Blog

Rockets Seek to Keep Rolling on the Road, Travel to Face Wizards

Quick Trip.    Green’s Week.    Fresh Start.

The rejuvenated Houston Rockets make a brief one-game road-trip to Washington D.C to face the Wizards on Tuesday night. This is the second matchup between these squads in the past week, with the Rockets winning the first matchup, 135-119, back in Houston last Thursday. The Wizards are more beat up than in that first contest, as Kyle Kuzma will be missing tonight’s game with an injury. He’s arguably their best player, but the Rockets still are facing professionals on the other side, and need to particularly keep an eye on Jordan Poole on the defensive end.

Jalen Green was announced as the Western Conference’s Player of the Week on Monday. It’s the first time Green has received the honor, as he led the Rockets to a 3-0 week while playing the best basketball of his career last week. That included a season-high 37 points in a win over these Wizards. Expect Green to continue playing with more aggressive and confidence, especially against a team who’s defense he lit up less than a week ago. After tonight’s matchup, the Rockets return home for three very winnable games. Not to look too far ahead, but if Houston continues playing with this defensive discipline, they can pile on a few more wins before heading back out on the road for a tough matchup in OKC against the Thunder on March 27th. With a 7-1 record, the Rockets have been the best team in the NBA in March. They’ll aim to keep the winning ways rolling as they aim for their fifth straight road win, and sixth consecutive win overall, tonight in D.C.

Amen Thompson is back in the starting lineup tonight, and with Alperen Sengun out for the season, it appears Thompson has a starting role for the remainder of this campaign. The rookie has thrived with increased playing time this season, as if he’s been given a fresh start after beginning the season dealing with an injury. In nine games as a starter this season, Thompson is averaging 13.2 points, 10.6 rebounds, and shooting 63% from the floor. He’s nearly a double-double machine when he starts. Look for the rookie to continue to be a key part of Houston’s success as we approach the final 15 games of the regular season, starting tonight with a matchup in the nation’s capital against the lowly Wizards.

 

Capitol One Arena:  Washington, D.C.

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (32-35):  White

Washington Wizards (11-57):  Black

 

Tip-Off:  6:00 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Out-Duel Cavaliers, 117-103, for Fifth Straight Win

Fusing Together.    The Stay Ready Crew.    Striking Forward.

Houston wasn’t fazed but the uptick in competition as the Cleveland Cavaliers rolled into town. The Rockets handled the Cavs easily, leading by double figures for the majority of the game, en route to a 117-103 victory on Saturday afternoon. Jalen Green continues to emerge as a star for these young Rockets. Green led Houston with 26 points and 11 rebounds against Cleveland. Fred VanVleet chipped in 13 points and dished out a team-high 16 dimes directing the offense. Jabari Smith Jr. registered 20 points and 7 rebound. And Amen Thompson continues to play well in the starting unit, just missing out on another double-double with 18 points and 8 boards in the contest. Houston’s defense held Cleveland’s stealthy backcourt duo of Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland to only a combined 25 points. The Rockets were excellent on both sides of the ball, as the win now gives Houston five in a row, as they continue to creep closer towards the final Play-In position.

Jock Landale mentioned a few games ago how important “The Stay Ready Crew” are for the Rockets. These are members of the film crews, assistants. and people behind the scenes who work hard with players who don’t receive much playing time. With the injuries to Alperen Sengun and Cam Whitmore, Houston’s needed guys to step up, and they’ve been more than ready to handle the task. It’s still a long shot for the Rockets to sneak into the Play-In, but if they keep taking care of their own business and winning games, it’s certainly not impossible. Houston is now 3.5 games behind the Golden State Warriors for the final Play-In spot.

Up next, the Rockets make a quick road trip out to the nation’s capital to play the Washington Wizards for the second time in a week. Houston won the first matchup back in H-Town, and they’ll look to the same in D.C. as they aim for their fifth straight road win on Tuesday night. The Rockets were in control during the entirety of their win over the Cavs on Saturday. The win wasn’t shocking, but the dominant fashion in which Houston controlled the contest was a welcome surprise. Washington still holds the NBA’s worst record, and they have only four wins at home this entire season. Houston’s in a great position to extend their winning streak as they hit the road for a one-game trip in Washington D.C.

