Blog

Rockets Crush Undermanned Mavs, 122-96, to Snap Losing Streak

Quick Work.    More Whitmore.    Front Half.

Facing a heavily undermanned Dallas team, Houston wasted no time reverting back to their winning ways. The Rockets made quick work of the Mavericks, and led by as many as 40 points at one point, as they cruised to a 122-96 victory on Friday night. The win snaps Houston’s three-game losing streak, and improves the squad’s home record to 12-2. Basically 40% of Dallas’ players were unavailable, due to injury or illness. Contrary to facing Atlanta, the Rockets didn’t play around with this wounded Mavs unit.

Alperen Sengun led Houston’s charge with 22 points and 15 rebounds. Sengun should be in the running for his first All-Star bid, especially if the Rockets continue their winning ways into the February break. Cam Whitmore had his best game of his career. The rookie received 14 minutes of action, and made the most of his time. Whitmore flashed his upside with 14 points and some impressive plays in garbage time.

The Rockets took care of business as expected on Friday night. The squad has little time to revel in their latest win, as Houston travels to the Big Easy to take on the Pelicans tomorrow night. That game won’t be anywhere near as easy as this latest victory Dallas. Luckily for the Rockets, they were able to rest key players in this blowout victory. No single Houston player saw more than 31 minutes of action…. hence they should have enough left in the tank to face a rising New Orleans squad on Saturday night.

Rockets Desperately Seeking Win, Host Hobbled Mavericks

No Luka.    Fast Start.    Danger Zone.

Currently on three game skid, the Rockets host the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night, as they aim to get back on the winning track. Houston had their eleven game home winning streak snapped in their previous loss, a 134-127 defensive dud to the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night. There is some potentially good news for the Rockets tonight, if they seize the opportunity, Luka Doncic will miss tonight’s game with an injury. That’s fortunate for Houston, as Luka’s torched the Rockets over the last few games, averaging a 40-point triple-double. Kyrie Irving remains sideline with an injury as well, but this Mavericks team still has plenty of dangerous players. Tim Hardaway Jr. seems to always play his best against Houston. He’s a seasoned Rocket-killer, and don’t be surprised if he scores at least 25 points tonight. Dante Exum has basically taken Irving’s place in the lineup since the star’s been out. And Exum has played extremely well as of late. The same goes for Derrick Jones Jr. and Jaden Hardy. These players will be on the Rockets’ defensive radar tonight. If they can control the out from this foursome, Houston should be able to beat these undermanned Mavs on Friday night.

The Rockets need to get off to a fast start. They can’t afford to overlook this Mans team because their two best players are sidelined. If Houston falls behind early, they may not have enough steam to get back in the contest. Plus, this is the first of a back-to-back, as the Rockets travel to New Orleans to face the Pelicans tomorrow night. Houston could use an easy win and some rest, before heading over to face a tough New Orleans squad on the road.

Minus Kyrie and Luka, this is by far Houston’s easiest game for the rest of the year. They play playoff teams pretty much every night after this contest until we see the Pistons on New Year’s Day. The Rockets are in a danger zone of approaching a lengthy losing streak if they can’t beat the Mavs tonight. Dallas is undermanned, and Houston needs to take advantage of these absences in order to start another winning streak at home.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Dallas Mavericks (16-11):  Blue

Houston Rockets (13-12):  “City Edition” White

 

Tip-Off:  7:00 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Home Streak Ends in 134-127 Loss to Hawks

Loose Switches.    Wrong Direction.    Fighting the Schedule.

