Month: January 2025

Rockets Aim to Sweep Grizzlies in National Showdown

Sweepstakes.    Strive for Five.    End of the Road.

Tonight, the Rockets get a rare opportunity to shine in the national spotlight. Houston rolls into Memphis on Thursday night riding a four-game winning streak, including impressive wins over Cleveland and Boston. The Grizzlies had their own six-game win streak snapped in their previous game, a blowout loss to the New York Knicks. The Rockets won the first matchup against the Grizz in a beatdown, but the last two games were close, with Houston winning both by a combined six points. Therefore, the Rockets are looking for a very impressive sweep of the season series over the Grizzlies if they can pull out the win in Memphis tonight. This game also marks the end of a four game road trip for Houston. So far the Rockets are 3-0 on this trip, and can make it a perfect journey with a win in the national spotlight on Thursday night. And after this game, Houston’s schedule for the remainder of the season eases up significantly.

Regardless of tonight’s outcome, the Rockets hold the tiebreaker, having won three of the four matchups already. The Grizz are still only two games behind Houston in the loss column for second place in the Western Conference. With a win tonight, the Rockets can stretch a three game lead over them and the rest of the pack out West (excluding the first-place Oklahoma City Thunder). Houston wants to win every game in Memphis for Dillon Brooks, who never wants to lose to his former team again.

Today is also Amen Thompson’s birthday. The most-talked about Rockets player over the last week turns 22 years old on Thursday. After two extremely impressive games in victories in Cleveland and Boston, Twin had a quieter night in Atlanta, but his services weren’t needed as much. Tonight, against a much better Grizzlies team, expect Thompson to shine in the national spotlight, as the Rockets play only their third nationally televised game so far this season. Jalen Green has also excelled against Memphis this season, scoring a season-high 42 points in one of their wins over the Grizz earlier this month.

It’s hard to beat a team four times in a single season, and that’s what Houston can very much accomplish tonight. There are two huge questions lingering before tip-off approaches. Alperen Sengun is questionable for the Rockets, and Ja Morant is questionable for the Grizzlies. Both players are huge pieces to their teams, Morant obviously the best player on Memphis, and Sengun the most-likely player on Houston to be named an All-Star. If either doesn’t play it certainly will impact tonight’s matchup. But these Rockets have shown they’re deep enough and driven enough to win no matter who’s able to suit up for their team. And with The Villain facing his former team in Memphis again, expect Houston to be ready for a physical, feisty battle. Expect another close and heated contest tonight as the Rockets tries for a rare sweep over the Grizzlies in front of a national audience.

 

FedExForum:  Memphis, Tennessee

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (32-14):  Black

Memphis Grizzlies (31-16):  White

 

Tip-Off:  8:30 PM CT

TV:  TNT

Rockets Fend-Off Hawks, 100-96, for 4th Straight Win

Houston’s Iron Man.    Tate the Great.    Staying the Course.

Despite allowing Atlanta to rally back and make this a close game, the Rockets managed to fend-off the Hawks for a 100-96 victory on Tuesday night. The win is Houston’s fourth straight in this impressive stretch of play where the squad has taken care of business during one of the toughest portions of their season’s schedule. Trae Young scored 21 points to lead the Atlanta, and De’Andre Hunter chipped in 16 points, but thankfully missed a wide open potential go-ahead three pointer in the final seconds.

After two subpar performances, Jalen Green led the Rockets with 25 points, although he shot only 1-for-9 from beyond the arc. Alperen Sengun posted another double-double, scoring 18 points and grabbing 10 boards. Amen Thompson had a quieter offensive night compared to his last few games, scoring 11 points, but Twin was still a huge factor on defense and in transition. Jae’Sean Tate scored a season-high 16 points in 25 minutes off the bench, proving the true depth of this Houston squad. For those who remember the days when Tate was a starter for the Rockets, he can still show he can produce when given the playing time. It’s a true luxury to have a player of Tate’s professionalism on this team. When Houston’s fully healthy, he likely doesn’t play, or will see a few garage time minutes. But the longest-tenured Rockets player is always ready, as Tate is the heart and soul of the “Stay Ready Crew,” which also features the likes of Aaron Holiday, Jock Landale, and Jeff Green.