Rockets Welcome Cavaliers for Matinee Matchup

Afternoon Hoops.    Drive for Five.    Step Up.   

Get ready for some afternoon hoops, as the Rockets host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday at Toyota Center. Houston is aiming for their fifth straight win today. The Rockets have won six of their past seven games, and are riding a four-game winning streak into this afternoon’s contest. Despite losing Alperen Sengun and Cam Whitmore to season-ending injuries, Houston is currently playing the best basketball they’ve played all season. This matchup will prove to be tougher than the Rockets’ most recent victories over league bottom-dwellers, as Cleveland is playoff-bound once again this season.

The Cavaliers currently sit in third place in the Eastern Conference, but have been playing average basketball lately, going 6-7 over their past thirteen games. Donovan Mitchell led the way in the first matchup that saw the Cavs beat the Rockets, 135-130, in Cleveland back on December 18th. Mitchell led the way in that matchup with 37 points, and he will once again be the focal point of Houston’s defense in this contest. His backcourt running mate, Darius Garland, could also be a major threat, as well as big man Jarrett Allen in the interior. Jock Landale will have his work cut out for him trying to contain Allen. Expect Houston to experiment with Jabari Smith Jr. and Amen Thompson defining Allen in the post, especially if Landale comes off the pine again, which has been the trend all season.

The Rockets are rolling in March, but the Cavs are a step up in competition compared to Houston’s last several opponents. The Rockets are coming off wins over both last place teams in each conference (Wizards in the East, Spurs in the West). If they want to extend their streak to five, they need to continue playing intense defense, with a balanced offensive attack. Amen Thompson is coming off arguably the best game of his career, and Jalen Green had a season-high 37 points in their previous win. If the Rockets can contain Mitchell, they have a solid chance to win their fifth straight game on Saturday.

 

Toyota Center: Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Cleveland Cavaliers (42-24): Maroon

Houston Rockets (31-35): “City Edition” White

 

Tip-Off:  4:00 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Fly Past Wizards, 135-119, Win Fourth Straight

Different Shade.    Coming Up Jock.    Marching On.

Jalen Green scored a season-high 37 points, as the Rockets made easy work of Wizards on Thursday night with a 135-119 win. The victory is Houston’s fourth straight, and their sixth win in the past seven games. Green has been a different player since the All-Star Break. After an inconsistent first half to the season, Green is finally playing with consistency at a higher level. Green shot an extremely efficient 15-for-23 from the floor, and also grabbed 8 boards on the evening. Fred VanVleet supplied 27 points and 9 assists, and Amen Thompson had another double-double, contributing 20 points and 10 rebounds. The Rockets had six different players score at least 13 points, including all the starters. Jordan Poole led the Wizards with 25 points off the bench. Houston dominated the second quarter, outscoring Washington 42-25 to take control of the contest.

For the third consecutive game, Jock Landale produced a season-high in points, as he scored 13 points in 27 minutes against the Wizards. With Sengun sidelined for the season, expect to see plenty of Landale for the rest of the campaign. The Aussie has been efficient and avoided mistakes over his last three games. Landale will look to continue taking advantage of the extra playing time as we approach the final sixteen games of the regular season.

The Rockets are now 6-1 in the month of March, and they’ll look to keep their winning ways rolling as they host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday afternoon. With a record of 31-35, Houston still trails the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers by 4 games for the final Play-In spot. Without Sengun, who’s been the best player for the Rockets all season, it’s probably just wishful thinking imagining a scenario where Houston slips into the Play-In tournament. For now, they need to continue working on developing good habits for next season and the future. And if they keep winning and receive a bit of luck, who knows, they could possibly sneak in, but at this point it’s a long shot. The Rockets need to focus on ending this season on a positive note, and they’re certainly marching in that direction this month.

Rockets Seek Fourth Straight Win, Host Lowly Wizards

Home Duet.    Opportunity Knocks.    More Landale.

After their first perfect road trip of the season, the Houston Rockets return home aiming for their fourth win in a row as they host the Washington Wizards. After tonight’s game, Houston will host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday before heading back on the road. The Wizards boast the NBA’s worst record, at 11-54. Despite this, Washington has won two of their last three games, and still has talent on the other side. Kyle Kuzma is arguably their best player. And Jordan Poole can be a threat off the bench despite an overall disappointing season in his first year as a Wizard.

Thursday night’s return home for Houston is a great chance for the Rockets to extend their winning streak. Even without Sengun, Houston should be able to beat the Wizards at home. Expect to see more of Jock Landale tonight after the big man had his best game of the season in the previous win over San Antonio. Washington is also thin in the frontcourt, so Landale could be due for an even better performance tonight.

The Wizards are the only team the Rockets have yet to face this season. The two squads will meet again in five days in D.C. to close the season series. As long as Houston sticks to the game plan, and continues playing with defensive intensity, they should be able to take away any magic the Wizards have in store for tonight.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Washington Wizards (11-54):  White

Houston Rockets (30-35):  Black

 

Tip-Off:  7:00 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Edge Spurs, 103-101, for 4th Straight Road Win

Perfect Trip.    The Landale Effect.    Buying In.

For the first time this season, the Rockets completed a perfect road trip. Houston finished off their three-game journey with a 103-101 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night. Fred VanVleet led Houston with 21 points, and Jalen Green added 16 points, but it was Jock Landale, who made his presence felt late in the contest. Due to Sengun’s absence, Landale saw a season-high 26 minutes, and didn’t disappoint. The Aussie finished with 11 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists, to go along with some great hustle and defensive plays. Expect to see much more of Landale the rest of the season as he will be garnering a lot of what would’ve been Sengun’s time on the court.

After losing then first matchup in the second game of the season, Houston has now won the season series over the Spurs, 3-1. They’ve been especially forceful defensively on Victor Wembanyama. The Rockets held Wemby to only 13 points, well below his season average on Tuesday night.

It may have taken some time, but Houston is finally buying in to Ime Udoka’s game plan, and the team’s road struggles are now just a past murmur. The Rockets have won four straight on the road, and three straight games overall. After starting the season 5-24 away from home, Houston has now gone 4-0 over the last quartet of road games. Up next, the Rockets return home to host the Washington Wizards, who boast the NBA’s worst record. It’s a great chance for Houston to keep the winning ways traveling as they return home on Thursday night.

Rockets Seek Perfect Road Trip in Final Meeting with Spurs

Wizard-Less Era.    I-10 Finale.    Revenge at the Alamo.

The Houston Rockets ride into San Antonio for the final stop on their three-game road trip. Tuesday night’s tilt is the final matchup this season in the I-10 Rivalry. This matchup is a revenge game for both teams. Houston lost the first meeting between these teams early in the season in San Antonio. The Rockets then went on to win the next two matchups, setting up tonight’s finale. Houston has won a season-high three straight road games and they now aim for a perfect road trip with a win in San Antonio tonight.

After undergoing an MRI on Monday, news broke that Alperen Sengun will likely miss the rest of the season. A tough blow for a Rockets team that was finding its groove at the right time with Sengun playing the best basketball of his career. Fortunately, Sengun avoided what appeared to be a broken ankle, instead suffering a Grade 3 ankle sprain. With only 18 games remaining, the smart decision is to hold Sengun out avoid risking his future health. Even is he heals sooner than expected, less than a month remains in the season, and the best move for Sengun and the team is to let their franchise-player recover. Rockets fans have likely seen the last of The Wizard on the court this season.

It’s the final matchup in the storied I-10 rivalry as Houston starts the Wizard-less era in the Alamo City on Tuesday night. The Rockets are shooting for their fourth straight road win, and first perfect road trip all season. Expect Wemby to have a bounce back performance for the Spurs after being dominated by Sengun in the previous matchup. Regardless, Houston still has enough talent to escape the Alamo with a victory on Tuesday night.

 

Frost Bank Center:  San Antonio, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (29-35):  Red

San Antonio Spurs (14-51):  Black

 

Tip-Off:  7:30 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass

Sengun Injured Late in Rockets 112-104 Win Over Kings

Costly Victory.    Emergent Third.    Slowing Fox.

The Rockets won their season-high third straight game on the road on Sunday night. It came with a hefty cost. Houston’s best player, Alperen Sengun, suffered a brutal ankle injury in the final minute of the game, and had to be carted off the floor in a wheelchair. It was a tough sight for Rockets fans to witness. Sengun will likely miss the remainder of the season due to the injury. To make matters worse, Cam Whitmore also suffered a hamstring injury that will also sideline the rookie for the rest of this campaign.

Houston once again trailed at halftime, but used a dominant third quarter to take control of the game. The Rockets outscored the Kings 32-14 in the third period, and fended off Sacramento in the final frame to earn the victory. Fred VanVleet led the Rockets with 22 points and 9 assists.

The key to tonight’s win was Houston’s second-half defense. The Rockets did a tremendous job on De’Aaron Fox, the King’s best player, in the final quarter. Houston held Fox, last season’s Inaugural “Clutch Player of the Year” scoreless in the final period. Up next, the Rockets will aim for their first perfect road-trip of the season as they visit the Alamo City for one final matchup with the Spurs.

Rockets Visit Kings for Final Meeting this Season

Second Leg.    Sweep Seekers.    Royal Difference.

Fresh off a win in Portland to start their road trip, the Rockets make their lone trip to Sacramento this season to battle the Kings for the final time this season. Houston won the first two matchups back in Toyota Center early in the campaign. This is the second stop on a three-game road trip for the Rockets. The squad will close out the trip with a battle with Spurs in the Alamo City on Tuesday night. Houston has won three of their last four games overall. Sacramento has also won three of their past four games, and two straight.

Houston is seeking a sweep of the Kings this season as they enter tonight’s matchup. If the Rockets want any chance of pulling the upset tonight, they need to contain Sacramento’s De’Aaron Fox. The Houston native and All-Star didn’t play in either of the previous two matchups between these teams. In the two wins, the Rockets have held the Kings to the lowest points per game average any team has against any single opponent this season.

This Kings team is currently in sixth place in the Western conference, and are a different squad than the group the Rockets beat twice way back in November of this campaign. Expect a tough, gritty matchup tonight, as Houston aims to keep rolling on the road tonight in Sac-Town.

 

Golden 1 Center:  Sacramento, California

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (28-35):  White

Sacramento Kings (36-26):  Purple

 

Tip-Off:  5:00 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Surge Past Trail Blazers, 123-107, for Second Straight Road Win

Track Meet.    Poster Man.    Clean Finish.

Houston’s road trip started in triumphant fashion, as the Rockets rallied to beat the injury-riddled Trail Blazers, 123-107, on Friday night. Portland actually held a lead into the third quarter, which saw Houston face a 12-point deficit at one point. This game was a track meet, as the Rockets scored a season-high 37 fast break points, dominating the Blazers in transition. Jalen Green led the Rockets with 27 points

The turning moment in this contest featured arguably the dunk of the season by any Rockets player. Houston was staring at a 9-point deficit when Jalen Green absolutely posterized Anfernee Simons in the third quarter. The play energized Houston’s bench, and the Rockets would go on to dominate the rest of the game, garnering a 16-point victory.

Houston had a clean finish to this contest. After a somewhat sloppy start, the Rockets didn’t commit a single turnover in the fourth quarter, exhibiting excellent ball control. Fred VanVleet continues to be one of the best assist-to-turnover ratio players in the league. FVV dished out 10 dimes, and committed zero turnovers in Houston’s victory. The win gives the Rockets their second straight on the road, and a positive start as they continue this three-game road trip out West.