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Rockets Roll Into Brooklyn Seeking Another Win, Meet Nets

Weekend Road Trip: Part 2.    Two Birds.    Wash, Rinse, Repeat.     

The Rockets conclude their weekend road-trip with a stop in Brooklyn to face the Nets. Houston is coming off a 138-104 beatdown over the Charlotte Hornets on Friday night. Brooklyn has lost three straight games, and seven of their last eight contests overall. The Nets do have the rest advantage tonight, but the Rockets are the better team, and should be able to pull out the victory. Houston won the first matchup back on January 3rd in H-Town, 112-101, and they’ll look to sweep another Eastern conference foe tonight.

With a win tonight, the Rockets would earn their sixth road win, as they continue to try and improve away from Toyota Center. Houston also owns Brooklyn’s first round pick in this year’s upcoming 2024 NBA Draft. So, the worse the Nets do, the better the Rockets chances are in the draft. The squad can kill two birds with one stone by beating Brooklyn tonight, and further favoring their chances for a better pick in this summer’s upcoming draft. The squad needs to focus on putting together two solid halves tonight. Hopefully the second-half dominance the Rockets showed in Charlotte will travel to Brooklyn and be prominent immediately after the proceedings tip-off on Saturday night.

Houston’s defense needs to focus on containing Mikal Bridges, the Nets’ best player tonight. Also look out for Cam Johnson on the perimeter. The Rockets can’t afford to leave the streaky-shooting Johnson open tonight. Nic Claxton will be opposite Alperen Sengun in the post. Expect Sengun to have a bounce-back performance after a quieter-than-usual game in Charlotte last night. The Rockets have all the ingredients to win this contest. They’ll still be without Jabari Smith Jr. due to an ankle injury, but other guys have stepped up. Notably the rookies, Cam Whitmore and Amen Thompson, are improving with each game and more playing time. Look for the pair to be factors once again tonight as the Rockets try and win two games in a row for the first time since beating these same Nets in Houston way back on January 3rd, earlier this month.

 

Barclays Center:  Brooklyn, New York

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (21-23):  Red

Brooklyn Nets (17-27):  “City Edition” Gray

 

Tip-Off:  5:00 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Sting Hornets, 138-104, in Emphatic Fashion

Buzz-Worthy.    Tale of Two Halves.    Settling In.   

After their most embarrassing loss of the season, the Rockets rolled into Charlotte, and stung the Hornets, 138-104, for their fifth road win of the season. Charlotte only has ten victories, but in their previous game, Houston lost at home to a team that had only 12 wins in Portland. It was refreshing to see the Rockets get an emphatic victory on the road, a place they’ve struggled to win all season long. This matchup was a tale of two halves. Houston led by only two points, 55-53, at the half, but outscored Charlotte 44-25 in the 3rd period to take control of the game. In the first half the Rockets shot only 41% from the field, including a terrible 3-for-19 from beyond the arc. In the second half, Houston torched the Hornets for 83 points on a ridiculous 75% shooting, including going 10-for-14 from three-point land.

Jalen Green scored a season-high 36 points to lead the Rockets, as he’s slowly began to show slight improvement in his performance over the past several games. He also grabbed a season-high 10 rebounds to go with 4 assists and 2 steals on the night. Unfortunately, Green is still really struggling with his three-point shot. Jalen shot only 1-for-7 from three point range. In contrast, he only missed twice from inside the arc, going 11-13 on two-point attempts. When Green attacks the basket, he’s a much more efficient and reliable offensive threat for Houston. If he settles for deep threes too often, which he’s shown to do over the past several games, he struggles. Luckily in this contest, Green was extra aggressive, attacking the basket with reckless abandon throughout the game. Green scored 17 of his 36 points in the demonstrative third-quarter for the Rockets.

This game wasn’t all about Jalen Green. Houston had seven players score in double figures. The Rockets’ rookies are starting to settle in and become adjusted to the NBA tempo and game. Cam Whitmore scored a career-high 24 points in only 20 minutes off the bench for Houston. Whitmore shot 9-for-18 from the floor, including nailing 4 of his 9 attempts from beyond the arc. Amen Thompson scored 13 points, dished out 8 assists, and snagged 6 rebounds in 23 minutes off the pine for the Rockets. These rookies are looking better with every game and increased playing time. Jabari Smith Jr. will miss another game tomorrow in Brooklyn, so expect these rookies to continue seeing their opportunity. Alperen Sengun had a quieter than usual night, registering 11 points, 6 boards, and 7 dimes, but he wasn’t needed as much as usual. This game was over near the end of the third period. Houston led by more than 40 points at one point. Hopefully the squad’s hot shooting travels, as they’ll battle the Nets in Brooklyn tomorrow night on the second night of a back-to-back.

Rockets Visit Hornets in First of Road Back-to-Back

Quick Trip.    New-Look Bees.    Erase the Sting.    

The Rockets head East for a two-game road-trip that starts in Charlotte, as they battle the Hornets for the second time this season on Friday night. Houston is coming off their worst loss of the season, and will try and erase the sting from Wednesday night’s defeat to Portland by gangrening a victory in Charlotte. This is the first of a back-to-back for the Rockets, who will travel to Brooklyn to face the Nets tomorrow night. Despite their dismal record of 10-32, the Hornets are 2-2 over their past four games. Houston’s first win of this season came in the first matchup between these teams, 128-119, back on November 1st.

These Hornets will have a slightly different look since the first time the Rockets faced them. Miles Bridges was suspended for the first matchup, but the swingman small forward has played extremely well since returning from a 25-game absence to start the season. And Charlotte recently dealt Terry Rozier to the Miami Heat for Kyle Lowry and a future first-round draft pick. Rozier scored 21 points in the first matchup in Houston, and he was averaging over 22 points a game with the Hornets before the trade. Regardless, the Rockets should be angry coming off their previous meltdown against the Blazers, and Houston should have enough firepower to beat the Hornets tonight.

LaMelo Ball recently returned from an injury, and is playing some of the best basketball of his career. Brandon Miller, the second overall pick in last year’s draft, is finally rounding into form and showing some consistency. Mile Bridges will be a handful. Nick Richards will be Alperen Sengun’s counterpart in the post. Richards had solidly filled in for the injured Mark Williams, but expect Sengun to cook Mr. Richards tonight in the post with some extra sauce. P.J. Washington is their sixth man, and is capable of scoring over 20 points on any given night. Charlotte has plenty of weapons, but Houston should enter this contest with added motivation. The Rockets are the better team, and while they didn’t prove it in their previous game, if they treat the Hornets with respect… expect Houston to regain their winning ways on Friday night.

 

Spectrum Center:  Charlotte, North Carolina

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (20-23):  White

Charlotte Hornets (10-32):  Blue

 

Tip-Off:  6:00 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Collapse in Disappointing OT Loss to Blazers, 137-131

Playing with Food.    The Eason Effect.    Not Good Enough.    

In a painfully shocking display of disrespect, the Rockets surrendered a double-digit deficit, en route to a heartbreaking loss to the Trail Blazers, 137-131, in overtime. Jerami Grant hit a three point shot at time expired in regulation to send the game into an extra period, in which Houston was dominated 13-7 by Portland. Anfernee Simons did his best Michael Jordan impersonation, leading the Blazers with 33 points on 13-for-20 shooting. Alperen Sengun had another impressive performance for the Rockets, registering 30 points, 10 boards, and 8 assists on the night. Jalen Green had one of his better games, scoring 29 points on 12-for-24 shooting. However, down the stretch and in the clutch, it was Cam Whitmore on the court making the big shots, not Green. Jalen did most of his damage in the first three quarters, but still struggles to make an impact when the game’s on the line.

This is by far the worst game the Rockets have played this season. Like children playing with their food, they let Portland sneak back into the game, and then take control. By the time overtime rolled around, the Blazers had momentum, and the rest was history for the home team. The squad had two days off coming into this matchup, whereas the Blazers suffered a tough loss the previous night. Given Houston performs much better at home compared to the road, and they simply have a more talented team that Portland, this was by far the most disappointing loss of the season. Give the Blazers credit, Portland did play one of their best games of the season. But this contest should’ve never gone to overtime. The Rockets let the game slip away in the second half. After struggling in general to get off to faster starts, Houston struggled to close the game in this matchup. It’s evident this Rockets team need to improve on stringing four quarters of solid basketball together.

This loss now pits the Rockets with a 20-23 record on the season, with their chances of sneaking into the Play-In waning with each defeat. This game was evidence that right now, this Houston team just isn’t good enough. Granted, they still have Tari Eason out, and Jabari Smith Jr. didn’t play in this game either, but the Rockets still should’ve beaten the Blazers. The squad will try and shake off this demoralizing loss, as they head to the East coast for a back-to-back against inferior teams this weekend. If Houston wants any chance of winning one or both of these upcoming games… they better start showing their opponents some proper respect.

Rested Rockets Host Trail Blazers for First Time This Season

Rest Advantage.    Blazing in with Controversy.    Wobble Bobble.

Fresh off a rare two days off, the Rockets resume action on Wednesday night as they welcome the Portland Trail Blazers to town. This is the final game of a three-game home-stand for Houston. The Rockets are 1-1 so far during this stretch, and tonight they face a Blazers team coming off a tough loss last night in Oklahoma City. Portland was so angry, they filed a protest with the league to have the final seconds replayed. Protests in the NBA very, very rarely get upheld. If it was the Blazers and Thunder would resume the final seconds of their game last night, which OKC won by two points. Portland’s Head Coach Chauncey Billups was ejected late in the game after he insisted his point guard, Malcolm Brogdon, called a timeout, but instead the refs called Brogdon for a turnover, resulting in the swing of momentum towards OKC and them garnering the win.

Coming into tonight, the Rockets have the major rest advantage, but Houston still needs to be sharp coming out of the gates. The Blazers are coming off a tough loss last night, a game in which they feel they were cheated. Expect Portland to come into Toyota Center tonight playing with a little angry motivation. The Rockets just played another angry team, the Boston Celtics. Luckily for Houston, the Blazers are not in the same tier as the Celtics in terms of quality of opponent. Portland will be in the lottery hunt, while Boston will be hunting for a Championship. Regardless, the Rockets still have plenty of talented players to worry about on Portland’s side. The Blazers have a solid starting lineup, despite boasting a 12-31 record. They just have no depth. Guard Anfernee Simons is arguably their best player, along with forward Jerami Grant. They acquired center De’Andre Ayton from the Suns this past offseason. Jabari Walker has been emerging as solid role player since starting at Power Forward for Portland over the last five games. And rookie Scoot Henderson, the third overall pick in the draft, is showing improvement after a rough first half to his NBA career.

Good news for the Houston tonight: Jabari Smith Jr. will return to action after missing the loss to Boston. Jabari sprained his ankle late in the Rockets’ overtime win against the Jazz on Saturday night. He’ll be ready to suit up tonight against these young Blazers. It’s Jalen Green Bobblehead Night tonight at Toyota Center. And no one has the spotlight on him more than Green, regardless of Bobblehead Night or not. Jalen has been incredibly inconsistent this season, and contrary to Sengun, Green hasn’t experienced a third-year leap in improvement that many people expected entering this season. Can the third-year guard finally start to swing some efficient performances together against a below-0average Portland team? Hopefully tonight will be the start of a second-half turnaround for Green, as the Rockets also play inferior completion in their next two games, which will be on the road. Tonight, at home, is the night Jalen needs to turn his season around and put a fresh start as we enter the final 40 games of the season.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Portland Trail Blazers (12-31):  Red

Houston Rockets (20-22):  Black

 

Tip-Off:  7:00 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass

Comeback Falls Short for Rockets in 116-107 Loss to Celtics

Death by Second Chance.    Burned by the Others.    Too Late.   

For the second and final time this season, the Rockets were outplayed by the Boston Celtics. This time the affair happened on their own court, Toyota Center, as Houston’s rally came up short in a 116-107 loss on Sunday night. The Rockets were out-hustled by the Celtics, and gave away too many second chances for Boston, leading to extra points. Despite rallying and making a better effort in the second half, Houston didn’t give themselves much of a chance with all the second-chance points they allowed the C’s to score.

The Rockets did a solid defensive job on Boston’s stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, only allowing the two to score 31 points combined. However, it was the Celtic role players, or “others” who really beat Houston on Sunday night. Boston’s third best player, Kristaps Porzingis, had a monster game, scoring 32 points to pace the Celtics. Derrick White added 21 points for Boston, who was in control for the entirety of the game. The Rockets trailed by as many as 18 points in the first half. They were able to cut the deficit to three points, 93-90, early in the fourth quarter, but that’s as close as Houston would get to a lead all night.

Alperen Sengun’s first triple-double of the season was spoiled in the loss. Sengun registered 24 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists as he continues to play at an All-Star level. Dillon Brooks led all Rockets players in scoring with 25 points. Amen Thompson had his best game of the season in his first career start. Thompson scored 15 points, grabbed 14 boards, and dished out 5 assists in a very impressive outing. Jalen Green scored 16 points on another frustrating shooting night for the guard, who only connected on one of his six three-point attempts.

This game was a tale of two halves. Houston came out sluggish in the first half, only to attempt a comeback that fell short in the second half. This has been an ugly trend for this Rockets team. They tend to get off to slow starts more often than not, and it’s incredibly hard to win coming from behind in this league. The squad really needs to dial in and focus during first quarters and first halves. If Houston continues to get off to sluggish beginnings, they’re going to have a tough time finishing above the .500 mark this season. Up next, the Rockets have a couple of much-needed days off to rest before hosting the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night to close this three-game home-stand. The finale of this home stretch presents a much more winnable game for Houston. The Blazers have won of the worst records in the league, and the Rockets should be able to outplay them in Toyota Center to get back on the winning track.

Rockets Welcome Celtics on Second Night of Back-to-Back

Part 2.    Fresh Starts.    True Underdogs.      

Fresh off one of their most exhilarating wins of the season, an overtime victory over the Utah Jazz on Saturday night, the Rockets face the Boston Celtics for the second and final time this season. Just like in their first matchup earlier this season, Houston has a rest-disadvantage facing a Boston team coming off a loss in Sunday night’s tilt. At least the Rockets are at home tonight, where they boast a 16-6 record. Houston has played better at Toyota Center all season. Any time they’re playing in the ‘Yote, the Rockets have a legitimate chance to win.

Tonight, however, Houston will be undermanned more than usual. Jabari Smith Jr. suffered an ankle sprain late in last night’s win, and won’t be able to suit up against the C’s. Fred VanVleet is also missing tonight’s matchup, as he’s sitting out due to a lingering back issue, according to Rockets Coach Ime Udoka. In their places, rookies Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore will be making their first professional starts of their careers.

The Rockets will need a little luck on their side if they want to beat the Celtics tonight, who still own the NBA’s best record with a 32-10 mark. After starting 20-0 at TD Garden, Boston is coming off their first home loss of the season, a close two-point loss to the defending champion Denver Nuggets. Expect the Celtics to be motivated to get back on the winning track against an injury-riddled Houston squad. The Rockets need to get the crowd in the game early, and try and stay within striking distance of Boston. If Houston can keep the game close enough, they’ll have a chance to make a a run late to win the contest. Otherwise, the Rockets could be victims of another blowout tonight. Expect the first quarter, and half, to be determinants on how this game will unfold. Hopefully the Celtics will be overlooking a Houston squad with a losing record. Regardless, Udoka will have his guys ready to go, and despite being down two starters, expect this game to be closer than the beatdown the Rockets suffered earlier this season in Boston.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

Jersey Colors:

Boston Celtics (32-10):  Black

Houston Rockets (20-21):  “City Edition” White

 

Tip-Off:  6:00 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Survive Comeback, Silence Jazz, 127-126, in OT

Free Dessert.    Whitmore’s Emergence.    Halfway Home.

For the first time all season, the Rockets emerged victorious in an overtime game, as they silenced the Jazz, 127-126, in extra time on Saturday night. During the broadcast, Houston announcer Craig Ackerman mentioned that overtime is like “going out to dinner and getting your dessert for free. Well, the Rockets finally capitalized on their free dessert, winning their first overtime game in four tries this season. The win snaps Houston’s three-game losing streak. The Rockets seemed in control in the first half, leading by as many as 17 points. However, Utah stormed back to almost deal Houston another heartbreaking defeat. Alperen Sengun led way for the Rockets once again. Sengun scored a career-high 37 points, grabbed 14 boards, and dished out 6 assists, in a performance that perfectly exhibited why Al-P deserves an All-Star nod this season. Jabari Smith Jr. also had a huge performance for Houston, scoring 24 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. He also held Utah’s leading scorer Lauri Markannen, to a below-average 22 points. Unfortunately, Jabari suffered an ankle sprain late in the game and limped off the court. The sophomore stud’s status for tomorrow’s game should be considered questionable at best. Jordan Clarkson led the Jazz with 33 points off their bench. Clarkson and Collin Sexton, who scored 28 points, led Utah’s comeback charge that ultimately fell short. Despite trailing at the start of overtime, the Rockets closed the game on an 8-3 run to snag the victory. Amen Thompson had arguably the defensive play of the season, as he blocked a Collin Sexton layup that would’ve given the Jazz the lead late in overtime. That play swung the momentum back in Houston’s favor, in what was an exciting game in the fourth quarter and overtime.

Coming off a game where he played only 9 minutes, Cam Whitmore saw 26 minutes of action, almost as much as Jalen Green (28 minutes). Whitmore was outstanding, scoring 17 points, including 4-for-6 shooting from beyond the arc. Green meanwhile, had another disappointing performance. Green scored only 7 points on a dismal 3-for-12 shooting night. The third year guard continues to struggle to find consistent and efficient rhythm to his game. Whitmore is emerging as candidate to replace Green in the starting unit if Jalen can’t get his act together. It’s likely a move that wouldn’t happen until next season or later on, but if both players keep trending in their respective directions, it’s only inevitable that Cam will soon be playing more minutes than Jalen. Even as a rookie, Whitmore is already clearly a better defender than Green, and his offense will be polished as the season moves on. With two and half seasons under his belt, Green needs to start showing improvement. Ime Udoka has already shown he won’t have a Stephen Silas style of patience for Green’s negligence on the court.

The Rockets are now officially halfway through the season after Saturday night’s thrilling victory. Houston (20-21) also inched closer to Utah (22-22) in the standings with the win in their return home. The squad won’t have to wait long for a chance at another win, as they host the Boston Celtics tomorrow night. For the second time this season, the Rockets will be playing the Celtics on the second part of a back-to-back, and facing a Boston team that is once again coming off a loss. Houston coach Ime Udoka will get a second shot to beat his former team on Sunday night. It will be incredibly difficult, but anything’s possible in this league… including free dessert.

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.