Besides leading Houston in scoring, Tuesday’s game marked Jalen Green’s 150th consecutive start for the Rockets. He’s truly the Houston’s Iron Man. In an era where star players frequently sit out for “rest management,” Green hardly ever misses a game. Besides the New York Knicks’ Mikal Bridges, Knicks,  who has never missed a game in his entire career, it’s hard to think of a player with Green’s durability. It’s even more impressive considering Green’s workload and usage rate. A tangible quality to his game the Rockets aren’t taking for granted, as Green’s started every game of his NBA career.

Coming off an emotional and close win in Boston over the defending champs the previous night, this was a game Houston could’ve easily lost. But the Rockets managed to slug their way through, stay the course, and hang on for the win. This matchup had trap-game vibes entering the contest, as the Hawks aren’t the same caliber of competition Houston’s been beating on this road trip and en route to a four game win streak. And the Rockets next matchup is a nationally televised affair against the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday night. So Houston could’ve easily overlooked a weaker Hawks team for their upcoming divisional showdown. But as he’s done all season long, Ime Udoka has gotten the best out of his players, and whichever unit he puts on the court. If the Rockets keep rolling and hang on to the second seed, he might snatch the Coach of the Year Award away from Cleveland’s Kenny Atkinson, especially after sweeping the Cavs in consecutive games.

Up next, the Rockets will play their final of their toughest road trip of the season with a showdown in Memphis against the Grizzlies on Thursday night. Houston will be aiming to sweep Memphis, as the Rockets are 3-0 against the Grizz this season. Expect another close game on Thursday night between these divisional foes, as Houston aims to close their road trip with a bang.

   

Red-Hot Rockets Head to Atlanta for Matchup with Hawks

Third Stop.    Makeup Game.    Lingering Questions.

Houston makes stop three on this four-game road trip, as they visit Atlanta for a Tuesday night tilt with the Haws. The red-hot Rockets are playing their best basketball of the season, winners of three straight and nine of their last eleven games overall. Houston’s coming off an impressive road victory in Boston last night sealed by an Amen Thompson game-winning floater. Meanwhile, the Hawks are reeling, having lost their last five games, as Atlanta tries to stay in the playoff mix in the Eastern Conference.

Tonight’s contest is actually a makeup game from a matchup that was postponed back on MLK Day due to inclement weather in Atlanta. Trae Young didn’t play in last night’s game for the Hawks, and he enters this match with a questionable tag. Jalen Johnson will also be out for the Hawks tonight with an injury. After returning for a few games, Tari Eason is back on the injury report for the Rockets. Hopefully it’s just a cautionary move by Head Coach Ime Udoka, as this is the second of a back-to-back for Houston, and their third game in the last four nights.

Regardless if Young plays or not, the Rockets have should beat this Hawks team. Houston’s recent three game resume is as impressive as they come, with consecutive wins over the east-leading Cavs followed by a victory over the defending champs in Boston. Tonight is still the second part of a back-to-back, and the Rockets are the road team. But considering Atlanta also played last night, Houston has no excuses as to why they shouldn’t conquer this inferior Hawks team in the ATL.

Besides Eason, Cam Whitmore will be missing his second straight game tongight, due to an illness he caught during the first game against the Cavaliers. Expect to see more of Jae’Sean Tate, Steven Adams, Aaron Holiday, and other members of Houston’s Stay Ready Crew with the Rockets slightly undermanned entering this matchup. Tonight marks the first game between Houston and Atlanta this season. The Rockets will aim to keep their recent momentum rolling… as they try and push their win streak to four with a victory over the reeling Hawks on Tuesday night.

 

State Farm Arena:  Atlanta, Georgia

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (31-14):  Black

Atlanta Hawks (22-24):  White

 

Tip-Off:  6:30 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass

Amen!:  Thompson’s Game-Winner Lifts Rockets Past Celtics, 114-112

Mamba Mentality.    DB Garden.    Rising Stars.

“I feel like Kobe,” said Amen Thompson after his game-winning shot lifted the Rockets past the Celtics, 114-112, on Monday night. Twin hit a floater with 0.7 seconds remaining that won the game for Houston, extending their winning streak to three games. This entire team is playing with Kobe’s Mamba Mentality, and its impressive to witness. After hanging with the defending champs for three quarters, Boston built a double-digit lead early in the fourth quarter. And so the Rockets found themselves facing a twelve-point deficit, 101-89, with around ten minutes in the game. But this Houston squad doesn’t go away easily. Fueled by Twin and Dillon Brooks, the Rockets stormed back to shock the Celtics on Thompson’s game-winner. Jaylen Brown led Boston with 28 points, and Jayson Tatum added 19 points after going scoreless in the first half. But the C’s All-Star duo were outplayed by The Villain and Twin on Monday night.

The victory is Houston’s third straight win during this incredibly tough stretch of the schedule. It’s also Ime Udoka’s first win over his former team since becoming Houston’s coach. The squad’s last defeat, the disappointing daytime loss to the Pistons at Toyota Center, seems like ages ago. After beating the team with the NBA’s best record at the time (the Cavs) twice in a row, the Rockets have now taken down the defending champs. All in a matter of three games.

On a night where Alperen Sengun and Jalen Green combined to score only 23 points, Houston’s latest win was the Dillon Brooks and Twin Show. The duo combined to score 69 points, roughly 61% of the team’s total points. And before Thompson’s game-winning shot, Brooks turned TD Garden into DB Garden. The Villain scored a season-high 36 points, including a franchise-record tying 10 three-point shots. He gleefully torched and pestered Boston’s players, bench, and crowd all night.

Including the game-winning floater with 0.7 seconds that secured the Rockets victory, Thompson scored a career-high 33 points, grabbed 10 boards, and dished out 4 assists. If Jabari Smith Jr. hadn’t fractured his hand, Thompson wouldn’t be in the starting lineup as often as he has been since Bari’s injury. But with each passing game, it’s a move that’s appearing more and more likely to stick.

Head Coach Ime Udoka won’t admit it, but given Twin’s motor, coachable attributes, and talent, Thompson is coach’s favorite player. It will be hard to see him removing Thompson from the starting unit once Smith Jr. returns from injury. No offense to Bari, but it’s become evident Twin is the better player, and Houston’s a better team with Thompson in the starting lineup. The Rockets are now 12-3 with Thompson as a starter this season. And on a team full of rising stars, Twin was officially named to the Rising Stars Game (eligible for rookies and sophomores) at All-Star Weekend in San Francisco this year.

Up next, Houston travels to Atlanta tomorrow night for the second-half of a back-to-back. The matchup with the Hawks is a makeup game that was initially scheduled on MLK Day, but was postponed due to inclement weather in the Atlanta area. Both the Rockets and Hawks will be playing the day after a road game, so there won’t be any rest advantage for either squad. Hopefully Houston can continue their impressive run, and continue playing with the Mamba Mentality as their tough road trip continues in Atlanta on Tuesday night.

   

Rockets Visit Boston Seeking Revenge Against Celtics

House of Champions.    Redemption Road.    Seize the Torch.

Coming off two impressive wins over the Cavaliers, the Rockets roll into Beantown for a battle with the Celtics. Boston won the first matchup between these teams in blowout fashion, 109-89, on Janurary 3rd back in Houston. And along with the blowout loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, it’s the only game in which the Rockets were never competitive. The squad will try and change that and beat a C’s team that’s had Houston’s number. Boston’s All-Stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown continue to lead this group of deep and experienced defending champs.

The Rockets have always had matchup problems with this Celtics team. Ime Udoka has yet to beat his former team, but Houston will aim to chance that tonight, as the squad is playing some of their best basketball of the season. Meanwhile, as we’re in the thick of the dog days of the NBA season, it seems like Boston is finally experiencing a bit of a Championship Hangover. After a 20-5 start to the campaign, the Celtics are a middling 12-9 over their last 21 games. Their 32-14 record is still good for second place in the Eastern Conference. If Boston retains their health, they should have another solid chance to defend their title come playoff time.

For now, the Rockets are aiming to keep rolling during this tough stretch of the schedule. Tonight’s game is the second stop on a four game road trip for Houston. And it’s also the first of a back-to-back, as the Rockets will travel to Atlanta tomorrow to play the Hawks. Amen Thompson missed the first matchup against the Celtics due to a suspension. Twin has been rolling lately, and he may be the difference Houston needs to finally beat this Boston team.

Regardless, expect a closer game in Beantown tonight compared to the first time these foes squared off in Houston. With a win on Monday night, the Rockets will pass the Celtics in the overall NBA standings for the third best record in the league. And in order to win, Houston needs to play it’s best perimeter defense of the season tonight. Three point shooting is the key to tonight’s contest. The Celtics shoot and make more threes than any team in the league. When Boston’s connecting from deep, they’re almost impossible to beat. But when the C’s shots aren’t falling from three, they’re very beatable. So tonight’s game is essentially a three-point contest. Don’t expect the Rockets to attempt as many threes as the Celtics, if they do they’re in line for defeat. If Houston’s perimeter defense can sway Boston’s shooting, the Rockets have a chance to serve the Celtics another glass of Championship Hangover tonight.

 

TD Garden:  Boston, Massachusetts

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (30-14):  Black

Boston Celtics (32-14):  White

 

Tip-Off:  6:30 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Outduel Cavaliers, 135-131, Sweep Season Series

For Your Consideration.    Big Three.    Advanced Prayer.

For the second straight game, Houston narrowly avoided a collapse, as the Rockets beat the Cavaliers, 135-131, in Cleveland on Saturday night. After holding a 17-point lead entering the final period, Houston managed to survive once again despite allowing the Cavs to score 47 points in the quarter. The Rockets also weathered a combined 72-point outburst from Cleveland’s All-Star backcourt comprised of Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland. In consecutive games, Houston showed that after losing a big lead, they can still close out a game late against elite competition. It’s a tremendous sign of growth from this very young and talented Rockets squad, now winners of eight of their last ten games.

Alperen Sengun dominated Jarrett Allen all game, as he scored 26 points, along with Jalen Green, to lead the Houston. The All-Star Reserves will be announced this Thursday evening, and Sengun put on another dazzling display, showing why he should be highly considered by voters for his first All-Star nod. And Saturday’s win improves the Rockets record to 30-14, still with a grip on second place in the brutally competitive Western Conference. Houston is now the only team to sweep Cleveland this season, and the Rockets are the NBA’s only team with wins over both conference leaders, the Cavaliers and the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Steven Adams had his best game since he joined Houston and was the unsung hero in the victory. In the midst of a third quarter rally, the Cavs employed a Hack-A-Steve tactic, intentionally fouling the less than 50% free throw shooter. Fortunately for the Rockets, Cleveland’s plan backfired. Adams found his shooting groove, as he nailed 6-for-9 shots from the line en route to a season-high 14 points. Fred VanVleet continues to find his rhythm as well. FVV scored 20 points on 6-for-9 shooting from beyond the arc, including a couple of clutch threes. After a slow offensive start to the season, VanVleet is really starting to stroke it, hitting clutch shots in a very timely fashion for Houston. It’s truly a luxury for the Rockets to have their fourth option in FVV drop 20 points on 13 shots while dishing out 6 assists. The murmurs of trading VanVleet need to stop. FVV’s simply too valuable in this role as Houston’s floor leader, the same role he won a title with in Toronto.

For the Rockets, Sengun is their most talented player, and Green is their most explosive option. But when it comes to this team’s most valuable player, it’s starting to look like Amen Thompson. And Houston officially has their own “Big Three” in Sengun, Green, and Thompson. All players with superstar potential. Twin had his second career triple-double on in the win over the Cavs. Thompson finished with 23 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists. Yet it’s the intangibles he brings on both ends of the floor that makes Thompson so valuable and such a key to Houston’s winning. On offense, Twin fits perfectly with Sengun, despite the fact that neither player is an efficient shooter. The pair’s knack for floor spacing and finding teammates is something that doesn’t show up in the box score. These guys are the perfect example that there’s more to spacing the floor in basketball than catching and shooting three’s.

Twin can guard any position on the floor, and in transition, he’s one of the best players in the league on either end of the court. But it’s the combination of Thompson’s uncanny ability to ready the body language of opposing players, mixed with his own hard-to-read body language. Twin rarely is demonstrative on the court despite all the amazing plays he makes. Instead, Thompson uses a calm and stoic persona on the court to deceive his opponents. Due to his insane physical shape and youth, Twin’s facial expressions never truly reveal how hard he’s playing. Yet he’s almost always in the right place at the right time on defense, frustrating opposing players of all sizes. After a quiet rookie year, Thompson has blasted onto the national radar with his play this season.

Up next, the Rockets continue this tough road trip with a visit to Boston to battle the Celtics on Monday night. The defending Champs served Houston a blowout loss in the first matchup earlier this season in H-Town. However, Thompson didn’t play in that game as he was serving the second game of a two-game suspension. Expect a much tighter contest in round two, as the red-hot Rockets seek revenge over the Champs in Beantown.

Rockets Visit Cleveland for Rematch with Cavaliers

Round Two.    Toughest Road.    Contender Test.

Houston begins a brutally tough four-game road trip on Saturday night as they visit Cleveland for a rematch with the Cavaliers. The Rockets won the first meeting between these squads, 109-108, in dramatic fashion on Wednesday night in Houston. Since, the Rockets have had two days off. Meanwhile, the Cavs lost last night in Philly, 132-129, to 76ers. So tonight’s matchup is a back-to-back for Cleveland, with Houston having a major rest advantage. Will that be enough for the Rockets to beat this tough Cavs team twice in a row? We’ll find out soon enough.

Cleveland has now lost two straight games, and the Cavs are 3-4 over their last seven games. Despite the loss, Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland had improved performances in Philly compared to Houston. Expect the Cavaliers to be hungry to break their skid tonight. Boasting a 21-2 record at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, the Cavs are the best home team in the league. It will be mightily impressive if the Rockets can beat the Cavs twice in a row, especially in Cleveland.

After subpar games in the first matchup between these teams, look for the Cavs backcourt to bounce back tonight, especially Mitchell. The All-Star Starter scored only 19 points in Houston’s win on Wednesday. If the Rockets want any chance to win this game tonight, they need to play an almost perfect game. Houston won’t be able to survive any collapses in Cleveland. And to make news worse, the Cavs may be getting Evan Mobley, one of their key contributors in the pain, back tonight from injury. At the moment, he’s still listed as questionable for tonight’s matchup.

If the Rockets can stay within striking distance of Cleveland, they have a shot at pulling off the upset. An efficient shooting performance from the entire team will also be necessary if Houston wants to start this road trip with a win. Tonight’s matchup will be one of the toughest tests for this young Rockets team all season long. This contest is a measuring stick of sorts, potentially determining if this Houston team is truly a title contender, or just another playoff team. The result will certainly reveal a lot about who these Rockets really are. Expect another close and exciting game in Cleveland as Houston aims to pull off their toughest win of the season tonight.

 

Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse:  Cleveland, Ohio

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (29-14):  White

Cleveland Cavaliers (36-8):  Maroon

Tip-Off:  6:30 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Evade Defeat with Wild 109-108 Win Over Cavaliers

Victory Collapse.    The Ackerman Effect.    Run It Back.

It’s not often a 90% free throw shooter misses two straight shots at the charity stripe. Thankfully for Houston, Darius Garland clunked two in a row at the line with seconds remaining in the game. And Donovan Mitchell missed a potential game-winner at the buzzer as the Rockets survived a thrilling 109-108 victory over the Cavaliers on Wednesday night. But this matchup didn’t need to be this close. The Rockets were in  control of this game for the majority of the contest. Houston led by as many as 13 points, 98-85, with around eleven minutes left on the clock. And then Cleveland switched to a zone defense, which mightily confused the Rockets, leaving them stunned, puzzled, and out of sorts. This allowed the to Cavs use a 19-0 run to storm back to take a six point lead, 104-98, with roughly four minutes to go. Fred VanVleet hit consecutive threes to tie the game for Houston at 104-104. Alperen Sengun scored the Rockets’ final four points, as they held on (thanks to missed free throws) for a close win over the Cavaliers.

Houston basically collapsed into a victory on Wednesday night. With only 15 fourth quarter points, the Rockets had no business winning this game after falling apart, but with a little luck, the squad was able to eek out the victory. Houston does have the league’s best free throw defense (the opposition’s free throw percentage), thanks in large part to play-by-play announcer Craig Ackerman. The Hello Kitty superfan has a keen sense to call these misses before they happen. Anyone who watches Houston’s broadcasts knows that The Ackerman Effect is real. Besides his love for hockey and EDM, Ackerman has a knack at chiming in with the right words when opponents are at the charity stripe. And Ackerman, the man the entire city of Houston wants to see ride a bull, has still managed to avoid competing with some of the world’s rankest bovine athletes.

VanVleet led the Rockets scoring charge with 26 points. Sengun amassed another double-double, scoring 18 points and grabbing 11 boards. And Amen Thompson had another ridiculous stat line, registering 16 points, 16 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals. Cam Whitmore also continues to show improvement in efficiency with his contributions off the bench, as he chipped in 16 points. Tari Eason scored 12 points, but committed the flagrant foul that sent Garland to the free throw line and almost lost Houston the game. In a performance resembling the weather in H-Town, Jalen Green cooled off, as he scored only 10 points. However, Green’s defense continues to improve, as he had a few key defensive stops on Garland and Mitchell late in this matchup. Garland scored 26 points to lead the Cavs, and Mitchell added 19 points for the bad guys. Expect Cleveland’s duo to improve their performances in the next game.

On Saturday night, these same two teams will run it back for a rematch in Cleveland. It will be the next game for the Rockets, who will have two days off after tonight’s win. For the Cavs, however, they’ll play in Philadelphia on Friday night before returning home for the rematch. It’s extremely hard to beat the same team twice in a row in the NBA, especially the league’s best team. But that’s the challenge awaiting Houston next on the schedule. It’s doesn’t happen often, but if they come ready to play… the Rockets have a decent chance to beat the Cavs again on Saturday night.

Rockets Host NBA-Best Cavaliers in First of Two Game Set

Part One.    Cream of the Crop.    Reality Check.

It’s Dillons Brooks’ birthday today, and all of Houston’s players will need to channel their inner-Villain as the Rockets host the NBA-best Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night. The Cavs have owned the league’s best record for the entire season so far, and they enter tonight’s matchup at Toyota Center sporting a 36-6 mark. After a disappointing home loss on MLK Day to the Pistons, the Rockets are aiming to bounce back against the NBA’s best team tonight.

Tonight’s game is the first of two straight matchups against Cleveland for Houston. Whereas the Cavs will play in Philly on Friday night before hosting the rematch between these teams on Saturday in Cleveland. The Cavs are a game ahead of the Oklahoma City Thunder for the NBA’s best record, but Cleveland’s been mediocre lately, with a 3-2 record over their last five games.