It was fun while it lasted, but Houston’s win streak at home came to an end on Wednesday night, as the Hawks outlasted the Rockets, 134-127, at Toyota Center. Houston had won eleven straight at Toyota Center, but the Hawks ended that streak in triumphant fashion. This contest was a game of runs. The Rockets trailed by 20 points early, then came back to take a five point lead in the second half. Atlanta then took the lead again, by a sizable amount. Houston rallied again, but the comeback attempt ultimately fell short in the loss. Trae Young led the Hawks with 30 points and 14 assists, as the Rockets have now given up more than 134 in consecutive games. The defense needs to get better. Houston has been shooting the ball well and playing fine on the offensive end. Their defense is to blame for these recent losses. Jabari Smith Jr. had the best game of his young career. Jabari scored a career-high 34 points, and grabbed 13 rebounds. Fred VanVleet continued his stellar play. FVV scored 32 points and dished out 15 assists. Both guys have been Houston’s best two players over the last few games.

The Rockets’ pick-and-roll defense was terrible against Young and the Hawks. Houston had loose switches on almost every coverage featuring a pick-and-roll in this matchup, and ultimately led to them allowing a whopping 134 points. After an impressive start wading a tough early schedule, the Rockets have now officially their first bad loss on their resume this season. You should never lose to a below .500 team at home. Even if they feature a few All-Stars like Young and Dejounte Murray. The Rockets have been several title contenders at home, and their bad start doomed them in this latest loss. Houston has now lost three straight games overall, and will look to get back on track Friday night as they host the Dallas Mavericks.

Coming up the Rockets have a weekend back-to-back, followed by a lengthy seven-game home-stand. First the Rockets host the Mavs this Friday, before traveling to New Orleans to face the Pelicans on Saturday night. The schedule is pretty tough coming up, including these two games. The Rockets have a lot of home games coming up, but most of them are against likely playoff teams like the Mavericks. Houston needs to find their defensive swagger, or they could be in danger of approaching a lengthy losing streak.

Rockets Return Home for a Battle with the Hawks

Home, Sweet, Home.    Dangerously Underwhelming.    No Mercy.

After an unsuccessful road trip which saw Houston lose two out of three games, the Rockets return home to host the Atlanta Hawks. It’s the beginning of a lengthy home stretch for Houston, who have been red-hot to start the season at Toyota Center. The Rockets 11-1 home record is the best in the Western Conference. Tonight, they’re aiming for their 12th straight win at home, as they host Trae Young and the disappointing Hawks.

Atlanta is off to an underwhelming 11-15 start, but they still have a lot of talent on their roster. Besides superstar point-guard Trae Young, Dejounte Murray is a threat in the perimeter as well, as Atlanta boasts one of best starting backcourts in the league. Murray is a former All-Star who was traded from the San Antonio Spurs last season to Atlanta. Young is still the Hawks’ biggest offensive threat, but Murray can easily go off for 30 points on any given night. Atlanta also has former-Rockets center Clint Capela still manning the middle for their roster. Capela has played well against his former team, and will be looking to have another strong performance tonight. Alperen Sengun has a difficult challenge on his hands, but he’s having an All-Star caliber season, and should win the matchup inside tonight.

The Rockets need to improve their free throw shooting, and they can’t afford to take this Atlanta team lightly because of their record. Sengun and company have to show the Hawks no mercy tonight. If Houston gets off to a slow start, they could be in trouble, as the Hawks have plenty of firepower on the offensive end. We’ll also see the return of another ex-Rocket, former fan favorite Garrison “Garry Bird” Mathews returns to Toyota Center. Houston needs to keep an eye on Mathews, who shot the ball well in this building during his tenure as a Rocket. Every player likes going up against their former team, especially when they were traded. They want to show their previous squad that they “made a mistake”, as Dillon Brooks said in the Rockets’ last win over the Grizzlies. Expect the Rockets to play better as they return to Toyota Center, where they’ve been red-hot. Tonight’s matchup won’t be easy, as Atlanta has several All-Stars and a few former Rockets looking for revenge. Houston needs to stay disciplined from the start and bring the defensive intensity they displayed before the road trip… and they should be able to earn their 12th consecutive home win on Wednesday night.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Atlanta Hawks (11-15):  Black

Houston Rockets (13-11):  Red

 

Tip-Off:  7:00 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass

Road Trip Ends with Crushing Loss in Cleveland, as Rockets Fall to Cavs, 135-130, in Overtime

Land of Heartbreak.    The Green Problem.    Change of Scenery.

