so far through this incredibly tough stretch to begin the campaign. With a visit already to Denver, Dallas, three trips to Los Angeles, and one to Golden State, the Rockets’ road run so far has been death row. And it doesn’t get any easier next game. They’ll try and snap out of their road spell as they visit the Denver Nuggets for the fourth and final time on Friday night. Another tough road test lies ahead, but after Friday’s game… the schedule finally eases up for the Rockets during the holiday season.

Rockets Return Home, Host Rising Thunder

Tall Task.    Best Present.    Nine Lives.

The Rockets finally return home to the friendly confines of Toyota Center, after another unsuccessful week on the road. Houston went 0-3 on their three-game road trip, remaining winless on the road for the season. Regardless, the Rockets have been on a roll at home to start the season, winning their last eight games in a row at Toyota Center. The squad aims for their ninth straight win at home, but it won’t be easy as the Oklahoma City Thunder rumble into town. It’s truly a tall task for this young Houston team. OKC is one of the rising, talented teams in the NBA, along with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Orlando Magic to name a few. The Thunder currently boast a 13-6 record, good for second place in the cutthroat Western Conference. OKC has the Rookie-of-the-Year so far in Chet Holmgren, who is off to a better start than anyone expected. He got injured in the preseason last year, but he didn’t play any regular season games last season, so this is technically his rookie season. And he’s even outplaying San Antonio’s super-hyped phenom, Victor Wembanyama. Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason, and others will need to help defensively to slow down the rookie sensation. Unfortunately, Holmgren’s not even close to the biggest challenge the Rockets will face tonight.

In his sixth season, SGA, in my opinion, is the best perimeter player in the world, and the frontrunner for MVP at this present moment. Not LeBron, not Kevin Durant, not Giannis… this guy: Gilgeous-Alexander had a breakout season in first All-Star campaign last year, but he’s even better this season, despite Holmgren taking up some of his offensive touches. SGA averages 30 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, and more than two steals per night. He is a nightmare on both ends of the floor, but it’s the offensive end where he’s become unstoppable. OKC’s emreging superstar can beat anyone off the dribble, and he has arguably the best mid-range jumper in the league. He’s also no joke from beyond the arc. SGA is a threat as a facilitator as well, as his dynamic offsensive skills have made his teammates, and the Thunder, one of the surprise teams in this early season. The Rockets need to aim to hold him to 25 points or under and they have a chance to pull off the upset. If SGA starts cooking, it could spell big trouble for a Houston team desperately trying to climb back up to .500 in the standings. Dillon Brooks will be the obvious defender to start on SGA. As stellar as Brooks is defensively, it’s going to take a team effort on that end to stop the best player in the world tonight. Besides Holmgren and SGA, OKC has Jalen Williams, who is having a breakout sophomore year, and Josh Giddey, who is still playing despite allegations of him having an inappropriate relationship with an underage girl. Regardless, Giddey is arguably their third best player, who can breakout for 30 points on any given night if not guarded properly. The Rockets have a handful to deal with tonight, but they beat the defending champion Denver Nuggets twice at home. They’re very capable of beating this Thunder team.

Houston is searching for their ninth win of the season (and ninth straight at home) with a victory tonight. The Rockets have been fairly competitive in most of their losses. So even if the squad doesn’t come away victorious tonight, expect a much more competitive matchup compared to Houston’s previous two road games. This squad has all the tools to win their ninth game of the season on Wednesday night, in order to keep their home streak alive. However, they also have one of the toughest opponents they’ve faced yet on the other side of the court, as OKC has won eight of their last ten games, with some very impressive wins already on their resume. If the Rockets win tonight, they’re going to have to do it on the defensive end, return to rebounding with force, and win the hustle battles on the court. It’s easier said than done, but hopefully a return to Toyota Center will spark these Rockets to victory… as they’ve played fantastic this season so far in Houston

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Oklahoma City Thunder (13-6):  Blue

Houston Rockets (8-9):  “City Edition” White

 

Tip-Off:  7:00 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Washed Away by Lakers in Ugly 107-97 Loss

Crazy Eights.    One Ugly Frame.    Tossed Home.

As the Rockets prepped for their third battle with the Lakers, the squad had expectations of winning this contest, going up 2-1 in the season series. Sadly, Houston had one of their ugliest games of these season, as they fell the Lakers, 107-97, on Saturday night. The headline of this contest was a spat between Rockets Coach Ime Udoka and L.A.’s LeBron James. Both individuals were assessed technical fouls, but it was Udoka’s second, causing him to be ejected from the game. The contest was far out of hand by that point, as similar to their previous loss in Denver, this final score wasn’t indicative of how competitive (or in these cases not competitive) these games played out. Anthony Davis had a 27-point, 14-rebound double-double to lead L.A., Austin Reaves chipped in 18 points, as the Lakers were able to lighten James’ load for this contest. LeBron still contributed 16 points, but the season-high 37 he totaled in their previous win over Houston was necessary tonight. Fred VanVleet led the Rockets with 22 points and 7 assists. Alperen Sengun secured another double-double, registering 21 points and 13 boards, to go along with 5 assists. And Jalen Green’s inconsistency from the field continued as the guard struggled on the evening. Green scored only 10 points on 4-for-15 shooting from the floor. The Rockets need their young swingman to improve his efficiency if this team really wants to be taken seriously this season.

Houston actually led after the first period of this contest, 30-25, holding a five-point edge, and seemingly on their way to finally winning a road game. They actually outscored L.A. in every quarter but one. All it took was one ugly frame and the Rockets were out of this contest. The Lakers dominated the second period, outscoring Houston 35-14 en route to a 15-point half-time lead. It’s a deficit the Rockets would never overcome, as they suffered their 8th straight road loss, and remain winless away from home. Despite the final score, the after the Lakers seized control, Houston never threatened to overtake L.A.’s lead in this matchup. The Rockets ended the game on a 9-1 run to make their latest loss seem closer, but this is Houston’s worst loss of the season so far. They’ll look to get back on track as they return home for their next contest.

The Rockets have now lost eight straight road matches to start their season (all of them), yet have won eight straight games at home. It’s a crazy disparity for venues for this young Houston squad. Hopefully the team keeps rolling at home, but they’ve got a tough opponent once again at Toyota Center for their next matchup. The Oklahoma City Thunder come to town. OKC’s like a slightly older, more experience version of Houston, only they have the best player on the planet and MVP-frontrunner in my opinion, in Shae Gilgeous-Alexander. The Thunder also boast a variety of other weapons, and play hard every night. It’ll be a tough test for the Rockets, but one they should pass… if the sqaud returns to playing up to expectations.

Rockets Return to L.A. for Third Matchup with Lakers

Payback Time.    Star Flashing.    Road Desperation.

The Rockets play their 8th road game of the season tonight, as they battle the Lakers for the third time this season. Houston is the only winless team in the NBA on the road, with a record of 0-7. They’ve had a tough schedule, and many close games, but they’ve yet to taste victory away from Toyota Center this season. That could very well change tonight. The Rockets are facing a Lakers team they’ve played well this season, even dating back to during the Stephen Silas era. Houston has always played LeBron’s Lakers competitively. They won the first matchup in blowout fashion at home, before suffering a heartbreaking one-point loss on the road in the second meeting. This will be the third road game in L.A. this season for the Rockets, and the first two were the squad’s most heartbreaking losses of the year thus far.

It’s payback time, as the Rockets have shown they have the talent and persistence to compete, and beat the Lakers, on any given night. Fred VanVleet and Jae’Sean Tate return to the lineup tonight after missing the previous loss in Denver. Two of Coach Ime Udoka’s most trusted rotational players will certainly give the squad a boost they were missing, as they ran out of gas in the Mile High City. Keep an eye on Jalen Green tonight, he has generally performed well against the Lakers throughout his career. Although this season, his best and worst game have both come against L.A. In the first game, Green scored 28 points on 11-for-15 shooting, and grabbed 7 rebounds in a winning effort. In the second matchup, Green mustered only 9 points on 3-for-10 shooting, and committed 4 turnovers in a loss. Houston’s young star has shown flashes of the superstar the Rockets envisioned they drafted when they selected him with the 2nd overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. However, Green’s biggest issues since joining the league has been his consistency. And this season is no different. He’s had stellar games, and then games where he appears to be merely a role player. Green was superb in Denver. The third quarter of that game was the best of his entire career. It’s time for Houston’s young star to evolve as he continues to search for consistency. Saturday night’s showdown under the bright lights of L.A. is the perfect launching pad for Green to mesh efficient performances together.

Houston needs to dial up the urgency on the road and play desperate, like their season’s on the line. The Lakers advanced to the knockout round of the NBA’s In-Season Tournament, which starts next week. L.A. has matchup against Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns in the quarterfinals. Recently, the Lake Show has lost two of their past three games. So, the Lakers could potentially be looking ahead to that enticing quarterfinal matchup, which definitely means more to them than tonight’s tilt with the Rockets. Therefore… Houston has a legitimate chance to end their losing streak tonight, as they face a team they’ve formidably battled twice this season.

 

Crypto.com Arena:  Los Angeles, California

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (8-8):  Black

Los Angeles Lakers (11-9):  White

 

Tip-Off:  9:30 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Fall Behind Early in 134-124 Loss to Nuggets

Out of Gas.    Green-Lit Third Quarter.    Road Woes.    

Limping into Denver on the second night of a back-to-back, the undermanned Rockets knew they’d be in for a tough challenge. Houston fell behind early in this contest, trailing 41-26 after the first frame. A third quarter surge allowed the squad to avoid a blowout loss, but the Rockets weren’t able to catch the Nuggets, falling 134-124 to Denver on Wednesday night. It’s Houston’s first loss to the Nuggets this season, as the Rockets won the previous two in H-Town. The absences of Fred VanVleet and Jae’Sean Tate were notable for Houston in this matchup. And Jamal Murray returned for Denver after a lengthy absence to contribute 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists. Regardless, the Rockets still played better than expected in a game that was lined up for them to get demolished. The Nuggets did hit the most “lucky shots”, aka jumpers that probably would go in 1 out of 10 times. These included ridiculous heaves from deep, the majority in the first quarter, allowing Denver to pull away early from Houston. Nikola Jokic recorded another triple-double, registering 32 points, 10 rebounds, and 15 assists on the night. Michael Porter Jr. added 30 points and 10 rebounds in a balanced Nuggets attack that saw seven Denver players reach double-figures in scoring.

If there’s any silver lining to be taken from this loss, it’s Jalen Green’s performance in the third quarter. He’s performed the best in third periods throughout his career. If only he could translate it to other quarters. Green led the Rockets in scoring with 26 points, with 19 coming in a third quarter as Houston attempted to cut into Denver’s deficit. He also grabbed 6 boards and dished out a career-high 9 assists, highlighting his potential as a true playmaker in the league. Alperen Sengun scored 22 points and grabbed 7 boards for the Rockets as he continues to play with the consistency Green’s searching for on a nightly basis. Jabari Smith Jr. had 15 points and 7 boards and he quietly continues his improved play as the season moves along. And we got a Cam Whitmore sighting. The Villanova product scored 8 points in 6 minutes of garbage time for Houston. Hopefully he can see more meaningful minutes soon. It would be wise for coach Ime Udoka to at least give Whitmore a chance to show his capabilities on the court. Whitmore excelled in his brief stint in the G-League, and now at least deserves a chance to display his talents to the coaching staff.

With the loss, the Rockets are now 8-8, and remain winless on the road. Houston is 8-1 at home, but their road woes have continues. Sure, they’ve had the toughest schedule in the league so far, but it’s no excuse to go winless on the road despite the competition, especially after a decent sample size (seven games). The Nuggets remain undefeated at home, as they improved to 9-0 to start the season in Denver. These teams will face off one final time next Friday night back in the Mile Hile City, this is one of the games added to the schedule during next week’s In-Season Tournament knockout round. Up next for the Rockets, they have a legitimate chance to win their first road game, as they head back to L.A. to face the Lakers for the third time this season on Saturday night. The squad is 1-1 against the Lake Show this season and have played well against them even during the Stephen Silas era. Expect a healthier, more competitive matchup in Houston’s next game as they try and snap their road skid under the bright lights of L.A.