Blog

Rockets Aim to Bounce Back from Opener, Welcome Grizzlies

Hyping Down.    Back at Ja.    Roaring Return.    

 

Jalen Green and the Houston Rockets are back in action Friday night, as they welcome Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies to town. The Rockets are coming off an embarrassing Opening Night loss to the Charlotte Hornets, 110-105, as they blew an 18-point lead in front of the home fans. The Grizzlies beat the Jazz, 126-124, in their opener on the road in Utah on Wednesday night. 

Houston will try to bounce back Friday night, as Dillon Brooks and Steven Adams face their former team. Adams is listed as day-to-day on the injury report, and is questionable for tonight’s matchup. The Rockets could really use the veteran big man as they face a tougher opponent in the Grizzlies at Toyota Center. Since acquiring Brooks from Memphis prior to last season, the Rockets are 3-1 against the Grizz. And after coming off a disappointing 2-point performance on Opening Night, expect Brooks to have a big game against his former team tonight. 

Ja Morant is returning for Memphis after missing the majority of last season, and the young superstar had a solid performance in his first game back, with 22 points and 10 assists. The Rockets defense needs to also be aware of Desmond Bane and Santi Aldama, who also had solid performances in Memphis’ first game. Aldama led their team with 27 points, and Bane scored 24 for the Grizz in their opening night win. The trio presents a potential triple threat for Houston’s defense. The Grizzlies also have defensive stalwart, and Univeristy of Texas alum, Marcus Smart, who remains one of the league’s best perimeter defenders. 

If the Rockets can string four quarters of solid basketball together, they’re more than capable of beating the Grizzlies tonight. Look for Jabari Smith Jr. and Dillon Brooks to have bounce-back performances. The pair of starters combined for only 10 points in Houston’s Opening Night loss. For now, it’s time to tone down the hype train, as the Rockets need to put some wins on the board before the discussion of the playoffs arises. Can Houston make a roaring return on Friday night? After this matchup, the squad hits the road for a three game Texas style road trip. Tonight’s contest may be the best chance for this young Houston team to get their first win of the season… expect the squad to be ready for Ja. and company tonight as the Rockets host another tilt at Toyota Center on Friday night.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Memphis Grizzlies (1-0):  Blue

Houston Rockets (0-1):  Red

 

Tip-Off:  7:00 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Suffer Stung-ing Collapse in 110-105 Opening Night Loss to Hornets

Double Threat Death.    Tale of Two Halves.    Buzzkill.

 

Well, that was a downer, to say the least. Entering the season full of hype and hope, Houston suffered one of the most embarassing home collapses in franchise history on Opening Night. Midway through the second quarter, the Rockets seemed in control of the game, building their lead up to as many as 18 points. Everything seemed like it was smooth sailing for the sqaud, but somewhere, they took their foot off the pedal. After halftime, the game swung out of Houston’s control. LaMelo Ball led the way for Charlotte with 34 points, as the Hornets buzzed back in the second half to deal the Rockets a disappointing 110-105 Opening Night loss. Tre Mann added 24 points for Charlotte, as he and Ball combined for more than half of the Hornets’ point total. In fact, they were the only pair of players on the Hornets to score more than 10 points. Jalen Green led the Rockets with 28 points, and Alperen Sengun contributed 25 points, 18 boards, but Houston put on a disappearing act offensively in the second half, scoring only 45 points after the break.

The defeat is disappointing for the Rockets given the Hornets aren’t expected to be a competitive team this year. Houston were also at home, and blew a great opportunity to start the season with a win. If the Rockets could’ve contained Ball and Mann on the defesnive end, Houston would’ve secured the victory. Instead, they fell apart on defense late in the game, and essentially let two players come in and beat them in their own house. An early learning experiment for the Rockets, the squad looks to bounce back as they host the revitalized Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night.

At least Houston got solid games from their two cornerstone players (Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun). Although Green still needs to show improvement shooting the ball, especially from distance. Rookie Reed Sheppard scored 4 points on 2-for-5 shooting in his league debut. The number three overall pick in the draft looked hesistant and nervous in his first NBA game, which isn’t completly unexpected. Look for Sheppard to improve as the season moves on. Houston needs to bury Wednesday’s buzzkill in the past, and move on to the next matchup. Memphis will provide a tougher opponent than Charlotte, but after an embarrassing collapse in their first game, the only direction for the Rockets to move is up.

Rockets Tip-Off Season, Host Hornets on Opening Night

Buzzing Opportunity.    Triple Threat.    Liftoff.

 

The Houston Rockets begin their 58th season in the franchise’s history on Wednesday night, as they host the non buzz-worthy Charlotte Hornets. Houston won both games against Charlotte last season, and the Rockets have a great chance to begin this campaign with a win. The Hornets likely will once again be near the bottom of the standings in the Eastern Conference. Charlotte has a new Head Coach in Charles Lee, who was an assistant on the Boston Celtics’ championship team last season. At 39, Lee is one of the youngest head coaches in the NBA, and could invigorate some newfound passion into a Hornets team has several talented players. Regardless, a loss tonight for Houston would be disappointing, especially at home on Opening Night.

After finishing 3-1 in pre-season action, the Rockets seem poised to improve on their record of 41-41 last year. Expect Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun to make big leaps this season, and jump into the All-Star conversation. The addition of Steven Adams in the offseason could prove to be one of the biggest factors in Houston’s improvement this season. Adams will back-up Sengun, and filling a much needed void in the back-up center department for the team. Houston’s starting lineup remains the same as last season, consisting of Fred VanVleet, Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Jabari Smith Jr., and Alperen Sengun, in what should be a lethal unit on the floor this year.

Entering tonight’s game, the Rockets need to focus on Charlotte’s triple-threat. Point guard LaMelo Ball is their best player, and when healthy, he’s one of the most lethal offensive threats in the game. Ball is coming off an injury that caused him to miss more than half of last season. Other players Houston’s defense need to zone in on are shooting guard Brandon Miller and the swingman Miles Bridges. Any of those three guys could score 30 points on any given night. If the Rockets can prevent this triple threat from having an explosive night, Houston should start the season with a victory.

The squad’s motto for this season is “Liftoff”, and fans should expect an improvement over last years team. The Rockets finished last season hot, and suffered some crucial extended injuries (Alperen Sengun, Tari Eason). If Houston’s key players in the rotation stay healthy, this team is ready to sneak into the playoffs this season. Expect the second term of the Ime Udoka era to feature more wins, drama and edge-of-your-seat action… as this Rockets team has the potential to create some serious buzz around the league, starting tonight at Toyota Center, with another exciting NBA season under way. 

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Charlotte Hornets (0-0):  White

Houston Rockets (0-0):  Red

 

Tip-Off:  7:00 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass

The Take-Off:  Houston Rockets 2024/2025 Season Preview

Ready to Launch.    Perfect Problem.    Extending Belief.   

With Halloween approaching and spooky season in full-effect, the NBA prepares to kick off their 79th campaign full of scarily athletic players showcasing monstrous performances. After immensely improving last year, the Houston Rockets are eager to instill more fear in the league entering this season. Coming off their fourth straight year missing the playoffs, these Rockets aim to snap that skid with higher goals in mind this upcoming campaign. Entering the 58th season in franchise history, expectations for this year’s squad are the highest since the James Harden era, half a decade ago. Houston achieved a win-improvement of 19 games last year, the highest in the NBA, but narrowly missed out on earning a Play-In berth sporting a 41-41 record, resulting in an 11th place finish in the brutal Western Conference.

The starting lineup will once again consist of Fred VanVleet, Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Jabari Smith Jr., and Alperen Sengun. With a full term under their belt with the guidance of Head Coach Ime Udoka, expect this starting unit to display enhanced chemistry on the court this year. As every season brings new players and faces to the organization, this year is no different. The Rockets drafted Reed Sheppard with the third overall pick in the draft this past summer. The sharpshooter from Kentucky has Rookie-of-the-Year potential if he receives enough playing time on a deep Houston roster. Houston also added veteran center Steven Adams, arguably one of the best offensive rebounders and toughest players in the game. The Adams addition is pertinent, as the team’s biggest hole to fill in the offseason was finding a center to back-up Sengun. Other than Sheppard and Adams, expect the usual suspects from last year to thrive in secondary roles this season. Amen Thompson and Tari Eason will likely receive the most minutes off the bench, with Steven Adams, Cam Whitmore and Reed Sheppard rounding out the rest of the rotation for the Rockets. Thompson and Eason, granted they stay healthy, are due for breakout seasons. Whitmore was one of the best per minute players on the roster last season, and if he sees enough action, Slam Whitmore could also be due for a breakout campaign. Filling out the rest of Houston’s roster are Jae’Sean Tate, Aaron Holiday, Jeff Green, and Jock Landale.

A loaded squad gives Ime Udoka a perfect problem for his bag of tricks. Unlike some teams in the NBA who rely on a few players to do the majority of their production, Houston has a plethora of guys who can be the player of the game on any given night. The Rockets are especially loaded at the shooting guard/small forward position. Starting with Jalen Green, Brooks, and even Jabari Smith Jr., this squad contains an arsenal of guys who can play the swingman role. Not to mention Thompson, Eason, Whitmore, Sheppard, and Tate. That’s eight players fighting for essentially those two positions, although Smith Jr. is more of a power forward. It’ll be interesting to see how coach Udoka uses the weapons in his rotation to start the season. Injuries happen to every team every season, but Houston is prepared if any of their rotational players go down. The depth on this squad is frightening for the rest of the league. However, the Rockets are still a young team with developing players and a lot to prove on the court before the NBA starts taking notice. Besides the veterans consisting of VanVleet, Brooks, and Adams, no one else on Houston’s squad is even close to reaching the prime of their careers. Meaning, the Rockets boost several players who could be on the verge of having breakout seasons. Expect Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore to make huge leaps in their sophomore years. And Jabari Smith Jr. is in line for potentially an All-Star caliber season if he can maintain consistency.

Just a couple of days before the team’s Opening Night game, Houston extended the contracts at the root of this Rockets resurgence: Alperen Sengun, and Jalen Green. Rafael Stone, Houston’s General Manager, locked in these two key pieces for the next several years. Sengun agreed to a 5 year, $185 million extension, and Green signed a deal equalling 3 years totaling $106 million. Both players are entering their fourth season with All-Star expectations on their shoulders. They’ve showed their value, with Sengun a potential All-Star this season after missing out last year. The big man’s put on muscle in the offseason, and is in store for his strongest season yet. The biggest question on the team is Jalen Green and his evolution as we enter this phase of his career. Boasting the biggest ceiling of any player on this team, Green has the ability to be a superstar in this league. Alperen Sengun is Houston’s best player right now, and is already on his way to stardom with the nickname “Mini-Joker”, after Denver’s superstar center Nikola Jokic. If Green can reach the potential that saw him selected second overall in the 2021 NBA Draft, expect the Rockets to take-off, and earn a playoff spot for the first time in five years. As Houston made a hard push for the playoffs near the end of last season, going 13-2 in March, Green exploded to average 27.7 points per game during that period. If he can maintain his offensive consistency this season, expect Jalen Green to finally perform at an All-Star level on a nightly basis.

How far will the Rockets fly this season? With a collection of young talent at the roster’s core, Houston is in position to contend for a while. This season’s nice mixture of up-and-coming players and solid veterans make the Rockets a threat to beat any team on any night, but the team’s youth and needed development realistically keeps the squad from being a championship contender this season. Despite not likely hoisting the Larry O’Brien trophy next June, Houston’s fans should have a lot to be excited for this season. The beginning of the team’s schedule is relatively easy, so the squad has a great chance to get off to hot start. The Rockets host the lowly Hornets on Opening Night, following a home game against the Grizzlies and then two road games against the Spurs. Maybe it’s wishful thinking, but Houston has a realistic shot to start the season 4-0, or at least 3-1 over their first quartet of matchups. Showcasing one of the most athletic teams in the NBA, the Rockets should be on the verge of making the playoffs, or at least securing a Play-In spot this year. Expect this squad to make enough noise to garner a playoff spot come season’s end. Despite the Western Conference remaining as cutthroat as ever this season.

Besides the reigning Western champion Dallas Mavericks, the Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, and the rising Oklahoma City Thunder are all threats to earn home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. The Golden State Warriors, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Sacramento Kings, New Orleans Pelicans, and Memphis Grizzlies will also be in the mix in a brutally competitive Western Conference. In the Eastern Conference, the reigning-champion Boston Celtics will be looking to repeat, the Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks both made major additions to their rosters, and the Milwaukee Bucks look to bounce back after injuries cut their season short last year. In a league with superstar names a la LeBron James and Kevin Durant and legacy teams like the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics, you won’t hear Houston mentioned much among the NBA “water-cooler” talk. But don’t be surprised if that begins to change this season… and the Rockets scare some teams with their frighteningly improved play on the court.

Red-Hot Rockets Seek 10th Straight Win, Visit Thunder

Into the Storm.    On the Road Again.    Hope Arises.

The blazing-hot Houston Rockets, owners of the NBA’s active longest winning streak, storm into Oklahoma City to battle the Thunder on Wednesday night. The Rockets are aiming to win their 10th straight contest tonight, as they hit the road for the first of a pair of road games. Only 11 games remain the season, and Houston has a difficult stretch ahead of them. 8 of their remaining 11 games are against teams with winning records. And the other 3 are on the road. If the Rockets are going to sneak into the Play-In, they’re going to need to weather this upcoming storm.

Luckily for the Rockets, MVP-candidate Shai Gilegeous-Alexander, OKC’s best player, is out for tonight’s matchup with an injury. The Thunder still an arsenal of weapons on their roster. Jalen Williams is having an All-Star caliber second half to the season. Expect him to be aggressive and in attack mode against Houston’s defense tonight. Chet Holmgren will cause issues in the paint, and his ability to stretch the floor makes OKC one of the league’s deadlier teams from beyond the arc.

Will the Greenaissance continue? Jalen Green’s been arguably the league’s most explosive offensive player over the past two weeks. He’s scored at least 26 points in six straight games entering tonight’s matchup. The Rockets still trial the Warriors by one game in the standings for the final Play-In spot. Golden State plays at the Orlando Magic tonight, which is by no means an easy matchup. With a little magic in OKC and Orlando… the Rockets could potentially inch a little closer to the Warriors, and tie them in the standings with an upset win tonight.

 

Paycom Center:  Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (36-35):  Black

Oklahoma City Thunder (50-21):  Orange

 

Tip-Off:  7:00 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Roll Past Trail Blazers, 110-92, Win 9th Straight

Portland’s Finest.    The Greenaissance.    Keep the Momentum.

Just like in the previous matchup, the Rockets pulled away from the Trail Blazers in the second half, en route to a 110-92 victory on Monday night. The victory gives Houston their ninth straight win, the longest active winning streak in the league. Portland raised Ime Udoka has the Rockets playing at an incredibly high level of basketball. Despite missing three key rotational pieces (Alperen Sengun, Cam Whitmore, and Tari Eason), Udoka has his Rockets playing the best basketball Houston has witnessed in five years. Everyone on the roster has finally bought into Udoka’s system, and it’s paying huge dividends for the squad.

The Greenassaince continued as Jalen Green led the Rockets with 27 points. Green has been on a tear during this winning streak, scoring at least 26 points for the sixth straight time on Monday. Since the All-Star Break, and specially since Sengun’s injury, Green’s had a breakout second-half to his third campaign, putting the entire league on notice with his recent performances. Jock Landale had his best game as in a Rockets jersey. Landale scored a season-high 17 points and grabbed 9 rebounds in another impressive outing. The Rockets as a team held Chet Holmgren to his worst game of the season. OKC’s stellar rookie was held to 2 points on 0-2 shooting and fouled out for the first time in his career.

Up next, the Rockets will look to keep their momentum as they hit the road for a matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder, followed by a visit to Utah to face the Jazz. If Houston wants to extend their winning ways on the road, they’re going to need to continue playing at a high level on both ends of the floors. The Rockets have won their last five road games, and aim to keep the momentum in OKC. The Thunder are a step up in competition over Houston’s previous several matchups. As the Rockets venture on the road, they’ll put their five game road winning streak on the line when they face Oklahoma City on Wednesday night.

Rockets Strive for Nine in a Row, Host Trail Blazers

One Game Back.    Staying Present.    Easy Street’s End.

The red-hot Houston Rockets welcome the Portland Trial Blazers into town, as they close their three game home-stand on Monday night. Winners of their last eight contests, the Rockets roll into this matchup with the league’s best record (10-1) in March. The eight straight victories is the longest winning streak in the West, second only in the league to the team with the NBA’s best record, the Boston Celtics. Entering tonight’s matchup, Houston now sits only one game behind the Golden State Warriors for the 10th and final Play-In Spot. Twelve games remain including tonight’s matchup. Plenty can happen in the final dozen games. Both the Rockets and Warriors have tough schedules as the season winds down, so it’ll be interesting to see how the race for the last spot unfolds.

For tonight’s matchup, Houston needs to stay present and avoid overlooking this bad Portland team. The Blazers are in the midst of a six game losing streak, but Portland did deal the Rockets their worst loss of the season in the first matchup at Toyota Center between these squads. Expect Ime Udoka to have his team prepared to keep rolling over a very young and inexperienced Portland group. In their previous game, the Blazers became only the second team in the NBA since 1971 to start five rookies. Portland is still heavily injured, missing guys like Jermami Grant and Malcolm Brogdon, who were responsible for dealing Houston the loss in the first meeting. Expect to see more of Scoot Henderson, the third overall pick in this past year’s draft. And plenty of other players you may be seeing for the first time. As long as the Rockets stay poised, and don’t overlook this Blazers team, they should be able to win their ninth straight game on Monday night.

