Month: January 2024

Rockets Return Home to Host Rising Jazz

Mini Homecoming.    Silence the Noise.    Halfway Mark.

After a rough road-trip which saw Houston win only one out of six games, the Rockets finally return home for three contests, starting with a bout against the Utah Jazz. Utah has been playing some of the best basketball in the league lately, despite coming off a home loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. That loss snapped a six-game win streak for the Jazz. Utah started the season 7-16, but  the Jazz have gone 15-5 over their last 20 games. Most recently, Utah has also won nine of their past eleven games, including five of their last seven road contests. Houston will try and silence all this noise, as they play their first home game in two weeks.

The Rockets are 0-15 when allowing their opponents to score over 120 points. The Jazz aren’t great in high-scoring games, but they’ve won three of matches scoring over 120 this season. Utah has the highest turnover ratio in the league. Houston’s defense should be prepared to force plenty of turnovers in a game that should see the Rockets dominate in transition. Last year’s All-Star, Lauri Markannen, is having another stellar season for the Jazz. Collin Sexton is having a breakout season for Utah. The guard is averaging over 17 points a contest, finally finding a suitable role for himself after being dealt from the Cleveland Cavaliers. Jordan Clarkson is having another Sixth-Man caliber season for the Jazz off the bench. Sophomore Walker Kessler is another threat off the pine for Utah, along with former-Rocket Kelly Olynyk, who is quietly having another very efficient season in limited minutes. John Collins mans the center spot for the Jazz. While Collins is by no means a pawn of a player, Alperen Sengun should be able to out-play him in their matchup tonight.

This game officially marks the halfway point of the campaign for the Rockets. After Saturday night’s bout with Utah, Houston will have played 41 of 82 games on the season. Tonight’s matchup is also the first of another back-to-back for the Rockets. Houston will host the Boston Celtics, the team with the NBA’s best record, tomorrow night. And like the Rockets’ first game against the C’s, Boston is once again coming off a loss, suffering their first home-defeat of the season to the Denver Nuggets on Friday night. What does all this mean? Houston desperately needs to find a way to beat an average Jazz team before they welcome in a legit title contender tomorrow night. The Rockets have a one day rest-advantage over the Utah coming into tonight’s matchup, and Houston will certainly be more tired tomorrow against a deadlier Boston club. If the Rockets want to end their three-game skid, they’ll have to silence the Jazz on Saturday night, as Houston returns home following a tough road-trip.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Utah Jazz (22-21):  Black

Houston Rockets (19-21):  “City Edition” White

 

Tip-Off:  7:00 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass

Poor Shooting Dooms Rockets in 109-94 Loss to Knicks

The Brick Apple.    30/30 Vision.    Ugly Trip.

Houston closed their season-long six-game road-trip with a whimper, losing to the Knicks, 109-94 at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night. The Rockets led by two points after the first period, but Houston was outplayed for the remainder of the contest. The Rockets shot only 41.7% from the floor, including a woeful 26.7% from beyond the arc. New York didn’t shoot great either, but their effort topped Houston’s brick display on offense. Fred VanVleet led the Rockets with 24 points and 12 assists. Alperen Sengun registered 18 points, 10 boards, and 5 assists. Jalen Green scored 15 points on another inefficient shooting performance. Green shot 6-for-15 overall, and filled to make a three-pointer Cam Whitmore failed to score for the first time all road-trip, garnering only 9 minutes of action on the night. All these variables factored into Houston’s latest loss, as they finished their longest road trip of the season with a 1-5 record.

The Rockets have now lost eight straight games to the Knicks, dating back several seasons. Most of this is due to Julius Randle and Jalen Brunson. Both stars topped the 30-point mark for New York, fueling the Knicks’ offensive charge. Randle finished with 31 points and 8 rebounds, while Brunson added 30 points and 7 assists for New York. New-arrival O.G. Anunoby contributed 15 points, and Josh Hart recorded 10 points and 14 boards off the bench for the Knicks, who out-hustled a young Houston team for the majority of the night.

