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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.

Rockets Aim to Clinch Group in Tilt with Timberwolves

Game Three.    Clinch Time.    Darlings Hangover.     

After two days off, the Rockets travel to Minnesota to face the Timberwolves in Houston’s third NBA Cup Game. The Rockets can clinch their Group with a win tonight over the Wolves. After making it all the way to the Western Conference Finals, last year’s “darlings” of the NBA are suffering a bit of a hangover to start this season. Minnesota is currently 8-8 in the standings, which has them in the 11th spot, compared to Houston, who still sit at third place in the West.

The Wolves still have plenty of All-Star talent on their roster, including newcomer Julius Randle, who they acquired by trading Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks in the offseason. Anthony Edwards is still one of the best young superstars in the league. Rudy Gobert remains a Stifle Tower in the paint, and is having another Defensive Player of the Year caliber season. And rookie guard Rob Dillingham scored 14 points in only 16 minutes off the bench in their last game, a tough two-point loss to the defending champion Celtics in Boston. Basically, this Wolves team is much better than their 8-8 record implies. If the Rockets aren’t ready from the start, they could be in trouble tonight.

Besides a chance to clinch a spot in the NBA Cup’s knockout round, Houston wants to avenge their previous loss. The Rockets fell to the Portland Trail Blazers at home. Houston played sluggish in a game they could have won had they prepared themselves mentally. Expect the Rockets to come out better tonight. They’re still struggling to shoot the ball. Last game ended Houston’s league-high streak of games scoring at least 100 or more points. The Rockets mustered only 98 points in their previous matchup. Luckily, defensive intensity has been one of Houston’s best attributes this season. Their defense is the reason the Rockets boast a 12-6 record to start the season. And that D will be tested tonight against a very talented, and hungry Timberwolves squad. 

If Houston wins tonight they clinch a spot in the NBA Cup’s knockout round. And if the Wolves lose, they’re eliminated. A Minnesota win would keep them alive for a chance to advance. A lot is on the line tonight, as the Rockets aim to clinch their group, and eliminate the Wolves from any potential Vegas festivities. Expect a close contest that will likely be decided in crunch time, with a playoff-like atmosphere surrounding the proceedings.

 

Target Center:  Minneapolis, Minnesota

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (12-6):  White

Minnesota Timberwolves (8-8):  Black

 

Tip-Off:  7:00 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass

Sluggish Play Dooms Rockets in 104-98 Loss to Trail Blazers

Schedule Loss?    No Gray Area.    Breather.

For only the second time all season, the Rockets fell to a team with a losing record at home. Jerami Grant, Anfernee Simons, and Shaedon Sharpe combined for 71 points as Houston lost to Portland, 104-98, on Saturday night. The defeat snaps Houston’s seven game home winning streak. It’s also the end of a rough stretch that consisted of five games in seven nights for the Rockets. Alperen Sengun scored 22 points to lead Houston, and Amen Thompson provided 19 points off the bench, but the Rockets ran out of gas in clutch time. Granted, there were certainly a few questionable calls, per usual for any game at Toyota Center. Fred VanVleet was ejected near the end of the contest for arguing with officials. FVV had a chance to tie the game in the final minute. Instead of being patient and trying to find a good shot, VanVleet tried to draw a foul and air-balled it from distance, essentially ending Houston’s chances at victory.

This was the second half of a back-to-back for the Rockets, and their fifth game in seven nights. But the Trail Blazers played last night too. And Houston had the homeport advantage, which makes this loss harder to stomach for the Rockets’ coaching staff. Portland came out from the opening tip with more energy. Despite this,  Houston had a chance to win, but their lackluster start had them clawing away tirelessly for nearly the entire game. The squad appeared gassed in the final minutes, as this matchup ended a congested portion of the schedule for the Rockets. One could call it a schedule loss, but these are the type of games Championship contenders win. And Houston isn’t quite on that level yet. They’ve made vast, solid improvements this season, but they’ll need to fix one issue if this team wants to be considered among the elites.

