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Rockets Fail to Launch in Sluggish 99-93 Loss to Warriors

Mental Letdown.    No Terror.    Number, Please?

 

No Steph Curry. No Draymond Green. Still no problem for the Golden State Warriors, who beat the Rockets 99-93 on Thursday night. It’s now Houston’s fifteenth straight loss to the Warriors. Their longest losing streak against any single opponent in franchise history. And the Rockets lost this game before it even started. They overlooked this undermanned Golden State team, and as a result, got outplayed from the opening tip. Tari Eason was out for Houston, as he remains in concussion protocol. But lacking their energetic pulse is still no excuse for the Rockets to have their most sluggish game of the season. Alperen Sengun led a slow offensive night for Houston with 16 points. Eason’s absence is very notable. The Rockets may have still lost in ugly fashion with him on the court, but Houston hasn’t looked this bad. And Thursday’s loss to the Warriors marks the first game all season The Terror Twins weren’t whole.

The Rockets were basically beaten by two players: Golden State’s Jonathan Kuminga and Andrew Wiggens. The duo combined to score 56 of the Dubs’ 99 points, well over half. Kuminga in particular had a career, night scoring a team-high 33 points to ruin Houston’s night. Despite his performance, the way the Rockets have been playing defensively all season, this was a game that felt like they still had a chance to win. They allowed Golden State to score only 99 points, but Houston’s offense was horrendous once again. This is also the first time all season the Rockets have lost two games in a row. Which is pretty impressive through their first 22 games. But now the squad is streaking in the wrong direction for the first time all season. The Rockets will try and get back on track as they finish this West Coast trip in L.A. against the Clippers on Sunday night.

These Rockets and Warriors will meet soon on Wednesday night in the NBA Cup Quarterfinal in Houston. In that game it’s very likely Curry and Green will both be available for the Warriors. But does it matter? Golden State just seems to have Houston’s number. The Rockets truly seem cursed against the Warriors. Curry hasn’t played in both losses this season to the Warriors. Yet Golden State has won both in relatively easy fashion (although the first game did feature an almost Houston comeback). James Harden was still a Rocket the last time Houston beat Golden State. That’s how long it’s been. And the Rockets will have another very solid chance on Wednesday night. Houston is 9-3 at home this season, and they went 3-1 in NBA Cup Group Stage games. That bloodthirsty-red court does seem to fire up the Rockets to play better basketball. But it be enough to end a winning drought to this Warriors team that’s least nearly five years? We’ll find out next week, as these teams will meet in Houston, with a chance to advance to Las Vegas on the line.

Rockets Clash with Warriors for a Battle in the Bay

Part Two.    Tune Up.    Streakers.

For the second leg of their three-game West Coast road-trip, the Rockets visit the Golden State Warriors for matchup number two between these rivals this season. The Warriors won the first matchup, which ended up being one of the crazier games of the year so far. Houston trailed by 31 points, stormed all the way back to force overtime, but ended up losing in the end. Golden State was minus superstar Steph Curry in that game, but Curry will be available tonight. Houston has a lost a devastation fourteen consecutive games to these Warriors. The Rockets basically haven’t beaten the Dubs since the pandemic. The last time Houston beat Golden State was back on February 20, 2020. It’s been nearly five calendar years. The Rockets will aim to end that streak tonight in as they touch down in Chase Center.

The Warriors are reeling, having lost their last five straight games. They’re also coming off a tough two-point loss to the Denver Nuggets, that also featured bad officiating. The Rockets are trying to bounce back from the worst-officiate contest they’ve been involved in all season, after falling to the Kings, 120-111, on Tuesday night. These teams also will be meeting in the quarterfinals of the NBA Cup in Houston next Wednesday, for a right to advance to Las Vegas. So instead of seeing Golden State for the usual four times, the Rockets will have to play their dreaded rivals five times this season.

One of theses streaks is ending tonight in the Bay Area. The Rockets will finally snap their fourteen game skid to Golden State, or the Warriors will once again beat Houston, ending their own five game losing streak. Golden State’s superstar Steph Curry didn’t play In the first matchup, which factored into the Rockets overlooking the Warriors to begin play. Don’t expect the Houston to overlook a heathy and desperate Golden State team on Tuesday night. Both teams are desperately seeking a victory as they try and snap out of their respective skids. Will tonight be the night the Rockets finally overcome their California rivals, who’ve bullied Houston for almost five years running? The Rockets are bound for a better offensive outing than they had in Sacramento. Houston’s been one of the most resilient teams all season. The Rockets have yet to lose two straight games so far this entire season. And the Warriors have rarely lost six straight games in the Steve Kerr era. Something’s bound to give tonight, in what should be a testy and feisty Battle in the Bay Area.

 

Chase Center:  San Francisco, California

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (15-7):  Red

Golden State Warriors (12-8):  White

 

Tip-Off:  9:00 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA TV

Poor Officiating Clouds Rockets’ 120-111 Loss to Kings

Blind Whistle.    Unlikely Stretch.    The Inspirers.

In their final NBA Cup Group Stage match, the Rockets fell to the Kings, 120-111, on Tuesday night. This was the worst officiated game Houston’s been a part of all season. Ime Udoka and Alperen Sengun were tossed near the end of the contest. The refs seemed to be trying to atone for costing Sacramento the 2002 Western Conference Finals, or they were getting paid to throw this game. The officiating was that atrocious. Udoka had the best postgame rant about NBA refs all season when he suggested how the officials could fix their problems, Ime said “so get some f**king glasses up in your eyes.” The refs were simply not calling the game both ways. Sengun was getting hacked without any fouls being called, and the Rockets were being called for ticky-tack calls if they barely touched a Sacramento player.

If there’s any good news from Tuesday’s loss, Jalen Green at least had a bounce-back performance. Green scored 28 points on 9-for-14 shooting to lead Houston’s offensive attack. Alperen Sengun had another slow start, scoring only six first half points. The Wizard bounced back in the second half to finish the game with 24 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists. And Tari Eason provided 16 points, 12 boards, and 3 steals off the bench.

The Rockets had a chance to win this game, even with the Kings going on an offensive stretch rarely seen in professional basketball. Sacramento made fifteen consecutive shots on Tuesday night. The Kings made their last six shots of the first half, and their first nine buckets in the third quarter to pull away from the Rockets. Sacramento connected on nearly 74 percent of their shots in the third period. And in the fourth quarter, the refs halted any of Houston’s attempts at a comeback.

This game featured several Kings players who had been struggling all season. And they all seemed to snap out of funks against the Rockets. Kevin “Red Velvet” Huerter scored 13 points, Keegan Murray also added 13 in the scoring column. Malik Monk scored 17 points. And the Kings “Big Three” of DeAaon Fox, Domantas Sabonis, and DeMar DeRozan all had solid games. This Houston team seems to inspire struggling opponents to play their best basketball. Coming into this matchup, the Kings had lost six of their previous seven games. When the Rockets narrowly lost in Milwaukee earlier this season, the Bucks were 4-9 before the game. After beating Houston, Milwaukee won their next seven games in a row. And after the Rockets beat the Clippers twice in a row at Toyota Center earlier season, L.A. went on to win five straight games, and eight out of ten overall. Don’t be surprised if this game marks the beginning of a hot streak for Sacramento.

Being the final group stage game of the NBA Cup, the Kings were already eliminated from knockout play. And with the loss, the Rockets ended up finishing second in the NBA Cup Standings in the Western Conference, and will host the hated Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night in Houston. The winner will advance to the semifinals in Las Vegas. Ironically enough, Houston’s next opponent on this three-game California trip happens to be: those same Golden State Warriors. These squads will meet for the second time this season on Thursday night in San Francisco before their NBA Cup Quarterfinal matchup. And the Rockets are desperately aiming to finally snap a fourteen game skid at the hands of their Bay Area rivals.

Rockets Visit Kings to Wrap Up NBA Cup Group Stage

California Dreaming.    4 The Cup.    Extinguish the Beam.

The Houston Rockets begin a three-game road-trip on the left coast out West tonight as they visit the reeling Sacramento Kings. After tonight, Houston will visit Golden State on Thursday, as they try and end their forever-slide against their hated, rival Warriors. Finally, their West-Coast trip ends with a matchup in L.A. at the brand new Intuit Dome against the Clippers. It will be Houston’s first look at “The Wall”, the Clippers’ infamous “fans-only” section that’s already frustrating opposing players. I’ll dive deeper into this intriguing new building as Sunday’s match approaches. Basically, it’s this tilt begins a tough road trip for the Rockets, and presents another early-season measuring stick for this battle-tested young squad. For now, back to tonight’s game.

This matchup marks the final NBA Cup Group Stage game for both teams. Houston has already clinched a berth in the knockout round. Meanwhile, Sacramento has been eliminated. The Kings currently sit in 12th place in the West, with a 9-12 record. Only two seasons removed from a stellar year where they finished third in the conference, Sacramento has regressed once again to begin the year. The Rockets went 3-0 against the Kings last year, but they have to maintain their discipline tonight. Sacramento still boasts plenty of talented players.

De’Aaron Fox is still one of the best crunch time players in the NBA. Domantas Sabonis is a beast inside. Expect a tough battle for Alperen Sengun tonight against another physical, talented big man. Sengun’s started slow in the last three games, but he’s made up for that with dominant second halves. Hopefully, The Wizard has a better first half tonight. This is the site where Sengun suffered his season-ending injury last year. The Rockets have to be extremely thankful they’ve suffered no major injuries to start the season. This Houston squad truly defines playing as a team, and an injury to a key piece could fracture the squad’s future success.

Besides their dynamic All-Star duo, the Kings also have a newly acquired All-Star, in DeMar DeRozan, who played for the Chicago Bulls last season. Sac-Town’s “Big Three” of Fox, Sabonis, and DeRozan combined to score 76 points in the Kings’ previous game, a two point loss at home, to the San Antonio Spurs. They may not be winning at the rate of the previous two seasons, but they still boast a plethora of All-Star talent. Houston has to remain focused defensively, and can’t afford to overlook this Kings team, or they’ll be in store for a loss.

Sacramento has a tradition where they “Light the Beam” after winning games at home. But these Rockets have other plans, as they can clinch the number one overall seed in the West’s knockout round of the NBA Cup with a win. Tonight’s battle marks the first of three straight tough road tests for the young squad. It’s not impossible to dream up three straight wins in California, especially given the squad’s recent performances. This is Houston’s weakest opponent on this road trip, as the Rockets will aim to keep the Kings reeling… and prevent any beams from being lit in Sac-Town on Tuesday night.

 

Golden 1 Center:  Sacramento, California

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (15-6):  White

Sacramento Kings (9-12):  Purple

 

Tip-Off:  9:00 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass

The Surprise:  Houston Rockets 2024/2025 Quarter Season Review

Growing Up.    Welcome 2 Hell.    The Polarizer.

We’re officially a quarter of the way into the NBA season, and nobody saw these guys coming. Not like this. The Houston Rockets have blasted out of the gates with a 15-6 record, their best start to a season since 2017/2018, when they won a franchise-record 65 games. So why, seemingly out of nowhere, are these Rockets the surprise of NBA through the season’s first quarter? Plenty of reasons, but the simple fact is this young team is finally growing up, individually, and as a cohesive unit. Jalen Green feels like the old man on this team, and he’s only 22 years old. Sengun is also only 22, and Amen Thompson is a spry 21 years of age. His fellow Terror Twin, Tari Eason is the oldest of the core that Houston’s drafted over the past several years. And Eason’s just 23 years old. Give these guys two or three more years to improve, and the Rockets are going to be a serious problem for the rest of the league for years to come. Just look Houston’s defense for an example of this overall team growth. Swarming and switching, as if they were on a collective string. But it’s not just the defense. The ball movement on offense seems to be at a record high, along with the assists. It always takes time to adjust to a new coaching system. And in Ime Udoka’s second season, everyone’s bought in to his system. And while the Rockets still aren’t shooting the ball at an efficient clip, their offensive rebounding and transition dominance have made up for struggles shooting the rock.

Welcome to Hell. If you’re here, you’re not dead. You’re not suffering in eternity. You’re an opposing player going up against the Rockets, and your offensive game plan is about to be wrecked by the Terror Twins, aka Amen Thompson and Tari Eason, who make up the NBA’s best bench duo. Dillon Brooks still guards the other team’s best player to start the game. But it’s not until the Terror Twins enter a game when Houston really starts to wreak havoc on defense. It’s like a pair of your worst favorite relatives showing up unexpectedly at the last minute, only to sadistically ruin Thanksgiving dinner. It’s not a coincidence that the team’s 13-9 start last season coincided with Eason on the court. Eason missed the final 58 games, and the Rockets weren’t the same team without him. Throw in Amen Thompson’s vast improvement in his second season, and you have the NBA’s best bench duo. And while, “watch these two bench guys play defense” isn’t the most enticing elevator pitch, the Terror Twins live up to their nickname. Watching them decimate a good offense is as fun as watching a red-hot offense go off. They don’t so much play defense. Rather, the Terror Twins hellaciously haunt their opponents souls and terrorize their spirits. Courtesy of these Terror Twins, welcome to the NBA’s version of hell: a confounding, incessantly physical experience that is likely to exhaust any opponent.

And now, allow me to introduce you to Jalen Green. Not many NBA players score 41 points one night, only to score 9 points the next game. Such is the inconsistency that has defined Green’s career as we’re a quarter of the way into his fourth season. Green isn’t only the most polarizing member of the Rockets, he’s arguably the most polarizing player in the entire league. One night he plays with the superstar potential Houston fans hoped he’d blossom into by now. Other nights he’s benched in the fourth quarter for one of the Terror Twins, and it’s resulted in wins. If there’s any silver lining regarding Green, he’s followed suit with his teammates, and made solid improvements on defense. When his offense is on, Green is one of the best two-way players in the NBA. But after a deceptive start, Green’s offensive efficient nights are few and far between. Green is the ultimate basketball enigma: and one the Rockets need to eventually solve if they want to be considered a true championship contender. And despite the 60-win pace Houston is currently on, it’s unlikely they reach that mark, or win the title this year. But whoever is planning to better be ready… these Rockets are coming for the throne sooner than anyone anticipated.

Storm-Proof:  VanVleet Propels Rockets to 119-116 Win Over Thunder

FV3.    Fire With Fire.    Quarter Mark.

After surviving two straight road games in overtime, the Rockets looked poised for more extra time once again. However, Fred VanVleet had other ideas. FVV scored a season-high 38 points, as the Rockets surged past the Thunder, 119-116, on Sunday night, for their third straight win. FVV had two huge threes in clutch time, including one from nearly half court and scored 12 of his 38 points in the fourth period. This tightly contested battle was tied six different times in the final 6:30 of the game. But Houston never trailed after VanVleet’s miraculous heave. And Dillon Brooks hit a shot that broke a 113-113 tie, to give the Rockets the lead for good. FVV went 13-for-14 from the charity stripe, including four huge free throws in the final seconds to help Houston prevail. Brooks finished with 16 points and 7 boards, along with another tremendous defensive performance.

For the third straight game, Alperen Sengun had a quiet first half, scoring only 4 points. However, the Western Conference’s Player of the Week woke up once again in the second half. Sengun finished with another near triple-double. and didn’t back down from a tough battle with Isaiah Hartenstein inside the paint. The Wizard scored 20 points, grabbed 8 rebounds, and dished out 7 assists in the win. Jabari Smith Jr. registered a very quiet 15 points and 14 rebounds as he continues to play well after a slow start to the season.

After scoring a season-high 41 points in Houston’s previous win in Philly, Jalen Green had much quieter evening versus OKC. Green scored only 9 points, but only took 6 shots in the entire game. His offensive services weren’t needed like they were in the previous matchup. But let’s not forget to mention his improvement on the defensive end. Dillon Brooks and The Terror Twins may receive most of the credit on defense, but Green has stepped up game on that end of the floor as well this year. And it’s a major reason the Rockets are one of the best defensive teams in the entire league. Despite the low-scoring affair from Green, FVV, Sengun and co. picked up the offensive slack late, as the Rockets survived another thrilling game in crunch time.

Houston withstood 32 points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. OKC’s superstar was in pure form, but Tari Eason’s defense on the final play prevented SGA from sending the Rockets to their third straight overtime game. The Terror Twins didn’t have outrageous statistical performances, but their presence was felt like always. Amen Thompson and Tari Eason haunted OKC late defensively. SGA scored only 2 points on 1-for-5 shooting in the final quarter. The Thunder are the one of the NBA’s best fourth quarter scoring teams this season. And Houston’s defense managed to hold OKC to only 20 points in the final frame. The Rockets have really been clamping down in late in games, and it’s impressive to watch this young group grow and gel together on the fly. In a game that saw the style evolve from first half finesse into a second half boxing match, the Rockets were able to fight fire with fire. Houston’s versatility was on full display in this victory. The Rockets can win shoot outs, but they can also win (and prefer) gritty rock fights. And that’s what makes this team such a threat to win on any night, as long as they stay healthy. Sunday’s win over OKC is the first time all season Houston has won a game when trailing entering the fourth quarter. These resilient Rockets are for real.

We are now officially a quarter of the way into the season, and only the homerist of homers would’ve expected the Rockets to be where they are now: second place with a record of 15-6, and only a half game out of the top spot in a brutally competitive Western Conference. At this moment, Houston is on pace to win 60 games this season. However, it’s likely the Rockets finish in the 50-win range at best. Coming into the season, “experts” had Houston winning around 45 games. The squad is definitely exceeding everyone’s expectations a quarter of the way into the season. And if the Rockets can keep the poise they displayed in this thrilling win over the Thunder, the sky’s the limit for a Houston team that’s the surprise of the NBA at the league’s quarter pole mark.

Rockets Host Thunder in Battle of West’s Top Teams

Looking Up.    Fair Punishment.    Home Pit Stop.

 

After back-to-back overtime wins on the road, the Rockets got three well-deserved days of rest over the Thanksgiving holiday. Tonight, they host the only team they’re looking up at in the Western Conference standings: the Oklahoma City Thunder. OKC sits in first place with a 15-4 record. Houston holds sole position of the second spot with a 14-6 mark to start the season. No one expected the Rockets to be in second place as we near the quarter pole mark of this season. But now, Houston has a chance to narrow the gap between first and second with a win tonight at Toyota Center. 

The Thunder won the first matchup between these teams in blowout fashion, 126-107, back on November 8th in OKC. This time the game will be in the Rockets house, and the Thunder are dealing with a few injuries. Most notably, star center Chet Holmgren is out for an extended time with a hip injury, and won’t play in tonight’s contest. Alex Caruso is also out of this matchup for OKC with an injury. However, they have former Rocket Isaiah Hartenstein back in their lineup. Hartenstein grabbed a monstrous 18 rebounds in the Thunder’s previous win over the Lakers on Friday night. Alperen Sengun’s hustle and improvement will once again be tested tonight against the gritty and efficient Hartenstein.

Houston is seeking to avenge that blowout loss earlier this year in OKC, and serve out a dose of fair punishment for the team formerly known as the Supersonics. The Thunder are really the only team who have out-classed the Rockets this entire season. Besides the loss in OKC, all of Houston’s defeats have been close competitive, with the Rockets having a chance to win despite ultimately losing. They never had a chance the first time around in OKC, but Houston will try to turn the proceedings in their favor as they play round two on their home court. This tilt marks the end of a four-game road-trip for the Thunder, who are seeking a perfect trip with a win in H-Town. The Rockets are aiming to show OKC why this will be their toughest stop, and deal them a loss on Sunday night.

Tonight’s game is a bit of a home pit-stop for Houston. This matchup follows back-to-back road games last week, and after this game, the Rockets head out on a three-game road-trip on the west coast. Houston has the rest advantage tonight as they’ve had three days off. The Thunder last played late Friday night in Los Angeles, beating the Lakers. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 29 points in the first matchup between these teams, and the superstar guard is having another MVP-caliber season. SGA scored 36 points in their most recent win. Hopefully, the Terror Twins can slow down SGA in their second meeting this season against the Thunder. If tonight’s game is close and goes down to crunch time, SGA’s performance will likely be the deciding factor in who win this contest.

In his best game of the season, Jalen Green is coming off a season-high 41 point-performance in the squad’s last match, a win over the Sixers on Wednesday. Green struggled in Houston’s first game in OKC, scoring only 14 points. The Rockets need an aggressive minded Green tonight if they want to beat the best team in the West, and edge closer to first place in the standings. Expect a closer contest in round two between these Western foes, as the Rockets try and continue their climb up the standings.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Oklahoma City Thunder (15-4):  Blue

Houston Rockets (14-6):  Red

 

Tip-Off:  6:00 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass

Road Warriors:  Rockets Escape Philly with Thrilling 122-115 OT Win Over 76ers

Seconds.    Resilient Dogs.    Mini Break.

For the second time in as many nights, the Rockets won a nail-biter in overtime on the road. This time, Houston escaped Philadelphia with another thrilling win in overtime, 122-115, as they edged the 76ers. Tyrese Maxey scored 39 points to lead the Sixers’ attack, but Houston’s defense kept the All-Star guard scoreless in overtime. In his best game of the season, Jalen Green scored a season-high 41 points to lead the Rockets to victory. For Houston, it’s a much-needed bounce-back performance from Green, after the guard’s offensive struggles over the past few games. Green shot an efficient 12-for-20 from the floor, including 4-for-6 from beyond the arc. If Green plays like this on a  consistent basis, the Rockets will be a serious problem for the rest of the league to try and handle. Houston’s already exceeding expectations this season. This win moves the Rockets into sole possession of second place in the Western Conference, trailing only the Oklahoma City Thunder, who ironically happens to be Houston’s next opponent.

It wasn’t just Jalen Green’s heroics that saved the Rockets in the City of Brotherly Love on Wednesday night. After another slow first half that saw him score only two points, Alperen Sengun woke up in the second half and overtime, and finished  with 22 points, 14 rebounds, and  7 assists in the win. Sengun dominated in overtime, scoring 11 of Houston’s 14 points in the extra period. And the Terror Twins continue to be the NBA’s best bench duo by a long shot. Amen Thompson was terrific once again. Thompson registered 19 points, 13 rebounds, 3 steals, and 3 blocks. And Tari Eason contributed 14 points, 7 boards, and 2 blocks in Houston’s victory. The Terror Twins continue to haunt opposing defenses, leading the NBA in stocks (steals plus blocks) per game. More importantly, they’re hustle and energy inspires their teammate to play with that same grit on defense. It’s why the Rockets are one of the best defenses in the NBA as we near the quarter pole of the season. Houston has shown unforeseen resiliency this season. With The Terror Twins improvement and influence, these Rockets are playing like a pack of hungry, resilient dogs.

Houston will now get a mini-break over the Thanksgiving holiday. The Rockets have a rare three days off before their next game, which is Sunday in Houston versus the Oklahoma City Thunder. The squad has a had a heavy stretch of games packed into just nearly over a month since the season started. It’ll be good for the guys to get some much-needed rest before a very tough test on Sunday. The Thunder are the only team who’s really out-classed the Rockets all season. After a mini-break, Houston gets a chance for some payback in the second meeting between the top two teams in the West coming up this Sunday.

Rockets Visit Philly, Face-Off Against Depleted 76ers

No Overlook.    Fatigue Faces Fresh.    Green’s Moment.

 

Coming off their best win of the season, a thrilling overtime victory in Minnesota last night, the Rockets visit the City of Brotherly Love for a matchup with the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night. Mainly due to the absence of Joel Embiid, who has played in only a few games, the Sixers are off to a terrible start to the season. Philly currently boasts a 3-13 record, placing them in second-to-last place in the weak Eastern Conference. Embiid and fellow All-Star Paul George will both be out for tonight’s contest. Philly acquired PG13 in the offseason, but he recently suffered an injury a few games ago, and won’t play in this duel. Despite the missing stars, Philly has plenty of shooters, and they still have Tyrese Maxey, a Superstar in the making. Maxey can score 50 points on any given night, and will be the focal point of Houston’s defense.

Besides Maxey, the Sixers have rookie Jared McCain, who the Rockets should have drafted. McCain, out of Duke, is the best shooter so far in this rookie class. And he, along with the Lakers’ Dalton Knecht, are the leaders so far in the Rookie-of-the-Year race. McCain is a lights-out three-point shooter who is fearless. The guy Houston hoped Reed Sheppard would be, but sadly the Rockets’ rookie has severely underperformed to start his career. At this point, it’s time to consider benching him for Aaron Holiday, who has outperformed Sheppard in every aspect of the game this season. Hopefully Houston coach Ime Udoka realizes this, and with a 13-6 record, the Rockets have a chance to move into second in the West tonight if the Warriors lose to the Thunder. Which would be an incredible accomplishment 20 games into the season. Houston needs to focus on winning games, as they’ve proven they’re a much better team than anyone expected this season.

This is the second of a back-to-back for the Rockets. They’ll have tired legs compared to the Sixers, who’ve had two days to rest entering this matchup. Despite missing two of their All-Stars, Philly has enough shooters and young talent to beat Houston if the Rockets don’t take them seriously. They also have former Rockets in Eric Gordon and Kenyon Martin Jr., who will both be seeking revenge against their former team tonight. Expect to see a lot of the Terror Twins, that’s if Tari Eason is healthy. Eason only played 18 minutes last night after he left the game due to an injury. So far this season, Thompson and Eason lead the NBA in bench rebounds, at first and second, respectively. They are truly the best bench duo in the league, haunting defenders while wreaking havoc on opponents game plans. Now if anyone has rest on this Rockets team, it’s Jalen Green. He was benched in the fourth quarter for Amen Thompson, who played the remainder of the game, and was a key in sparking Houston’s comeback. Tonight is a great chance for Green to have a bounce-back performance against a depleted Sixers team. The Rockets could use a vintage Green game. As long as Houston doesn’t overlook Philly, they should win this match tonight. However, it’s the NBA. And if the Rockets don’t come out ready to play, and the Sixers are making their shots, Houston could have a problem on their hands. Expect a closer game than expected. Hopefully the Rockets have enough energy to get one more win before Thanksgiving. Regardless, Houston fans have a lot to be thankful for with one of the most exciting and promising teams rising back to prominence in the NBA.

 

Wells Fargo Center:  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (13-6):  Red

Philadelphia 76ers (3-13):  White

 

Tip-Off:  6:00 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass

Clinch City:  Rockets Outlast Wolves in OT, 117-111, Advance to NBA Cup’s Knockout Round

Moving On.    Complete Gamers.    Hot Potato.

What. A. Game. The Rockets survived a thrilling overtime affair in Minnesota, ousting the Timberwolves, 117-111, on Tuesday night. This was arguably Houston’s best win of the season so far. With the victory, the Rockets win West Group A, and advance to the knockout round of the NBA Cup. Houston still has one remaining game in group play at the Sacramento Kings on December 3rd. Regardless of that game’s result, the Rockets will be one of the eight teams who advance to the next round. This young squad should be proud of themselves. Head Coach Ime Udoka even called it the best win of the season in his post-game press conference. And this was one helluva ball game. Besides moving on to the knockout round, this was a great win for a Rockets team that had lost 5 straight games in Minnesota.

Houston led by as many as 18 points in the first half, but Minnesota stormed back to make this a thrilling game in clutch time. The Wolves held a five-point lead, 102-97, late in regulation, but an incredible 5-0 run got the Rockets back in the game. And a missed bunny near the end of regulation just barely rimmed out for Anthony Edwards. Had the shot fallen, Houston would’ve lost. But the Basketball Gods were on the Rockets side in Minneapolis. The Rockets shot 6-for-9 from the field in overtime to squeak by the Wolves for the win.

Fred VanVleet led Houston with 27 points, including a season-high 6 threes and 11 assists.The tough points guard also grabbed 8 rebounds. But FVV wasn’t only one who came to play against these Wolves. This was a complete team effort. Alperen Sengun had a slow first half, but dominated the second half and overtime en route to his third triple-double of the season. Sengun finished with 22 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists, 3 steals and 3 blocks. He was a force defensively in the paint once again. And after one of his wizardry tricks to seal the game in overtime, Sengun even gave Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert the “Too Small” sign. A moment that brought delight to teammates and Rocket fans alike. Al-P held Gobert to only 5 points, as his increased improvement on defense remains a pleasant surprise from Sengun to start the season.

Amen Thompson needs to get more credit. As one half of the “Terror Twins”, for some reason he doesn’t seem to be as popular as Tari Eason. But tonight was Thompson’s night. And he had the entire city of Houston praising “Amen” after his game-saving performance. Thompson registered 15 points, 8 rebounds, 4 steals, and 3 blocks on the night. His defense was incredible all night, including a steal that Thompson turned into a one-man transition layup. He also hit arguably the biggest shot of the game, a three in overtime that tied the game at 105 apiece. After that shot, the Rockets never trailed again.

Dillon Brooks had a tremendous game. DB9 scored 22 points, including some clutch shots from distance in clutch time. Jabari Smith Jr. had one of his best games of the season. Bari produced 19 points on a near perfect 8-for-9 shooting, and grabbed 7 boards. Jalen Green scored only 9 points, and in the fourth quarter was benched for Amen Thompson for the remainder of the game. Thompson was excellent and sparked Houston’s comeback. Green will aim to bounce back tomorrow night in Philly as the Rockets play part 2 of a back-to-back on Wednesday night. Houston dished out 31 assists in their win over Minnesota. If the Rockets continue to move the ball like a game of hot potato, while continuing this trend of a balanced scoring attack alongside tough defense, they should be able to beat the Sixers tomorrow night.