In heartbreaking fashion, the Rockets lost another thriller on the road, falling to the Cavaliers, 135-130, in Overtime. Houston is now 0-2 in extra time this season, and the loss gives the Rockets a 2-10 record on the road. The squad had a chance to win the game in regulation, but one of Alperen Sengun’s signature “Flamingo’s” rimmed out as time expired, forcing overtime. Cleveland took over in the extra frame, as Donovan Mitchell scored 37 points to lead the Cavs. Going back two seasons, Cleveland has now won 11 straight overtime games, a streak that’s hard to fathom. Fred VanVleet was tremendous with 27 points and 17 assists to lead the Rockets. Sengun registered a solid 24 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 dimes, as he’s continues pushing for his first All-Star bid, as voting started on Tuesday. Jeff Green continues to be a revelation off the bench in limited minutes. Uncle Jeff scored 15 points, and Houston always seems to play better when he’s on the court.

As for Jalen Green, the Rockets third-year guard continues to struggle mightily with his efficiency. Green scored only 12 points on 2-for-12 shooting, another ugly shooting night for the swingman. Green needs to turn his performance around, or Ime Udoka may even consider a lineup change. There’s a reason Green has been benched in several fourth quarters and late in games. He just hasn’t made the leap or had the breakout season many people expected from him this season. Houston gets a break as they play a bunch of games at home coming up, and Jalen has been much better at Toyota Center as opposed to the road. Maybe a change of scenery will get his game back on track.

The Rockets came out much sharper in Cleveland as opposed to Milwaukee, and played well enough to win this game. However, missed free throws down the stretch was Houston’s achilles’ heal in this loss, along with careless turnovers. The squad was one Sengun Flamingo away from escaping with a win, but basketball is a game of seconds, and every single one counts. Houston now returns home, where they’ll play 9 of their next 10 games at Toyota Center. The Rockets have been dominant at home, with an 11-1 record, the best in the Western Conference. Hopefully, a return to the friendly confines of The Yote will allow the squad to get back on track.

Rockets Aim to Get Back on Winning Track, Face Cavaliers

Fighting Human Nature.    Seize the Opportunity.    End of the Road.

The Rockets don’t have to wait long to wash their previous loss to the Bucks away, as they travel to Cleveland to face the Cavaliers on Monday night. It’s the second half of a back-to-back for Houston, and their third game in four nights. They’re in midst of a busy stretch with a lot of games on the schedule this month. The squad may be fighting tired legs and human nature tonight, but this Cavs team will not pose the mighty challenge Milwaukee gave the Rockets last night. Compared to the Bucks, Cleveland are not as good of a team overall. Currently, they have a record of 14-12, which puts them eight currently in the Eastern Conference. The Cavs will likely make they playoffs, but they’re not a true title contender like the Bucks.

Fortunately for Houston, the Cavaliers are missing some key pieces due to injury tonight. Darius Garland and Evan Mobley are expected to miss multiple weeks with their injuries. Both players are key pieces for this Cavs team. However, the Rockets still need to get off to a faster start. This Cleveland team still has the best player on the court tonight in Donovan Mitchell, who scored 70 points in a game once. Jarrett Allen will make his presence felt in the paint. Houston needs to match the Cavs’ physicality, and pray the refs don’t screw them with the whistle on so many calls like they did last night. So, this Cavs squad still has plenty of firepower to beat the Rockets, and they’re playing at home with more rest. Regardless, Houston has the more talented team, and should be able to at least make this a close game.

