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Rockets Face-Off with Suns in Desert Rematch

Desert Showdown: Part 2.    Handling the Book.    End of this Road.

The Rockets square-off against the Suns for a rematch back in Phoenix on Saturday night. The Suns took the first match of this two-game set, beating Houston 110-105 on Thursday night in the Valley. The Rockets are aiming for a different result in Part 2 of their Desert Showdown this season. Houston needs a better performance from Alperen Sengun, who was ejected for the first time in his career in the previous game. The Rockets also need to do a better job defensively on Devin Booker, who led Phoenix’s attack with 35 points on Saturday night.

After a five-game absence, Bradley Beal will be returning to action tonight for the Suns. The former All-Star may have a minutes restriction upon his return, but his presence alone is a boost for Phoenix. Expect the Suns to be another tough out as the Rockets face Kevin Durant and company for the final time this season. Houston has no one on the injury report besides Tari Eason, who at this point may be out for the season, although no official statement has been made regarding the situation.

Tonight marks the end of a tough five-game stretch which saw the Rockets play only the Suns and the Thunder. Houston is 1-3 so far on this stretch, with the lone win coming at home over Phoenix last weekend. The Rockets are better than their 5-24 road record shows. Hopefully Houston can get a huge win by beating a hot Suns team before they return to Toyota Center next week.

 

Footprint Center:  Phoenix, Arizona

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (25-34):  White

Phoenix Suns (35-24):  Purple

 

Tip-Off:  8:00 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Fail to Liftoff in 110-105 Loss to Suns

No Climbing Back.    Green Sighting.    One More Time.

The Rockets fell in an early hole in Phoenix on Thursday night. Houston trailed 33-17 after the first period, and never overcame the early deficit in a 110-105 loss the Suns. Devin Booker led Phoenix with 35 points as he continues to torch the Rockets every time he faces Houston. Kevin Durant added 24 points for Phoenix, and Jusuf Nurkic chipped in 16 points and 13 boards for the Suns. Alperen Sengun was ejected for the first time in his career in the fourth quarter after arguing a bad call. Nurkic certainly had the better of Houston’s center in this matchup.

Jalen Green had one of his better games of the season, and kept the Rockets within distance in the first half. Green finished with 34 points on 10-for-28 shooting from the field. Fred VanVleet added 21 points for Houston,and Cam Whitmore registered 14 points and 8 boards on the evening.

These same two teams will square off for the final time this season in the same arena on Saturday night. The Rockets will need to be sharper on the offensive end, and focus on containing Devin Booker if they want any chance to even the season series on in the finale this weekend.

Rockets Visit the Desert for First of Two Meetings with Suns

Part 1.    Star-Studded Valley.    Offensive Tuneup.

The Rockets head West to the Valley of the Sun as they battle the Phoenix Suns. Tonight’s contest is the first of two straight in Phoenix to close-out this road trip for the Rockets. Houston is 1-1 so far against the Suns this season, with their latest victory coming six days ago back at Toyota Center, 114-110. The Rockets have yet to play this Suns team in Phoenix this season, and given how Houston has played on the road, expect these next two games to be exponentially difficult for the Rockets compared to the previous matchup between these squads.

The Suns will still be without Bradley Beal for this matchup, but Jusuf Nurkic will be available. Nurkic didn’t play in the previous contest between these conference foes. Phoenix still has two of the NBA’s most lethal offensive weapons in Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. The Rockets have to hope their shots aren’t falling, or Houston will be in for a long night.

Houston desperately needs an offensive tuneup if they want any chance to keep pace with an offensively dynamic team like Phoenix. The Rockets have failed to reach the 115-point mark over their last three games. Houston needs their shots on the perimeter to start falling, and they’ll have a chance to steal a game from the Suns on Thursday night.

 

Footprint Center:  Phoenix, Arizona

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (25-33):  White

Phoenix Suns (34-24):  Purple

 

Tip-Off:  8:00 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Fall to Thunder, 112-95, for Second Straight Game

Out of Pace.    Second Quarter Struggles.    Going West.

For the second game in a row, the Rockets were outmatched and overpowered by the Thunder, en route to a 112-95 defeat. Alperen Sengun led Houston with 23 points and 11 rebounds. Jabari Smith Jr. contributed another double-double against, OKC, adding 18 points and 13 boards. However, the Thunder had too much firepower for the Rockets to contend with. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way once again with 31 points on Tuesday night. Chet Holmgren supplied 18 points and 13 rebounds, while Jalen Williams added 24 points for OKC.

Houston actually led this contest after the first period, but a dismal second quarter gave the Thunder control of this game. The Rockets were outscored 32-21 in the second period, and couldn’t muster a fight to cut the deficit in the second half. These squads will square off one more time in late March, and so far OKC has the 2-1 season series edge over the Rockets after taking these last two games.

Up next for Houston, the squad heads west to the desert where they’ll face the Suns for two straight games in Phoenix to close out this road trip. The Rockets beat the Suns six days ago, but that was back in Houston. Garnering a victory in the valley of the sun will likely prove to be more difficult for this young Rockets squad. Hopefully they can steal one of the next two games, improving which has so far been a terrible showing on the road this season.

Rockets Travel to OKC, Face Thunder to Begin Tough Road Stretch

Part 2.    Ultimate Road Challenge.    Defend the Three.    

For the first time all season, the Rockets will be playing on national television, as they travel to face the Thunder on Oklahoma City. This contest will be televised on TNT, and Houston will have a much wider audience than the usual game. This gives the Rockets a chance to show the entire country their skillset. The problem: they’ll be playing the Thunder once again, who are tied with the Timberwolves for the best record in the Western Conference. Houston has beaten OKC once this season, so a victory tonight isn’t impossible. Tonight’s contest marks the end of a home and home between these squads, as the Thunder won the previous game in Houston, 123-110, on Sunday night.

This is the third game in a tough five game stretch that sees the Rockets playing the Thunder and Suns over five straight contests. It’s the first time in Houston’s franchise history that they’ve played two unique opponents over a five game period. The Rockets are 1-1 so far, but now they head on the road, where they have the second worst record in the entire league. Hopefully, Houston can win at least one of these next three road games, before the return home next week.

Besides containing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren, the key to winning tonight’s game for the Rockets will be defending the perimeter. The Thunder shot very well from beyond the arc in Sunday’s matchup between these squads. Houston needs to tighten up their defense tonight in OKC, a task that’s been a problem for this Rockets team all season long on the road. This is Houston’s most difficult game during this tough five game stretch, as the Thunder boast an impressive 20-6 record at home. Maybe the bright lights of the national stage will inspire this Rockets team to pull off one of the biggest upsets of the season. It would be a much-needed confidence boost for this young squad that is really struggling on the road. Houston looks to put those road woes to sleep as they battle the Thunder once again on Tuesday night.

 

Paycom Center:  Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (25-32):  White

Oklahoma City Thunder (40-17):  Orange

 

Tip-Off:  9:00 PM CT

TV:  TNT

Second Half Slump Dooms Rockets in 123-110 Loss to Thunder

Tale of Two Halves.    Bari’s Evolution.    Scenery Change.    

Houston led by as many as 16 points in the first half on Sunday night, but it wasn’t enough, as this contest was a tale of two halves. The Oklahoma City Thunder rallied in the second half to take over the game, dealing the Rockets a 123-110 defeat at Toyota Center. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 36 points and rookie Chet Holmgren added 29 points, as OKC dominated the second portion of this matchup, spoiling Houston’s hopes for a victory.

Jabari Smith Jr. had another spectacular performance for the Rockets. Playing against one of the teams that passed on him in the draft, Bari was noticeably more motivated than usual on Sunday night. Smith Jr. led the Rockets with 20 points and 17 rebounds on the night. Fred VanVleet added 20 points for Houston, and Alperen Sengun chipped in 19 points and 12 boards. But once the game reached the six-minute mark in the second quarter, the Rockets were dominated by the Thunder for the rest of the contest.

These two teams will face-off once again in their next game on Tuesday night, as Houston begins a tough three-game road-trip in OKC. The Rockets boast the league’s second worst record on the road, at 5-22, while the Thunder are an impressive 20-6 back at home. The next matchup will be nationally televised on TNT, as Houston aims to get a huge upset win with the eyes of a national audience watching on Tuesday night in OKC.

Rockets Host Thunder in First of Two-Game Set

Part 1.    MVP?    One for the Road.

Houston welcomes the Oklahoma City Thunder to town on Sunday night, as the Rockets seek to win their second straight game. Houston is coming off an impressive victory over the Phoenix Suns on Friday night. Tonight’s contest presents a tough challenge, as OKC is tied for the best record in the Western Conference. They have arguable the league’s MVP, in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Rookie of the Year, in Chet Holmgren. SGA continues to get more press in the MVP hype, and Holmgren is off to a stellar first season. The Rockets need to focus on containing these two young stars, as well as the Thunder’s Jalen Williams, who is having a breakout year in his second season, evolving into OKC’s third-best player.

The Rockets won the first matchup against the Thunder, 110-101, in Houston back on December 6th. So Houston is capable of beating this talented OKC team. Tonight’s tilt marks the first of a home-and-home between these teams, as they’ll face-off again on Tuesday night in Oklahoma City. The Thunder’s biggest weakness is their lack of rebounding. The Rockets need to take advantage of their size and impose their will on the glass. Tonight may be Houston’s best chance to get another victory over the next four games, as they’ll hit the road after Sunday’s matchup for three toughies.

Houston is 20-9 at home, and they’ll look to build on their impressive home record as they battle a Thunder team that’s gotten better as the season’s moved on. OKC is tied for first in the West, and a better team than when the Rockets faced them back in December. Houston needs to be ready to weather an incoming storm, and hope to contain SGA from having another MVP-caliber performance this season.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Oklahoma City Thunder (39-17):  Blue

Houston Rockets (25-31):  “City Edition” White

 

Tip-Off:  6:00 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Rise Past Suns, 114-110, Win Third Straight at Home

Home, Sweet, Home.    Rescued by Rookies.    Tough Stretch Continues.

The Rockets continued their impressive play at home, as they rallied from an early deficit to beat the Phoenix Suns, 114-110, on Friday night. The victory gives Houston their third straight home win, as they held off a talented Suns team at Toyota Center. Kevin Durant led Phoenix with 28 points, Devin Booker added 25 points, and Bol Bol came off the bench to almost spoil this game for Houston. Bol had his best game of the season, scoring 25 points and grabbing 14 rebounds.

Fred VanVleet led the Rockets with 23 points. Jabari Smith Jr. had a fantastic game, scoring 22 points and grabbing 16 boards. Alperen Sengun contributed 17 points and 12 rebounds, but it was the rookies, Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore, who came off the bench to spark Houston. The Rockets faced an early 16 point deficit in the first half, but the rookies fueled a comeback that allowed Houston to outscore Phoenix 37-24 in the second quarter. Thompson and Whitmore both finished with 15 points, with Amen grabbing 10 boards for another double-double as he continues to get better with each game. Houston is now 20-9 at home on the season, compared to a dreadful 5-22 on the road. The Rockets will have one more home game on Sunday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder, before heading off on a tough three-game road-trip.

Up next, Houston has a home-and-home against the Thunder, before facing this same Suns team twice in a row in Phoenix next week. It’s arguably one of the toughest stretches of the season for the Rockets, but with Friday’s win, they’re off to a solid start. Hopefully they can protect home court on Sunday night against a very good Thunder team. Houston has been terrible on the road all season, so the next game is the Rockets best chance to get another win during this brutal five-game run.

Rockets Return Home, Host Suns for Second Time

Home Medicine.    Sunny Future.    Back-to-Back.

The Houston Rockets return home on Friday night for the first time after the All-Star break. Awaiting them will be the Phoenix Suns, who beat the Rockets earlier this season in Houston shortly after Christmas. Both teams are coming off losses last night, the Suns in Dallas, and the Rockets in New Orleans. So tonight’s matchup is even in terms of rest-advantage. Kevin Durant and Devin Booker both played near 40 minutes last night, which could be good news for Houston tonight. Bradley Beal and Jusuf Nurkic will both miss tonight’s contest for Phoenix, as they’re dealing with injuries. Durant and Booker are the Suns’ most lethal threats offensively, and the Rockets need to keep an eye on Grayson Allen, who’s having the best season of his young career. Phoenix’s pesky guard is shooting lights out from beyond the arc, and scored 16 points in the first matchup between these squads.

The Rockets have shown to be completely different team at home opposed to on the road this season. Houston is 19-9 at Toyota Center, good for the fifth best home record out West. Expect the Rockets to be much sharper tonight after coming off another disappointing road loss. Houston is still without Tari Eason, who may be shut down for the remainder of the season, although Coach Ime Udoka or the Rockets haven’t officially made any statements implying this just yet.

Houston will be seeing a lot of these Suns in the near future. Phoenix won the first matchup, 129-113, on December 27th in H-Town. Entering tonight, three of the next five games for the Rockets are against the Suns. They’ll play Phoenix twice in a row in the desert next week. Considering how poorly Houston performs on the road, they really need to win tonight if they want a chance to beat the Suns at all this season. Look for the Rockets to at least make it a competitive game tonight, and given Phoenix’s injuries, Houston may be able to pile on another home win in their return to Toyota Center.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Phoenix Suns (33-23):  Purple

Houston Rockets (24-31):  “City Edition” White

 

Tip-Off:  7:00 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Dismantled by Pelicans, 127-105, as Season Resumes

Road Worriers.    Out of Contention.    Home End.

Houston entered their post All Star Break portion of the season on Thursday night, with the hopes of turning a new leaf on the road. However, their visit to The Big Easy turned into anything but easy, as the Rockets were pounded by the Pelicans, 127-105, en route to another road loss on the season. Amen Thompson scored a career-high 22 points to lead Houston, as he was basically the lone bright spot for the Rockets on Thursday. Alperen Sengun added 20 points and 9 boards, but Houston was overmatched from the opening tip in New Orleans. C.J. McCollum led the Pelicans with 28 points. Zion Williamson added 27 points, and Jonas Valanciunas had 20 points and 14 rebounds for a New Orleans team that dominated the battle inside the paint. Jalen Green scored 10 points for Houston, but shot only 3-for-14 from the floor, as his struggles on the road continued. The Rockets never really made this contest interesting, as they failed to outscore the Pelicans in any of the four quarters.

The Rockets have now the second worst road record in the entire league, only to the Detroit Pistons, who own the NBA’s worst overall record. Houston is a dismal 5-22 on the road. That’s a big enough sample size to note the Rockets are desperately struggling away from home. They’ve played almost two-thirds of the way through the season, and with 14 road games remaining, Houston will be hard-pressed to get even 10 road wins this season. With an overall record of 24-31, the Rockets are now 5 games out of the final Play-In position, with only 27 games remaining in the season. Houston’s not officially out of contention yet, but their chances are slimming with each loss.

Up next, the Rockets will return home to the friendly confines of Toyota Center, where they seem to play like a different team. Houston is 19-9 at home, the best home record in the Western Conference outside of the top four seeds. Houston has tough competition coming into town, as they’ll host the Phoenix Suns on Friday, followed by the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday. Both of those teams are playoff-bound, and could possibly even win the West. Hopefully a return home can get the Rockets back on track, as they enter the final third stretch of the season.