Houston, we have a Jalen Green problem. After a scorching start over his first five games, Green has regressed to the a slight improvement over the player we saw last year. This season, Green’s defense and clutch play has improved, but he’s still frustratingly inefficient. To the point of nearly driving a coach insane. He shot only 3-for-14 in Saturday night’s loss, including an abysmal 1-for-9 from beyond the arc en route to only 10 points. In his fourth season, the clock is ticking for Green. He will either go down as the greatest case study of all time for the merits in patience in player development and non-linear progression, or possibly the biggest bust in franchise history. There’s no a gray area for Green if he can’t develop some consistency. Some nights he looks like a legitimate future All-Star in this league. However, those games are the rarity. If Green can’t produce on a consistent level, expect to hear his name in possible trade discussions. That’s if Houston can find a way to move him without breaking up their young core. Everyone on this squad knows their role, and Green is the outlier when it comes to efficiency. Like any player, certain Rockets will have bad games, but Green is under a different spotlight. After signing a three-year deal in the offseason, one could at least hope for a breakout-season, at least one in the corridors of efficiency. But Green hasn’t shown that after his solid five game start. He’s regressed to taking bad shots from long range, and doesn’t rely on his athleticism. If Green attacks the basket more often, his success will rise. If he continues to settle, the Rockets will need to ponder if they want to continue to settle with his shenanigans.

After playing five games in seven nights, Houston gets a breather of sorts with two days off before their next contest. This is a tough loss to swallow, but the Rockets are still third in the Western Conference standings. And in their next matchup they can clinch their NBA Cup Group with a win in Minnesota over the Timberwolves. It’ll be the first of another back-to-back for Houston, as they’ll play the 76ers in Philly on Wednesday night. Hopefully this two-day break helps the Rockets prepare for a tough battle in Minnesota on Tuesday night.

Rockets Battle Trail Blazers in Saturday Night Rematch

Broom Night.    Trap Dodgers.    Embrace the Grind.

The Rockets face the Portland Trail Blazers once again at Toyota Center in a Saturday night rematch. Houston dismantled Portland, 116-88, on Friday night. No Rocket player saw more than 30 minutes of action, as the squad was able to rest for the second half of this two-game set tonight. Houston should be able to win this contest as easily as they did last night.

Jerami Grant is questionable for the Blazers and Steven Adams won’t play tonight for the Rockets. This has the inklings of a “Trap Game” for Houston. Tonight’s matchup culminates a busy stretch in the schedule for the Rockets, this is the squad’s fifth game in seven nights. And they just clobbered this same Portland team last night. The Rockets need to embrace the grind, and put the Blazers away early like they did on Friday. Jalen Green got off to a solid start last night, but then jacked up poor shots to bring his efficiency down. Expect Alperen Sengun to be more of a factor in tonight’s contest with Adams sitting out. Sengun wasn’t really needed in last night’s blowout win. The Wizard will be called upon for more of his usual court tricks tonight if the Rockets want to continue their winning ways at home.

Houston is seeking their eighth straight home win tonight. The Rockets are 8-2 at home to start the season, compared to 4-3 away from Toyota Center. After tonight, five of Houston’s next six games are on the road, and the schedule toughens up as we near the end of NBA Cup Group Play. The Rockets currently sit in their place in the Western Conference, a spot no one expected them to be at this season. It’s still early, but Houston has been one of surprises of the entire NBA this season. It shouldn’t be as shocking to Rocket fans. Houston had sightings of this potential last year, as we witnessed the Rockets suffer too many nail-biting losses to count, and a strong overall finish to last season.

As long as the Rockets can continue to stay mentally tough, and take their opponent seriously, they should be able to deal the Blazers another loss tonight, and sweep this two-game set at Toyota Center. Being the fifth game in seven days for Houston, the Rockets may be more fatigued tonight, but they should have enough energy to beat a less-talented Portland team.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Portland Trail Blazers (6-10):  Black

Houston Rockets (12-5):  “City Edition” White

 

Tip-Off:  7:00 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Scorch Trail Blazers, 116-88, for Second NBA Cup Win

First Place.    Two for Two.    Mentally Trill.