This is the second-to-last road game in 2023 for the Rockets. They’ll play in new Orleans next Saturday night, but other than that, after this matchups with the Cavs, Houston is homebound for a while. Houston plays nine of their next ten games at home after tonight’s tilt in Cleveland. That include another seven-game home-stand which begins on Boxing Day. The Rockets have been stellar at Toyota Center, with a record of 11-1, the best home record in the entire Western Conference. They’re struggles on the road have been well documented, as the team currently sits at 2-9 away from Toyota Center on the season. Now, most of these games have been against top-tier competition. They’ve already played in Denver twice, LA three times, once in Dallas, and last night in Milwaukee, just to mention a few of their tough early road challenges. They’ve had one of the toughest schedules, particularly on the road, to start the season. However, tonight’s matchup isn’t on that tier of difficulty. If the Rockets lose this game against the Cavs, it’ll be because Houston beat themselves. This young Rockets should have enough energy to pull out a victory in Cleveland tonight. They’ll need to get off to a fast start, they cannot wait around for a long time to become interest in the contest. Houston did a great job hanging with the Bucks last night, in the end, Milwaukee showed why they’re a legit title contender, and had monster performances from their superstar duo. Expect Rockets coach Ime Udoke to have his team fired up after they were basically beat by two players the officials last night. As they they aim to bounce back tonight, this young Rockets squad should have enough energy to pull out a victory in Cleveland.

 

Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse:  Cleveland, Ohio

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (13-10):  Black

Cleveland Cavaliers (14-12):  White

 

Tip-Off:  6:00 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass

Rockets’ Streak Comes to a Halt in 128-119 Loss to Bucks

Faltering Defense.    Deadly Duo.    On to Cleveland.

Houston started stronger in Milwaukee, trailing by seven points after the first period. They would fall behind by double-digits, rally to cut the deficit to only three points. However, the Bucks had too much firepower, as they ended the Rockets streak by dealing them a 128-119 loss on Sunday night. The defeat ends Houston’s five game winning streak, but the Rockets will have a chance to bounce back quickly as they play again tomorrow night. After allowing on average 105 points a game, good for second in the league, Houston’s defense faltered in Milwaukee, as they allowed the Bucks to explode for 128 points. And the Rockets were not bad by any means in this game offensively. The squad had six players score at least 16 points in a balanced attack, but in the end, Giannis Antetohounmpo and Damian Lillard were too dominant offensively for Houston to outscore the offensive firepower that are the Bucks.

Giannis and Dame combined for 64 points. Lillard led the way for Milwaukee with 39, and proved no matter what jersey he’s wearing, he’ll always be a Rocket-killer. Fred VanVleet led Houston with 22 points, and Alperen Sengun scored 20 in a bounce-back game after two subpar performances. But the Bucks showed why they’re legitimate favorites to win the NBA Championship in June. The Rockets at least made the Bucks beat them, and the refs had another terrible night. Dillon Brooks and Head Coack Ime Udoka were both ejected in the game, after arguing a terrible call near the end of the contest.

Houston needs to move on from this loss, and quickly. They’re back in action on Monday night, as they travel to Cleveland to face the Cavaliers on the second half of this back-to-back. The Cavs are a much more beatable team than this Milwaukee team Houston just squared off against. And Cleveland is missing a few key pieces due to injury. It’ll be the Rockets third game in four nights, but if the squad can get off to a strong start, the have a great chance to get back on the winning track on Monday night.

Tough Task on Hand as Rockets Travel to Battle Bucks

The Mean Streets.    Hot Freak.    Strong Start.

The Rockets roll into the mean streets of Milwaukee, Wisconsin riding a five-game winning streak. Tonight, that streak will be put up to the ultimate test. Houston faces a red-hot Milwaukee Bucks team. After a slow start, the Bucks are 13-3 over their last 16 games, improving their record to 18-7, and holding the second spot in the Eastern Conference. Giannis Antetokounmpo is coming off arguably the best game of his career. The Greek Freak dropped a career-high 64 points on the Indiana Pacers in their serious win. In an odd display of events, Indy somehow stole the game ball from Giannis, who was furious after the match. He even chased into the Indiana side of the tunnel after the game demanding the game-ball. The Pacers apparently gave it to a rookie who scored their first career point, but they were just salty they lost. The Rockets are seeking their third road win of the season tonight, after coming off an emotional victory Wednesday night in Dillon Brooks’ return to Memphis. Hopefully, Houston isn’t emotionally drained from their huge comeback win in the previous game, as they’ve gotten off to poor starts recently and can’t afford to start slow tonight.

All of this is bad news for the Rockets, who now face one of the hottest teams in the NBA. After a few games against inferior competition, tonight’s contest is another toughie for Houston. The Bucks are legitimate championship contenders. They were ousted (by the Pacers) in the knockout round of the NBA’s Inaugural In-Season Tournament. A tourney which saw LeBron and the Lakers hoist the trophy. There’s no doubt Giannis and Milwaukee still have the main prize on their eyes: the NBA Championship. Giannis already has one ring, and the Bucks are a dangerous threat as ever to hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy once again in June.

If Houston wants any chance to pull a major upset tonight, and keep their winning streak alive, they need to get off to a stronger start. The Rockets trailed the Grizzlies by as many as 17 points early in their previous game, yet managed to claw their way back to victory. That trait won’t works against the Bucks. If Houston falls behind early in Milwaukee, the road to a comeback for the Rockets won’t be as smooth as it was in Memphis. In fact, a comeback win is the most unlikely scenario for tonight’s outcome. The Greek Freak is one of the few superstar’s who plays hard every single night, and his team follows suit.

Besides Giannis, Houston has a handful with the Buck’s newest member, superstar Damian Lillard, on their hands. Lillard demanded a trade from the Portland Trail Blazers in the offseason, and got his wish as he was dealt to Milwaukee. The Rockets have a defensive two-headed monster in these two superstars on the court tonight. They must prevent from getting hot in the clutch and turning this game into “Dame Time.” Houston has to find a way to foster a defensive wall against the avalanche that is Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Greek Freak is one of the best transition players in basketball. The Rockets need a solid showing from Jalen Green, who’s coming off several sub-par games. And the squad needs to continue to play with the defensive intensity that’s so far given them the second overall rating in the league defensively. Expect a close matchup if the Rockets can hang around with the Bucks. If not it could be a long night, and Coach Udoka may want to rest his players if the game gets out of hand. Tonight is the first of a back to-back for Houston, as they’ll travel to Cleveland to play the Cavaliers on Monday night. Toughness is the key to tonight’s victory. If the Rockets are the more physical, tougher team on the court… they’ll have a chance to escape the mean streets of Milwaukee with a win.

 

Fiserv Forum:  Milwaukee, Wisconsin

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (13-9):  Black

Milwaukee Bucks (18-7):  White

 

Tip-Off:  6:00 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass

Villain’s Revenge: Brooks’ Late Dagger Seals Rockets’ 103-96 Comeback Over Grizzlies, For 5th Straight Win

Revenge is a Dish Brooks Served.    Fighting Back.    Busy Road Ahead.

In his first game back to Memphis, Dillon Brooks made sure to leave a lasting first impression against his former team. Brooks scored a season-high 26 points, including a clutch three-pointer with under a minute remaining that sealed a 103-96 victory for the Rockets. The win is Houston’s fifth straight, and puts the team’s record at 13-9, good for 7th in the brutally competitive Western Conference. The Memphis fans were very classy as they saw a familiar face for the first time in different threads. They cheered for Brooks when the Grizzlies displayed a tribute video for their former player during a first half timeout. You could tell this was not just another game for Dillon the Villain. Brooks shot 10-for-20 from the field and fueled a second-half Houston comeback.

The Rockets got off to another slow start in Memphis, and found themselves fighting to get back into the game. Houston trailed by as many as 17 points, 29-12, late in the first quarter. Luckily, the squad was able to weather the early storm, and another strong game from Desmond Bane, who had 28 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Grizz. Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 22 points, but the Rockets did an improved job on Triple J in this contest, preventing another 40-point explosion. Jabari Smith Jr. continues to be a force on the boards, grabbing 12 in his latest outing. This was truly a team victory for Houston, and that’s how this squad is winning.

The Rockets are now 3-0 against the Grizzlies this season, and they’ve had a different leading scorer in each win. First it was Jalen Green, last game Tari Eason, and in this contest, Dillon Brooks.  Alperen Sengun leads the team in scoring, but has struggled particularly against Memphis. Sengun had 15 points and 7 boards on a night that saw six Houston players reach double-figures in scoring. Jeff Green continues to be a savior off the bench for the Rockets. At age 37, Green is still one of the best role players in the entire league. Along with Tari Eason, Jae’Sean Tate, and Jabari, he leads the charge for Houston when they need toughness on the court. Green scored 12 points in only 19 minutes, providing the squad with another efficient performance in limited minutes off the bench. Jalen Green came alive for a little bit during the comeback, but overall shot just 4-for-12 form the floor for 14 points, as he continues to be the definition of inconsistency on the court.

The road ahead is tough, and busy for the Rockets. Up next, Houston embarks on a stretch where they’ll play five games in seven nights. First up is a back-to-back in Milwaukee and Cleveland. The Bucks will give the Rockets one of the toughest challenges they’ll face all season. Milwaukee is hot, and Giannis is coming off a 64-point game, and a stolen game ball. Houston can’t afford to fall behind early against the Bucks. The Rockets desperately need to get off to a faster start if they have any chance of extending their winning streak to six games.

Rockets Meet Grizzlies in Memphis, Aiming to Sweep Set

Part 2.    Drive for Five.    Road Replicate.

The Rockets battle the Grizzlies again, as these teams meet for the second time in as many games, this time in Memphis. Tonight’s matchup is the first of a three game road trip for Houston. The squad will travel to Milwaukee, and then Cleveland, on Sunday and Monday. The Rockets are seeking their fifth straight win, and only second road win on the campaign. Houston is 2-0 against Memphis this season after beating the Grizz in the previous two meetings at Toyota Center. Luckily for the Rockets, Ja Morant is still out for the Grizzlies, as he eyes a return next Tuesday, as his 25-game suspension is nearing an end. And Desmond Bane is also unlikely to play once again tonight for Memphis.

For now, Houston still has a handful to deal with on the court Friday night. It’s hard to beat the same team twice in a row in this league. Despite beating the Kings twice in a row earlier this year, both those games were at home. Tonight’s matchup is certainly a tougher test compared to those Sacramento matchups. Memphis may not have the most talent, but they play hard every night. And it’s hard to win on the road in the NBA, as evidenced by Houston’s 1-8 road record. However, the Rockets have the more talented squad on the floor tonight. If they can play harder for a full 48 minutes, Houston should be able to earn their second road win in Memphis.

Jaren Jackson Jr. almost single-handedly led a comeback charge for the Grizzlies in the previous meeting. JJJ finished with 44 points, with the majority coming in the third quarter. It was Jackson Jr.‘s second straight 40-point game. The Rockets need to do a better job on the Grizzlies star forward to keep their win streak alive. Memphis guard Desmond Bane missed Wednesday’s game with an illness, and his status is once again questionable for Friday’s tilt. Along with Triple J, Bane has been playing at an All-Star level during Morant’s absence. His availability for tonight’s contest is a major factor for the matchup. The Rockets will have another major advantage if Bane can’t play, despite the game being in Memphis.

Along with Morant, Marcus Smart is still out with a foot injury, another key piece for the Grizz. Nonetheless, Houston has enough firepower to come out of Memphis with a win regardless who’s on the court, for either team. Will Tari Eason make it 3 straight beastly performances in a row? Can Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun play hard enough to earn minutes down the stretch? Tune in tonight to find out, as the Rockets aim to sweep this two-game set in Memphis.

 

FedExForum:  Memphis, Tennessee

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (12-9):  White

Memphis Grizzlies (6-17):  Blue

 

Tip-Off:  7:00 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass