Month: January 2025

Rockets Battle LeBron’s Lakers in Home Stand Finale

Ageless King.    Twin’s Return.    Lasting Protection.

After hearing the news about Jabari Smith Jr.’s injury shortly before Friday’s game, optimism and positive notes have been harder to find in Houston’s locker room. And now, LeBron James and the streaking Lakers make their first visit to Toyota Center this season, as the Rockets prepare to close out their five-game homestand with an L.A. matchup on Sunday night. Despite turning 40 years old less than week ago, LeBron James is still dominating. The King has led the Lakers to seven wins over their last nine games, as L.A. has climbed up to the fourth position, right behind Houston in the crowded Western Conference. It’s beyond impressive that James can still have this dominant of an impact on the game at his age. And he’s on course to start in the All-Star game for the 21st straight time. The only time James didn’t receive All-Star starter accolades was back in his rookie season.

Good news for the Rockets, Amen Thompson will be making his return from a two-game suspension tonight. Thompson will be the primary defender on James. Expect Twin to give The King fits as Thompson continues to flourish in his sophomore season. Tari Eason is still questionable, but he will likely miss another game, his ninth straight. Expect more playing time for Cam Whitmore, Jeff Green, Steven Adams, and Aaron Holiday. Look for Sengun to have a bounce back performance after a scoreless second half in Friday night’s loss to the Celtics.

Sunday night’s tilt is the finale of a five-game homestand for the Rockets. It’s Houston’s last chance to protect home court before a beginning a road-heavy stretch of the schedule. After tonight, the Rockets will play six of their next seven games on the road. Look for Thompson’s return to energize the Rockets in their first meeting with the Lakers this season. L.A. has been rolling, but this feels like a game Houston is due to win over a less-disciplined Lakers team, that is merely content to be in fourth place right now. It’s time for the Rockets to close this homestand with a win, which would give them a 2-3 mark over the tough five game period. As long as Houston refrains from taking their foot off the gas in the fourth quarter, expect the Rockets to beat the Lakers… and end this home-stand on a positive note.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Los Angeles Lakers (20-14):  Purple

Houston Rockets (22-12):  “City Edition” White

 

Tip-Off:  6:00 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass

Short-Handed Rockets No Match for Celtics, Lose 109-86 in Blowout Fashion

Bugged Down.    Needing a Prayer.    Closing Soft.

Despite hanging around in the first half, Houston was no match for the defending champs, as the Rockets fell to the Celtics, 109-86, on Friday night. Houston received some very unfortunate news shortly before tip-off. Earlier that day at shootaround, Jabari Smith Jr. broke his left hand, and will be out 4-8 weeks. Bari had started every game of his career, and was beginning to find his shot after a slow shooting start to the season. So besides the Terror Twins, Smith Jr. was out against Boston, leaving the Houston with three key rotational pieces on the sidelines. And it seemingly happened in an instant. After remaining relatively healthy all season, the Rockets have been slammed by the injury bug, with their resilience facing a tough test in the next couple months with Bari’s absence. 

Jalen Green led the Rockets with 27 points, but he was only guy who seemed to pressure Boston. Alperen Sengun scored 14 points in the first half, but the Celtics adjusted their defense tremendously and held Sengun scoreless in the second half. This was the final game of Amen Thompson’s two-game suspension, and he was sorely missed against a dominant C’s team. The Rockets needed a prayer on Friday night to win, and Amen wasn’t available to answer the call.

After scoring 31 points in the first half, Houston managed to scored only 30 total points in the second half, including a dismal 14-point showing in the fourth quarter. The Rockets have struggled in fourth quarters for the majority of this season. Houston is one of the best first quarter teams in the league, but even against Dallas, the Rockets managed only 20 points in the final frame. Granted that game was already in Houston’s favor, but it would be nice to see the Rockets have a strong finish to a fourth quarter. They’ve managed it in a few comebacks earlier this season, but lately the squad’s been closing soft.

Up next, the Rockets wrap up their five game homestand as LeBron James and the Lakers make their visit to Houston this season. L.A. has been rolling lately, winners of seven of their past nine games, due mainly to the still-ageless (even at 40 years old), LeBron James. The Rockets have generally played well against the Lakers since Green and Sengun were drafted in 2021. And Houston will have a prayer answered as Thomson will make his return. Given Twin’s versatility on both ends of the floor, one could easily argue Thompson is the most valuable player on this team. Not the best. The most valuable. His intangibles and impact on both ends of the floor, in the halfcourt and transition, make Thompson a nightmare for opposing offenses and defenses on a nightly basis. And when LeBron tries to continue his hot streak, it will be Thompson who guards the King on the majority of possessions… lurking, smothering, hanging on his every move.

Rockets Host Celtics as the Champs Come to Town

Championship Test.    No Terror.    Big Question.

After snapping out of their brief two-game funk, the Rockets will face one of their toughest tests of the season on Friday night. The defending champion Boston Celtics come to town as Houston aims to beat Head Coach Ice Udoka’s former team from a few seasons ago. The Rockets are coming off a relatively easy win over the Mavs on Wednesday night. Tonight’s game is the second of a back-to-back for the Celtics, as Boston beat the Timberwolves, 118-115, in Minnesota last night. So Houston will at least have the rest and home-court advantage heading into this matchup. Jayson Tatum is off to another great start to the season. Derrick White and Jrue Holiday are also lethal threats on the perimeter for Boston.

For only the second time all season, the Rockets will be without both of their “Terror Twins” in tonight’s game. Houston could really use the Twins against this very talented Celtics team that boasts a lot of depth on the perimeter. Amen Thompson will be serving the final part of his two-game suspension tonight, and Tari Eason will miss his eight straight game, and the tenth out of his last twelve matchups. Eason continues to deal with lower leg injury management, and as the coaching staff stresses the injury is nothing serious, the concern only grows the more time Eason remains out. The Rockets weren’t the same team after Eason suffered a season-ending injury about a quarter way through last year’s campaign. Hopefully, this injury is nothing serious, and Eason will be back soon. Houston needs him to beat the best teams like these Celtics.

Last year’s NBA Finals MVP and All-Star Jaylen Brown is questionable tonight for Boston. And it’s one of the biggest questions entering this matchup on Friday night. The Celtics are still deep enough to beat just about anyone without Brown, as they displayed in their victory in Minnesota last night. However, if Brown’s in the lineup, these wounded Rockets won’t have much of a chance to pull off the upset. Although, Houston always plays hard, The Rockets have really only suffered one blowout loss all season (in Oklahoma City to the Thunder). Ime Udoka will have his troops ready to face his former team tonight. Expect an exiting game tonight at Toyota Center. Houston should have enough weapons to at least make this matchup competitive… a win would be an added bonus for these Rockets, who will be playing the fourth leg of this five-game homestand tonight.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Boston Celtics (25-9):  White

Houston Rockets (22-11):  Red

 

Tip-Off:  7:00 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Topple Mavericks, 110-99, to Snap Skid

Back on Track.    Consistent Villain.    Cam’s Rise.

Houston finally busted out of their mini-slump on Wednesday night in the third leg of this five game homestand. The Rockets opened the New Year with a 110-99 win over the Dallas Mavericks, snapping their two game losing streak. After two sloppy finishes that led to disappointing defeats, Houston managed to fend off any comeback attempts from the Mavs. Alperen Sengun scored 23 points to lead the Rockets. Jalen Green added 19 points, and Cam Whitmore added 18 points in 24 minutes off the bench. Quentin Grimes led Dallas with 17 points off the bench. Kyrie Iriving and Klay Thompson added 16 points apiece for the Mavs, who are now in the midst of a three game losing streak. Luka Doncic’s absence due to injury has certainly had an impact on Dallas’ recent play over the last few games.

In his second game back after missing a couple of games, Dillon Brooks once again played well on both ends of the floor, scoring 19 points as he continues to have the best offensive season of his career. Brooks has now scored 27, 26, 22, and 19 points in his last four games respectively. The Villain will always bring defense and hustle to the Rockets, but when he’s scoring the ball at this level, Houston is a tough team to beat.

With Amen Thompson missing the first of his two-game suspension, and Tari Eason remaining out with a leg injury, Whitmore was able to see added run on the court, and took advantage. It’s a good problem to have for Head Coach Ime Udoka, but it will be tough for Whitmore to see more than 20 minutes of playing time when this Rockets team is completely healthy. Although Cam will receive another huge opportunity in Houston’s next contest. Thompson and Eason will both remain out, as the Rockets will host the defending champion Boston Celtics on Friday night. Whitmore will have a huge opportunity to showcase his talents against the reigning champs with more playing time certainly coming his way.

The Rockets are now 1-2 on this current homestand, and their next two games to close this stretch will be challenging. After the Celtics matchup on Friday evening, the Lakers and the red-hot LeBron James will then roll into town on Sunday night. At least Houston took care of business against a weaker Mavs team that is sorely missing Luka Doncic. Up next on the schedule, Houston will now prepare for one of their toughest tests of the season, as they host the Champs, and Ime Udoka’s former team, in the Boston Celtics, on Friday night. 

Rockets Host Mavericks in New Year’s Day Clash

Rearview Mirror.    New Trend.    Ring it In.   

The Rockets kick off the 2025 calendar year portion of their season by welcoming the Dallas Mavericks to town for a New Year’s Day battle. Houston aims to start the new year with winning habits, after losing their previous two games in disappointing fashion to close last year. In the first matchup between these teams back on Halloween, the Rockets beat the Mavericks, 108-102, in Dallas. Houston needs to put the last two games in the rearview mirror, and start a new trend as 2025 rolls around. Amen Thompson was suspended two games after being involved in a scuffle with Tyler Herro in the Rockets’ previous loss on Sunday night. Dillon Brooks returned in impressive fashion on Sunday. Houston will need more from “The Villain,” and others, especially if Tari Eason remains out. The other half of the Terror Twins is listed as questionable once again for this matchup. Eason has missed six straight games, and eight of the Rockets’ last ten overall. Houston is 16-8 when Eason plays this season, but only 5-3 without him.

Tonight’s matchup is the third leg of this current five-game homestand for the Rockets. Superstar Luka Doncic is out tonight for Dallas, as he is expected to miss at least a month with an injury. The Mavs still have Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, and an arsenal of weapons. Dallas also sits right behind Houston in fourth place in the Western Conference. A win tonight would give the Rockets some more space as they try to secure a top-three seed, which would allow them to avoid playing the dominant Oklahoma City Thunder until the Western Conference Finals (given OKC secures the number one seed, and makes it that far in the playoffs). Ime Udoka should have his team fired up against a Mavs team that limps into this contest without their best player (Doncic), and also riding a two-game losing streak.

Houston has yet to lose three straight games all season long. This is only the squad’s second two-game skid of the campaign, as the Rockets have been relatively consistent at bouncing back from losses this season. And before this current homestand, the Rockets had won twleve of their previous fourteen games at Toyota Center. They’ll try to ring in the New Year with a victory at home, as Houston aims to avoid a three-game slide for the first time all season. After two heartbreaking losses, expect the Rockets to bounce back against the Mavericks to begin 2025.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

Jersey Colors:

Dallas Mavericks (20-13): White

Houston Rockets (21-11): Red

 

Tip-Off:  7:00 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Suffer Another Collapse in 104-100 Loss to Heat

Deja Boo.    Chippy Finish.    Adversity Strikes.

For the second straight game, Houston suffered a late meltdown, as the Rockets fell to the Heat, 104-100, on Sunday night. Houston led by double-digits in the final period, but Miami closed the game on a 19-4 run to take the victory. In his return to action, Dillon Brooks scored 22 points to lead the Rockets. Alperen Sengun scored 18 points and grabbed 18 rebounds, and Jalen Green added 19 points for Houston. Tyler Herro scored 27 points and dished out 9 assists to the lead the Heat. With less than a minute remaining in the game, Fred VanVleet was ejected by veteran official Marc Davis on a very questionable call. Davis didn’t let the Rockets receive the full five seconds to inbound the ball, and when VanVleet took objection, the ref ejected the point guard from the contest. And this was only the start to a very chippy finish to this matchup.

Amen Thompson and Herro got into a late game scuffle that resulted in several ejections. Once Thompson had enough, the rising sophomore threw Herro to the ground, causing teammates from both sides to engage in the proceedings. Thompson and Herro were both ejected, with Thompson receiving a two-game suspension. Houston’s Jalen Green, Head Coach Ime Udoka, and Lead Assistant Coach Ben Sullivan were also tossed from the contest, along with with Miami’s Terry Rozier, who received a one-game suspension. In total, two coaches and five players were ejected in a very dicey end that saw the Rockets let another game slip away in the final moments. After a very impressive start to the 2024 portion of this season, Houston’s stumbled into the end of the calendar year.

With the defeat, the Rockets have now lost two straight games for only the second time all season. Although this is the first time Houston has dropped two straight at home. The Rockets had been on a roll at Toyota Center, winning twelve of their previous fourteen home games before starting 0-2 to begin this five-game homestand. The squad’s previous two-game losing streak featured losses on the road. After a dominant start at home, this feels like the first time the Rockets have truly faced adversity all season. In the tight Western Conference, a losing streak of three of four games could slide Houston all the way down from third to place, potentially even as far as the seventh spot. Up next, the Rockets will try to regroup as the face one of their in-state rivals, the Dallas Mavericks, to start the New Year on Wednesday night.