Despite allowing the Portland to score the first 8 points, Houston easily dispatched the Blazers, 116-88, on Friday night. The win gives the Rockets their second NBA Cup victory and moves them ahead into sole possession of first place in West Group A. Houston has now won seven in a row at home, and nine of their last eleven games overall. If the Rockets can win one of their two remaining NBA Cup Games (at Minnesota on November 26th, and at Sacramento on December 3rd) they should be able to advance to the knockout round. The Sacramento Kings are 0-2 to start NBA Cup Group Play. The other three teams in Houston’s group (L.A. Clippers, Portland Trail Blazers, and Minnesota Timberwolves) all split their first two games and sit at 1-1 in the group standings.

Dillon Brooks scored a season-high 28 points, including a career-high tying six three-pointers. Brooks scored 16 points in the third quarter as the Rockets distanced themselves from the Blazers to make the fourth quarter officially garbage time. Houston had another balanced scoring attack. Tari Eason scored 22 points off the bench, as he continues to make a serious case for Sixth Man of the Year. Jalen Green scored 17 points on another meh shooting night. He did have another highlight-worthy dunk in the first half, but Green has a bad habit of taking tough shots after getting off to a good start. It’s the root cause of his efficiency problem. Alperen Sengun added 14 points and 8 boards, but his services weren’t needed per usual in this easy blowout win for the Rockets. Amen Thomson had a 10-point, 11-rebound double-double off the bench, as the Terror Twins were up to their usual destructive antics, wreaking havoc against Portland on the court. No Blazers player scored over 13 points, as Houston’s defense was suffocating throughout the contest. The Rockets have one of the best defensive teams in the NBA, and the league’s starting to take notice.

These same tow teams will square-off for a rematch tomorrow night back at Toyota Center. It’s tough to beat the same team twice in a row, but Houston already managed that feat against the Los Angeles Clippers earlier this season in their first NBA Cup win. Being at home, the Rockets should have the advantage in the rematch. As long as Ime Udoka keeps his troops mentally trill, Houston should be able to sweep the two-game set on Saturday night. After a mental letdown in their season opener to the Charlotte Hornets, the Rockets haven’t suffered any bad losses (which I define as home losses to teams with losing records). Houston is now 11-3 since their 1-2 start, and 9-2 in their last eleven games. As long as the Rockets keep taking care of business, and beating the teams they’re supposed to, they should continue to stay near the top of the standings in the Western Conference.

Rockets Host Trail Blazers in Second NBA Cup Game

Game Two.    Twice as Nights.    Cup Leaders.

It’s NBA Cup time again. The Rockets host the Portland Trail Blazers for the first of two straight games at Toyota Center. But tonight’s matchup counts in regards of determining ultimately which teams go to Las Vegas for the knockout round. Houston and Portland are both 1-0, with the Rockets holding a higher point differential for the tie-breaker. Whoever wins tonight’s matchup will be in first place all by themselves. Houston has the advantage in that they’re home, and they simply have the better basketball team. But that doesn’t mean these couple of matchups with the Blazers will be easy.

Portland Head Coach Chauncey Billups has these Blazers playing much better than last season. Shaedon Sharpe is emerging as a star. Scoot Henderson is improving in his second season. Rookie Donovan Clingan is off to a solid start. And Jerami Grant is currently their best player. The Rockets went 3-1 against the Blazers last season, but the loss was a heartbreaker at home, one of the worst defeats of the entire season last year. Houston will try to redeem that loss with a sweep this weekend.

It’s hard to beat the same team twice in a row, but the Rockets already did that against the Los Angeles Clippers at home. They certainly can beat a lesser-talented Portland team. They’ll have to stay disciplined to beat them twice in a row. These Blazers play hard and don’t beat themselves. Dalano Balton played extremely well against the Rockets last season, and could be an X-Factor in determining the result of tonight’s contest.

Alperen Sengun has been rolling for Houston lately. It would be great to see Jalen Green hop on the same train. Green’s trended back towards his inefficient was after a hot start to the season. Get ready for another very red, blood-soaked looking basketball court. And tonight’s matchup should be closer than expected. The Rockets are going for their seventh straight win at home tonight, but this Portland team will sneak up and beat opponents who take them lightly. Houston needs to get off to a fast start and put away the Blazers early so they can rest for the rematch tomorrow night.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Portland Trail Blazers (6-9):  White

Houston Rockets (11-5):  Black

 

Tip-Off:  7:00 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass