Month: March 2024

Rockets Host Spurs in Return to Toyota Center

Silver Streakers.    Emerging Stars.    Rare Favorites.

After a three game road trip, Houston returns home to host their in-state rivals, the San Antonio Spurs. Despite their last-place record in the West, the Spurs have won their last two games, over solid competition as well, in the Thunder and the Pacers. Victor Wembanyama has improved since the last time these teams squared off. Wemby’s nearly a lock to win Rookie of the Year, and has multiple SportsCenter highlights on a nightly basis.

Other than Wemby, this game features several emerging stats, including Houston’s Alperen Sengun, Jalen Green, Cam Whitmore, among others. Devin Vassell, San Antonio’s second-best player, is quietly having a very solid season as the Spurs second option behind Wemby. The Rockets are 1-1 against San Antonio this season, with the home team winning both of the previous matchups. With Houston still a solid 20-10 at home this season, the Rockets should be energized enough to beat a Spurs squad that simply doesn’t match their talent level.

Ime Udoka announced after the previous game that Tari Eason underwent surgery on Monday, and will be out for the season. Hopefully Eason returns to full strength next year, as he was instrumental in the Rockets getting off to a 13-9 start to the campaign. Tonight’s game is the first of two straight at Toyota Center for the Rockets. Houston will host James Harden and the Los Angeles Clippers tomorrow night. The Rockets are the rare favorites in tonight’s matchup. With a boost from their home crowd, expect Houston to continue their winning ways at home over a lowly Spurs team.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

San Antonio Spurs (13-48):  Black

Houston Rockets (26-34):  White

 

Tip-Off:  7:00 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Eclipse Suns, 118-109, Snap Road Skid

Launch Pad.    Streaking Halt.    Green Valley.

Jalen Green stole the opening tip, and the Rockets didn’t look back, as Houston took the second part of the Phoenix set, 118-109, on Saturday night. For the second consecutive game, Green scored 34 points in the Valley of the Sun. He was even better in Houston’s victory, shooting the ball more efficiently at a 12-for-23 clip in the squad’s victory on Saturday night. If the Rockets can find a way to channel Phoenix Jalen Green outside of the desert, Houston will be tough to beat on any night. Green was an instrumental part of giving the Rockets an early advantage. Houston led 38-19 after the first quarter, arguably their best frame of the season, considering the opponent and location. The Rockets would extend that lead to 20 points in the second period before the Suns began their comeback attempt. Luckily for Houston, they had enough players step up to prevent Phoenix from overtaking the lead. Alperen Sengun finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds, while Fred VanVleet registered 24 points and 11 dimes for Houston

Entering tonight’s contest, the Rockets had lost 9 straight games on the road, with the Suns winners of 9 straight games at home. Both those streaks ended on Saturday night, as Houston earned one of their most impressive wins of the year in a rare road victory. The Rockets are now 6-24 away from Toyota Center. If this latest victory wasn’t the best all season for this young Houston team, it at least ranks up near the top of the list. Phoenix came back to make it a contest in the second half, but Houston were able to fend off the star-studded Suns. Bradley Beal was ejected after getting into a scuffle with Jalen Green. Regardless, the Rockets survived a combined 54-point outing from Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. Houston dominated Phoenix in transition, outscoring the Suns 28-10 in fast break points.

Saturday’s win ends Houston’s road trip and tough stretch which saw them face only the Suns and the Thunder over the past five games. Considering those opponents, 2-3 isn’t too bad of a record coming out of that stretch. Could their latest victory be a turning point as Houston enters the final 22-game portion of the campaign? We’ll find out soon enough, as the Rockets enter the home stretch of this season. Up next, Houston gets a rare two days off before returning home for back-to-back games at Toyota Center next week. The Rockets will host Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs, followed by a visit by James Harden and the Clippers. It’s a chance for this young Houston squad to start the final quarter of this campaign on a high-note, and with a lot of luck, potentially sneak into the Play-In at season’s end.

Rockets Face-Off with Suns in Desert Rematch

Desert Showdown: Part 2.    Handling the Book.    End of this Road.

The Rockets square-off against the Suns for a rematch back in Phoenix on Saturday night. The Suns took the first match of this two-game set, beating Houston 110-105 on Thursday night in the Valley. The Rockets are aiming for a different result in Part 2 of their Desert Showdown this season. Houston needs a better performance from Alperen Sengun, who was ejected for the first time in his career in the previous game. The Rockets also need to do a better job defensively on Devin Booker, who led Phoenix’s attack with 35 points on Saturday night.

After a five-game absence, Bradley Beal will be returning to action tonight for the Suns. The former All-Star may have a minutes restriction upon his return, but his presence alone is a boost for Phoenix. Expect the Suns to be another tough out as the Rockets face Kevin Durant and company for the final time this season. Houston has no one on the injury report besides Tari Eason, who at this point may be out for the season, although no official statement has been made regarding the situation.

Tonight marks the end of a tough five-game stretch which saw the Rockets play only the Suns and the Thunder. Houston is 1-3 so far on this stretch, with the lone win coming at home over Phoenix last weekend. The Rockets are better than their 5-24 road record shows. Hopefully Houston can get a huge win by beating a hot Suns team before they return to Toyota Center next week.

 

Footprint Center:  Phoenix, Arizona

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (25-34):  White

Phoenix Suns (35-24):  Purple

 

Tip-Off:  8:00 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Fail to Liftoff in 110-105 Loss to Suns

No Climbing Back.    Green Sighting.    One More Time.

The Rockets fell in an early hole in Phoenix on Thursday night. Houston trailed 33-17 after the first period, and never overcame the early deficit in a 110-105 loss the Suns. Devin Booker led Phoenix with 35 points as he continues to torch the Rockets every time he faces Houston. Kevin Durant added 24 points for Phoenix, and Jusuf Nurkic chipped in 16 points and 13 boards for the Suns. Alperen Sengun was ejected for the first time in his career in the fourth quarter after arguing a bad call. Nurkic certainly had the better of Houston’s center in this matchup.

Jalen Green had one of his better games of the season, and kept the Rockets within distance in the first half. Green finished with 34 points on 10-for-28 shooting from the field. Fred VanVleet added 21 points for Houston,and Cam Whitmore registered 14 points and 8 boards on the evening.

These same two teams will square off for the final time this season in the same arena on Saturday night. The Rockets will need to be sharper on the offensive end, and focus on containing Devin Booker if they want any chance to even the season series on in the finale this weekend.

Rockets Visit the Desert for First of Two Meetings with Suns

Part 1.    Star-Studded Valley.    Offensive Tuneup.

The Rockets head West to the Valley of the Sun as they battle the Phoenix Suns. Tonight’s contest is the first of two straight in Phoenix to close-out this road trip for the Rockets. Houston is 1-1 so far against the Suns this season, with their latest victory coming six days ago back at Toyota Center, 114-110. The Rockets have yet to play this Suns team in Phoenix this season, and given how Houston has played on the road, expect these next two games to be exponentially difficult for the Rockets compared to the previous matchup between these squads.

The Suns will still be without Bradley Beal for this matchup, but Jusuf Nurkic will be available. Nurkic didn’t play in the previous contest between these conference foes. Phoenix still has two of the NBA’s most lethal offensive weapons in Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. The Rockets have to hope their shots aren’t falling, or Houston will be in for a long night.

Houston desperately needs an offensive tuneup if they want any chance to keep pace with an offensively dynamic team like Phoenix. The Rockets have failed to reach the 115-point mark over their last three games. Houston needs their shots on the perimeter to start falling, and they’ll have a chance to steal a game from the Suns on Thursday night.

 

Footprint Center:  Phoenix, Arizona

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (25-33):  White

Phoenix Suns (34-24):  Purple

 

Tip-Off:  8:00 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Fall to Thunder, 112-95, for Second Straight Game

Out of Pace.    Second Quarter Struggles.    Going West.

For the second game in a row, the Rockets were outmatched and overpowered by the Thunder, en route to a 112-95 defeat. Alperen Sengun led Houston with 23 points and 11 rebounds. Jabari Smith Jr. contributed another double-double against, OKC, adding 18 points and 13 boards. However, the Thunder had too much firepower for the Rockets to contend with. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way once again with 31 points on Tuesday night. Chet Holmgren supplied 18 points and 13 rebounds, while Jalen Williams added 24 points for OKC.

Houston actually led this contest after the first period, but a dismal second quarter gave the Thunder control of this game. The Rockets were outscored 32-21 in the second period, and couldn’t muster a fight to cut the deficit in the second half. These squads will square off one more time in late March, and so far OKC has the 2-1 season series edge over the Rockets after taking these last two games.

Up next for Houston, the squad heads west to the desert where they’ll face the Suns for two straight games in Phoenix to close out this road trip. The Rockets beat the Suns six days ago, but that was back in Houston. Garnering a victory in the valley of the sun will likely prove to be more difficult for this young Rockets squad. Hopefully they can steal one of the next two games, improving which has so far been a terrible showing on the road this season.