After an ugly road trip that saw Houston’s lone win come over the lowly Detroit Pistons by only two points, the Rockets are now mired in another three-game losing streak. Houston is now multiple games under .500 for the first time since starting the season 0-3 back in October. The squad will return home for a three-game stretch starting this weekend. The Rockets desperately need to get back on track, and their first two games of this upcoming home-stand will be a tough test. Houston will host the red-hot Utah Jazz on Saturday, followed by the NBA’s best team, the Boston Celtics, the following night. Hopefully the friendly confines of Toyota Center will bring the Rockets some added luck this weekend, as the squad attempts to climb back over the .500 threshold.

Rockets Close Road Trip, Visit the Big Apple for Battle with Knicks

Bright Lights.    Questionable Brunson Burner.    End of the Road.

The Rockets travel to the Big Apple on Wednesday night, for a matchup against the New York Knicks in the World’s Most Famous Arena. This is the final game of Houston’s current six-game road-trip. The squad is 1-4 so far during this stretch, with the lone win coming (barely) against the lowly Detroit Pistons. This is the first matchup for many of these young Rocket players under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden. The Rockets are coming off back-to-back blowout losses in Boston and Philadelphia. The Celtics and 76ers are legitimate title contenders. The Knicks are a playoff team, but they’re not expected to hoist the Championship trophy in June. New York is still a few pieces away from being a legit threat to win it all, but they have a solid team who can beat anyone on any given night. And the Knicks pulled off arguably the best in-season trade so far this season. New York acquired defensive specialist O.G. Anunoby from the Toronto Raptors, in a deal that included R.J. Barrett and Immanuel Quickley being sent to the Toronto. The Knicks have lost two of their past three games, but Anunoby has seamlessly fit in with his new team, and provided New York a much-needed defensive boost.

New York’s best player, Jalen Brunson, is questionable for tonight’s contest. Brunson has been on a tear this season, averaging a career-high 25.8 points and 6.5 assists per game. If Brunson can’t go, Houston will get a break. The Rockets will need to capitalize on his absence if the likely All-Star can’t suit up tonight. Josh Hart is also questionable with a knee injury for the Knicks. Houston is still without Tari Eason, who’s return to the lineup is a move the squad is desperately awaiting. The Rockets haven’t been the same team, especially defensively, since Eason went out with an injury. Houston needs to battle together, and find a way to get a road victory without Eason. Outside of Detroit, the Rockets are winless on the road when Tari isn’t in the lineup.

This is the final game of Houston’s six-game road trip that started a little over a week ago. The Rockets are 4-14 on the road compared to 15-6 when they play at home. The squad would love to close this road trip with a big win over a solid Knicks team, a squad that has their eyes on the playoffs. Houston is more than capable of getting the victory tonight. Alperen Sengun will be going up against former Rocket Isaiah Hartenstein, who’s thrived in his role as starting center since Mitchell Robinson suffered a season-ending injury earlier in the season. Julius Randle, New York’s other All-Star, also poses plenty of threats in the interior for the Rockets defense tonight. Houston needs to contain Randle, and prevent him from having a 30-point outburst. When Randle plays well, so do the Knicks. If the Rockets can slow him down, they increase their chances of escaping the Garden victorious. Other players Houston needs to focus on defensibly include Donte Divencenzo, who’s having a breakout season as a role player, along with the recently traded Anunoby. This is a matchup the Rockets should win. Even if New York is at full strength, Houston has beaten better teams than these Knicks this season. Can the squad dial the intensity up defensively on the road? How will the bright lights of NYC impact the squad’s performance? If this game is another high-scoring affair, don’t expect the Rockets to win. The squad is 0-15 when allowing their opponent to score at least 120 points. However, Houston is 19-5 when they hold the other team under the 120 point mark. If the Rockets open the game with a defensive mindset, and keep the scoring within the 100-110 range… Houston has a solid chance to end this road trip with a win.