After a brilliant first half to the season, the Rockets have been finally getting some national recognition. Houston suffered a bad loss on Monday to Detroit, but the squad gets a chance to redeem themselves if they can beat the Cavaliers tonight. Otherwise, the Rockets could be in the midst of a three game reality check. Superstar Donovan Mitchell is playing the best basketball of his career. His backcourt running mate, Darius Garland, is having an All-Star caliber season. And Cleveland has two of the best big men in the NBA in Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. Regardless, if the Rockets are as good as they’ve shown us at certain moments this season, they have enough firepower to beat this Cavs team, especially at Toyota Center.

As brilliant a job as Ime Udoke has done as the Head Coach in Houston, Cleveland’s new coach, Kenny Atkinson is the front-runner for coach of the year. Nobody expected the Cavs to be off to a historic 36-6 start to the season, and the only major change they made was at the head coaching spot. Coach Udoka will have his Rockets ready to play their best brand of basketball against a Cavs team that’s trying to build another winning streak. Cleveland’s won their last two games after dropping two of their previous three matches.

Meanwhile, Houston is clinging to second place in the crowded and competitive Western Conference. The Rockets are currently a half game ahead of the Memphis Grizzlies for the second spot, but a loss tonight could plummet Houston downwards in the standings. Expect a close and competitive game tonight at Toyota Center between two of the NBA’s most disciplined and talented young teams… and the proceedings may get a little feisty on The Villain’s birthday, as two of the league’s toughest team face off on Wednesday night for the first time this season.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Cleveland Cavaliers (36-6):  Black

Houston Rockets (28-14):  Red

 

Tip-Off:  7:00 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Fail to Launch in 107-96 Loss to Pistons

Holiday Humbling.    Brick City.    True Test Ahead.

Tipping off their earliest game of the season, Houston’s players were still waking up at the start of this contest, as the Rockets fell to the Detroit Pistons, 107-96, on Monday afternoon. Houston shot a torrid 39% from the field, and got outplayed at home by an inferior Detroit team. Cade Cunningham was the best player on the floor in this matchup, as he led the Pistons with 32 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists. And Jalen Duren scored 16 points and grabbed 14 rebounds while giving Alperen Segun fits on defense. Segun scored only 11 points and was basically a non factor in this contest as Duren’s physicality pushed him out of his comfort zone. Duren didn’t play in the first matchup between these teams earlier in the season, and his presence certainly made a difference on Monday. Fred VanVleet scored 20 points lead the Rockets, and Jalen Green added 19 points, but Houston was outplayed for the majority of the afternoon. Amen Thompson scored 17 points and had the better game statistically, but his brother Ausar Thompson won bragging rights, as his Pistons were victorious.

This was the first game of the second half of the season, and its a humbling beginning to the second part of the campaign for these Rockets. Detroit is one of the most improved teams in the league, but Houston still should’ve beaten this Pistons team at home. If the Rockets are as good as they’re making people believe they are, then the squad needs to win these type of games, specifically matches against inferior teams at home. Monday’s game did mark the earliest start time all season for this young Houston squad, but that’s still no excuse to lay an egg like the Rockets did during this MLK Day matinee affair.

Monday’s loss docks Houston’s record to 28-14, but that’s still good enough for second place in the brutal Western Conference. The Rockets will now face a true test and can prove if their worthy of the second spot out West. Up next, Houston will have two straight games against the team with the NBA’s best record, the Cleveland Cavaliers, who sport an impressive 36-6 mark on the season. First, the Rockets will host the Cavs for Part One on Wednesday night at Toyota Center. It’s a home-and-home for Houston, but the Cavs will play in Philly on Friday before hosting the rematch this Saturday in Cleveland. If the Rockets can win at least one of these games against the Cavs, it’ll make up for their disappointing holiday humbling on Monday courtesy of the Pistons.