 

Madison Square Garden:  New York City, New York

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (19-20):  Black

New York Knicks (23-17):  White

 

Tip-Off:  6:30 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Manhandled by 76ers, 124-115, in Ugly Matinee Loss

Swept.    Draft Capital.    Road Worriers.

Entering this contest, Joell Embiid had a questionable tag heading into the opening tip. That question was answered in dominant form, as Embiid played for the first time all season against Houston. The reigning MVP dominated the Rockets, scoring 41 points and grabbing 10 rebounds en route to dealing Houston a 124-115 defeat. The final score isn’t indicative of the lack of competitiveness in this matchup. The Rockets trailed by as many as 28 points at one point. And while they were able to chip away somewhat at the deficit, the closest Houston would get to Philly would be 13 points in the second half. Embiid even picked up his fifth foul at this point, a little past the midway point of the third quarter. However, the Sixers went on a 6-0 run immediately after he departed with foul trouble, halting any plans the Rockets had for a comeback. Tyrese Maxey supplemented Embiid with 27 points, as the young guard continues to play at an All-Star level.

Jalen Green led Houston with 20 points, but struggled from beyond the arc, shooting only 1-for-7 from three-point land. Dillon Brooks scored 18 points in his second game back from injury. The Villain hasn’t had any minute restrictions, and looks to be back to his usual self. Houston’s unfortunately had the bad fate of playing two of the best teams on the road (Boston, Philly) since Brooks returned. The loss gives the Rockets their first season-sweep at the hands of an opponent this season, as they finished 0-2 against the Sixers this campaign.

If there’s silver linings to be taken out of this game, it’s the performance of Houston’s draft capital. The Rockets rookies played extremely well in Philly, despite the loss. Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore scored 14 points apiece, with their comfort levels on the court increasing with each game. Houston has now lost back-to-back games in blowout fashion. Granted, the Celtics and Sixers are two of the NBA’s best teams, but the Rockets failed to put up a fight in either matchup. After a stellar defensive stretch earlier in the season, Houston’s defense has disappeared on this road trip. The Rockets are now 0-15 when they allow 120 or more points. The squad is sorely missing Tari Eason and the energy he brings on the defensive end. Expect Houston’s defense to tighten up once Eason returns. For the time being, the Rockets have to stop allowing so many open three-pointers to their opposition. Houston is being blowout because of lack of defensive effort, specifically lacking a hand in an open shooter’s face.

Houston is now 3-14 on the road, compared to 15-6 at Toyota Center. Up next, the Rockets conclude their six-game road-trip with a visit to the Big Apple to take on the New York Knicks. The Knickerbockers are off to a solid start, but aren’t legit title contenders like Boston or Philly. Houston should have a better chance of snagging a victory in Madison Square Garden compared to their previous two blowout losses. Jalen Brunson, New York’s best player, is also questionable heading into this Wednesday night tilt. Regardless of his availability, the Rockets need to at least put up a competitive showing. The Knicks aren’t world beaters. Stealing a victory in the bright lights of New York City may be just what Houston needs to get back on track before they return home.

Rockets Visit 76ers for Matinee MLK-Day Affair

Routine Adjustment.    Dangerous Return.    Containment to the Max.

Houston continues their six-game road-trip with an afternoon stop in Philadelphia as they meet the 76ers. This is the earliest the Rockets will play all season. Unlike the Knicks or Lakers, who seeming have a day game almost once a week, these matinee matchups are rare for Houston. It will be interesting to see how the Rockets adjust to playing at a much earlier time than usual. Tip-off is set for noon Central Time, which is roughly about 7 hours earlier than the average (7:00 PM CT) start time. Hopefully the squad can erase that Boston beatdown from their memories, and put on a better performance this afternoon.

In the first matchup between foes, Joel Embiid didn’t play for the Sixers. After being deemed questionable for the second tilt, the reigning MVP is going to give it a go this time. This means another tough night is in store for Alperen Sengun, as he’ll try and battle with one of the best big men in the league. Despite winning the MVP last season, Embiid is seemingly having an even better season this year.

Philly’s Tyrese Maxey lit up the Rockets for more than 40 points in the first matchup, a hard-fought game Houston should’ve won, but ultimately lost. If they want any chance of beating a better version of the Sixers on the road, the Rockets have to tighten up their defense. Tari Eason is still out with an injury, but Dillon Brooks returned in Houston’s previous game. Brooks didn’t play in the first matchup. Hopefully, the Villain can slow Maxey on the perimeter, and Sengun can hold his own against Embiid in the paint. The odds aren’t in the Rockets’ favor this afternoon, but if they can summon some of that Eason-esque energy they’re been sorely lacking… they’ll have at least a chance in the City of Brotherly Love.

 

Wells Fargo Center:  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (19-19):  White

Philadelphia 76ers (24-13):  Blue

 

Tip-Off:  12:00 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA TV

Rockets Torched by Celtics, 145-113, in Udoka’s Return to Boston

Big Beatdown.    120 and Done.    Slam Whitmore.

Counter-indicative to the final score, the Rockets were more energetic coming out of the gate, compared to their previous game in Detroit. Houston held an early lead in the first quarter, and trailed by only four points after the first frame. However, after that, this game was all Boston. It seemed that the Rockets finally felt the wear and tear of three games in four nights, and their energy lessened as the game progressed. The Rockets have had bad losses by big numbers before, but this seemed like the worst beatdown the team’s suffered all year. Houston had no answer for Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, who combined to score 59 points to down the Rockets.

Houston is now 0-14 when allowing their opponent to score 120 or more points. The Rockets need to buckle down defensively. It was nice to see Dillon Brooks back on the court, as he scored 12 points in 25 minutes. The squad is eagerly anticipating the return of Tari Eason, hopefully in the coming weeks or less. They certainly need his presence on the defensive end.

For the first time in his career, Cam Whitmore led Houston in scoring, with a career-high 22 points off the bench. Whitmore continues to improve with each game. Expect the rookie to keep seeing more playing time as we’re almost set to embark on the second half of this season. The Rockets have now played 38 games, only 3 more remain before the halfway mark of 41 is reached. As of now, the squad is on pace for a 41-41 record. They’ll try and adjust their win pace before the halfway mark arrives, as the Rockets finish off this tough six-game road trip with a couple of battles against top-tier Eastern Conference foes.

Rockets Visit Celtics in Udoka’s Return to Boston

Coach’s Honor.    The Villain Returns.    Road Desperados.

“Not too sentimental,” Rockets coach Ime Udoka said about returning to Boston, the place he once coached, for the first time since his departure in 2022. He may not want to admit it, but this is a big game for Udoka and the Rockets. Just like a player squaring up against his former team, coaches have that same “revenge” attitude when facing a former employer. This is the second of a back-to-back set for Houston. The Rockets are coming off a tough win in Detroit over the Pistons on Saturday night. Boston is coming off an embracing blowout in Milwaukee to the Bucks on Thursday night. The beatdown was so bad by halftime, that their starters even rested for the entire second half. The Celtics have now lost two of their past three games overall, with an overtime win over the West-leading Minnesota Timberwolves sandwiched in between. Regardless, Boston still boasts the NBA’s best record, with a mark of 29-9 on the season. This isn’t great news for Houston, as the Celtics are rested and angry. Boston is also the lone undefeated home team remaining in the league this season, with an 18-0 mark to start this campaign at TD Garden. However, the Rockets did hand the defending champion Denver Nuggets their first home loss of the season a few months ago. Houston is certainly capable of dealing the East’s top team their first home defeat.

There is some good news as the Rockets enter this intimidating matchup. Dillon Brooks will finally make his return from injury, after a nine-game absence due to an oblique strain. The Villain’s return to the lineup should give Houston’s defense a boost, as the squad has sorely lacked his toughness since he went out with the injury. After coming off a tough-fought win last night, the Rockets will certainly be the more tired team tonight. This is still a very young team, and Houston should have enough pep in their step to make this game competitive. Plus, Udoka’s return should inspire the players to want to win this one for their coach.

The task at hand won’t be easy tonight, as the Celtics have the NBA’s best record for a reason. This team is a legitimate threat to win the title in June. They still haven’t lost at home, winning their first 18 games in Boston to start this season. Their best player, Jayson Tatum, is having another MVP-caliber season for the Celtics. His running mate, Jaylen Brown, is one of the league’s best two-way players. And new addition Kristaps Porzingis has meshed with this lineup better than many expected. Boston also has one of the NBA’s best perimeter defenders in Jrue Holiday, who will likely give Fred VanVleet fits. FVV played the entire second half in Houston’s emotional win in Detroit last night. The Rockets will need Jalen Green and others to step up tonight against arguably the best team in the league at the moment. Derrick White is having a breakout season as a starter for the C’s this year. And veteran big man Al Horford is quietly having a solid campaign off the bench. Expect a closer matchup than people expect on Saturday night. If Houston can hang around the contest, and keep the score close, like they did against Detroit, they have a chance at an upset victory. But if the Rockets fall behind early… their chances of earning a sentimental win for their coach will be blown out the window.

 

TD Garden:  Boston, Massachusetts

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (19-18):  Black

Boston Celtics (29-9):  White

 

Tip-Off:  6:00 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Escape Detroit with Narrow 112-110 Win Over Pistons

Lucky to Survive.    Fourth Quarter Shutdown.    Twin Sweep.

After suffering a heartbreaking loss in Chicago, the Rockets bounced back with a thrilling 112-110 victory over the downtrodden Detroit Pistons. Houston trailed for much of this game, but came alive in the fourth quarter. The Rockets faced a three-point deficit entering the final frame in Detroit. Fred VanVleet and Alperen Sengun combined to score 22 of the squad’s 24 fourth quarter points to fuel Houston’s late rally. The squad now improves to 4-14 after trailing entering the fourth quarter. The Rockets ended the first half of this contest on a 16-4 run to tie the game at 55 apiece entering the break, keeping themselves within fighting distance before locking in during the final period. In the final seconds, Jaden Ivey’s had a shot from distance that bounced off the glass and just rimmed out before time expired. Had it fallen, that shot would’ve essentially dealt the Rockets another crushing defeat.

Similar to the game in Chicago, where Houston seemed like they played well enough and should’ve won, the Rockets were lucky to survive and escape Detroit with a victory. The Pistons played well enough to win, and the Rockets were lackadaisical defensively other than a stout fourth quarter where they locked down Detroit, allowing only 19 points in the final period. Ivey was the Pistons best player on the evening, scoring 18 points and dishing out 8 assists. Alec Burks was outstanding off the bench, leading Detroit in scoring along with Kevin Knox II, who scored 19 points apiece to lead the Pistons.

Sengun once again led the Rockets in scoring, notching 29 points and grabbing 6 boards on the night. Sengun has now scored at least 20 points in 11 of his last 12 games. VanVleet scored 20 points, added 12 assists, and had some huge threes late in the game, including the go-ahead jumper that put Houston ahead for good. It’s FVV’s 14th double-double of the season. VanVleet had only 20 double-doubles in his previous two seasons combined. He’s truly stepped up in his role as a veteran leader of this team. Sengun and VanVleet were basically a two-man show, as they scored 22 of the squad’s final 24 points to lead the Rockets to victory. Houston had other players step up earlier in the contest. Jabari Smith Jr. had another impressive shooting performance and defensively made his presence felt. Jabari registered 19 points and 11 boards on the evening. Jalen Green played some of the best basketball of his career in the second quarter. Showing enhanced aggression on both ends of the court, Green finished the night with 28 points. He didn’t have the best shooting night, going 9-for-25 from the field, including 2-for-9 from distance. But it’s a good sign to see Jalen attacking the basket and playing with more confidence after suffering through a slump earlier in the season.

With the victory the Rockets have now swept the Pistons this season, as Amen Thompson is now 2-0 against his brother Ausar as they start their NBA careers. Up next, Houston travels to Boston on Saturday night for the second part of a back-to-back. The Rockets have struggled on the back half of back-to-backs this season. And the Celtics boast the NBA’s best record. They’re also undefeated at home this season. The game will mark Ime Udoka’s first return to TD Garden as a head coach since he left  Boston in 2022. Hopefully, Houston can muster enough energy after tonight’s tough win, and pull-off a huge upset on Saturday night.

Rockets Roll into the Motor City, Face-Off Against Pistons

Twin Night – Part 2.    Baiting Duren.    Muster Win.

For the third stop on this lengthy road-trip, the Rockets ride into Detroit as they face the Pistons on Friday night. Houston is coming off a heartbreaking overtime loss to the Bulls in Chicago on Wednesday. After snapping their NBA-record 28-game losing-streak, the Pistons have lost their last six games, and own a league-worst 3-35 record. Tonight is also Twin Night – Part Two, as the Thompson rookies will battle each other for only the second time as NBA players. Houston’s Amen got the victory and outplayed his brother, Detroit’s Ausar, in the first contest, back at Toyota Center on New Year’s Day.

The Rockets will aim to repeat the first result between these teams as they play the Pistons for the second and final time this season. And they should have a solid chance to earn the victory tonight. Detroit is clearly the worst team, but that doesn’t mean this game will be cakewalk for Houston. If you remember in the first matchup, the Pistons’ Jalen Duren did as great a job at anyone we’ve seen on Alperen Sengun in the first half defensively. It wasn’t until Sengun got Duren in foul trouble that the Rockets were able to separate themselves for a blowout victory. Keep an eye on the Sengun-Duren matchup tonight. It’s not a good matchup for “The Wizard,” as Duren is one of the physically strongest players in the league and isn’t baited by Sengun’s offensive tricks. Hopefully Sengun can get Duren in foul trouble once again, as he’s proved to give Houston trouble since he entered the league last season. Sharpshooter Bojan Bogdanovic is out tonight for Detroit. Defensively, the Rockets need to focus on Alec Burks, who will benefit from his teammates absence with more minutes, and the rising youngster Jaden Ivey on the perimeter, who’s having a solid sophomore year after an injury-riddled opening campaign.

At 18-18, the Rockets are now evenly .500 on the season. Exceeding the expectations of the NBA world, but Houston knows they’re better than a merely average team. Ime Udoka won’t let his team settle for being “average.” The Rockets have already gotten through the toughest portion of their schedule, and they won’t see a road-trip of this length for the rest of the season. After tonight, Houston will travel to face Udoka’s former team, the Boston Celtics, tomorrow night. It will be an incredibly tough matchup for this Rockets squad who struggles playing on the second half of a back-to-back. After that, the road trip closes with visits to Philly and New York for game against the Sixers and Knicks, two of the East’s hottest teams.

What does all this mean? Tonight’s game in Detroit is by far the easiest remaining on this lengthy road-trip for Houston. If the Rockets want to avoid potentially going winless on this trip, they need to treat this game against the Pistons as a must-win matchup. Detroit has only won twice all season in 18 home contests. Houston needs to focus on putting Duren in foul trouble, and they need to avoid another slow start. Expect another close game on the road tonight, as has been the case for the Rockets in most of their away matches this season. The squad is still without Dillon Brooks and Tari Eason. And they’ve struggled without the energetic pair. Regardless, tonight in Detroit, Houston should have enough in the tank to muster their fourth road win on the season.

 

Little Caesars Arena:  Detroit, Michigan

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (18-18):  White

Detroit Pistons (3-35):  Black

 

Tip-Off:  6:30 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Lose Steam Late in 124-119 OT Loss to Bulls

Too Much Airspace.    No Player Does Whitmore.    Silver Linings.

After a scoreless first half, Alperen Sengun scored an impressive 25 points after halftime. Unfortunately it wasn’t enough, as Houston lost another heartbreaker. The Rockets fell to the Bulls in overtime, 124-119, on Wednesday night. Sengun scored 19 points in the fourth quarter and OT combined, as he had arguably his best and worst halves of the season in the same game. Houston trailed by 11 points entering the final period, and faced a 16-point deficit with a little under 9 minutes to play in the contest. The Rockets rallied to tie the game, and Jabari Smith Jr. missed a three-pointer at the end of regulation that would’ve gave Houston the victory. Sengun and company started the overtime strong, holding a 119-114 lead with 2:30 remaining in extra time. However, the Rockets failed to score again, as the Bulls ended the game on a 10-0 run to claim the victory. Sengun lacked help late, as the squad couldn’t buy a basket in the second half of overtime. Houston again got off to a slow start, as was evidenced by the play of their best player, Sengun. The Rockets need to get off to faster starts, and bring the energy we saw in the second half and overtime for an entire game. They also need to improve at defending the three-point line. Chicago isn’t a great three-point shooting team, but they had a stellar night from beyond the arc against Houston. The Bulls starters were exceptional on Wednesday night. Chicago’s starting unit exploded for 104 points. Coby White continued his breakout season with a 30-point performance. Zach LaVine looks like himself again, as he scored 25 points in his third game back from injury. Nikola Vucevic added 18 points and 15 rebounds. And DeMar DeRozan chipped in 19 points. The Bulls shot lights out, as have many teams against the Rockets recently from the perimeter. It’s not rocket science that the absences of Dillon Brooks and Tari Eason coincide with this recent decline in exterior defense. Brooks is expected back before Eason, possibly as by next week.

Sengun scored all 25 of his points after the break in Chicago. After starting 0-5 from the floor, he didn’t score his first points until around the 9:30 mark of the third quarter. And after that, Sengun was rolling. And he almost single-handedly carried Houston to a comeback victory. Cam Whitmore had another solid game, scoring a career-high 16 points on 50% shooting in 33 minutes, the most action he’s seen as an NBA player. Whitmore continues to impress with each passing game. He’s one of the most athletic players in the entire league, and has an NBA-ready body despite being a rookie. Whitmore continues to benefit from the absences of Brooks and Eason. However, both players are expected back relatively soon. It will be intriguing to see how coach Ime Udoka manages the lineups and rotation once the Rockets are fully healthy again. Whitmore has shown he deserves a spot in the rotation. He’s been excellent in limited playing time since finally receiving an opportunity for more minutes. The 20th overall pick in the draft has been better so far than Amen Thompson, who Houston selected 4th overall with their first choice. No offense to Thompson, he’s simply more raw, and he’s dealt with injuries to start his career. Coming out of the G-League, his development will likely be more lengthy than Whitmore’s, who’s a Villanova product.

Despite the crushing defeat, there were silver linings to be found in the loss. Jabari Smith Jr. had another solid performance, scoring 18 points and 15 boards. Jabari also came inches away from winning the game for Houston after his three-pointer clanked short at the end of regulation. Fred VanVleet scored 20 points and dished out 10 assists in another impressive showing. Jalen Green wasn’t great, but he wasn’t terrible, and had a better showing than usual on the road. Green scored 18 points on 8-for-19 shooting, and dished out 8 dimes while grabbing 6 boards. The Rockets are sorely missing Brooks and Eason.Once they return, expect Houston’s defense to return to the form we saw in November and early December. For now, the squad will have to wade waters without two of their key pieces. This latest loss pushes the Rockets record to 18-18, back to and even .500 on the season. Houston is still 9th in the standings, and with 46 games remaining, anything is possible as we approach the mid-way point of the season. Up next, the Rockets will try and take advantage of a historically bad Pistons team as they visit Detroit on Friday night.