Jabari Smith Jr. will be out for this matchup. He’s serving a one-game due to his involvement in a scuffle with Kris Dunn in the Houston’s previous win over the Jazz. That means more guys will have to step up, as has been the protocol for this Rockets squad this season. Tonight’s match marks the end of a three game home-stand for Houston. This is the last “easy” game the Rockets will have in the regular season. After this tilt, eight of Houston’s eleven remaining games are against teams with winning records. And that doesn’t include to trips to Utah, one of the toughest places to play in the league. If the Rockets want any chance to complete this comeback to sneak into the Play-In, they need to beat this Blazers team. Expect Houston to keep their winning ways intact with a win tonight, before the schedule toughens up for the final eleven games.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Portland Trail Blazers (19-52):  Black

Houston Rockets (35-35):  Red

 

Tip-Off:  7:00 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Blitz Jazz, 147-119, for 8th Straight Win

Flaming Start.    Splashtown.    Another One.

The shots kept falling for the Rockets on Saturday night, as they cruised to a 147-119 victory over the Utah Jazz, extending their winning streak to 8 games. Jalen Green continues to play at a superstar level since Alperen Sengun suffered an injury. Green was last week’s player of the week in the Western Conference, and he’s had an even better week this week. Green led the Rockets with 41 points on an extremely efficient 15-for-22 shooting from the floor, including 7-for-11 beyond the arc. Fred VanVleet scored a season-high 34 points and dished out 7 assists. And ageless “Uncle” Jeff Green had one of his best games of the season, scoring 21 points off the bench. John Collins led Utah with 25 points, and Collin Sexton chipped in 20 points, but the Jazz were never in this contest.

Houston absolutely blitzed Utah front the opening tip. The Rockets had their highest scoring half of the season, thanks to an absolutely dominant first quarter. Houston scored 47 points on a ridiculous 82.6% shooting from the field in the first frame. The Rockets held a 26 point lead after the first quarter, and led by as many as 35 points. At halftime, Houston had 85 points on the scoreboard, the second most in franchise history. The Rockets 27 made threes, were also the second most in the squad’s existence. Utah’s defense didn’t put up much of a fight, but regardless, Houston displayed a season’s worth of highlights in this single dominant performance. Watching this matchup, it’s easy to wish the Rockets would’ve saved some of these plays for future performances, but hopefully they’ll provide more of these encores in the final dozen games.

This matchup featured another confrontation which had to be separated by both teams’ security and other staff. Jabari Smith Jr. and Kris Dunn, who were in a scuffle in the previous meeting between these teams, got in another one just seconds into the second quarter. And like in the previous matchup, Dunn initiated the flare up between opposing players. Both players received ejections, unfortunately for Houston, considering Smith Jr. is far more valuable to his team than Dunn. Nonetheless, the Rockets are now 5-0 in 2024 when matters escalate and proceedings get chippy on the court. Houston is still one of the league’s youngest teams, but this group is growing up fast. Ime Udoka has instilled in these Rockets a mental toughness and grittiness we haven’t witnessed in years. As opposed to the previous three seasons under Stephen Silas, this Houston squad won’t get pushed around, regardless of the competition.

Up next, the Rockets finish their home-stand  by welcoming the Portland Trail Blazers for a Monday night clash. Houston is 1-1 against Portland this season, with the Blazers dealing the Rockets arguably their worst loss of the season in the first matchup at Toyota Center between these foes. Houston bounced back in Portland to even the seasons series, and the Rockets will aim for further vengeance, as they strive for their ninth straight victory on Monday night.

Rockets Seek 8th Straight Win, Welcome Jazz

Different Tunes.    Embrace the Noise.    Stay on Mark.

For the first time since 2019, the Houston Rockets are aiming for their 8th straight victory, as they host the Utah Jazz on Saturday night. These teams have been singing different tunes since the Jazz were 26-26 in February. Back then, Utah appeared to have a shot to sneak into the Play-In, with the Rockets a few games behind them. Since then, the Jazz have gone 3-15, and now hold a 29-41 record. Over that same stretch, the Rockets have gone 11-8. More recently, Houston has won seven consecutive games and now sit only a game below .500, with a 34-35 record. The Rockets won the first matchup with the Jazz, a thrilling 127-126 overtime victory in Houston, back on January 20th.

The Rockets will see this Jazz team more than any other opponent over the final 13 games of the season. After tonight, Houston will travel to to play the Jazz in Utah twice over the final dozen games of the season. The Rockets need to embrace this opportunity. Utah is headed in the opposite direction, bound for the draft lottery. Houston needs to take advantage of these matchups with Utah. The Rockets still have eight games remaining against teams with a winning record. So their schedule down the stretch does toughen up.

Utah limps into Houston tonight, as they are without two of their best players, Lauri Markkanen and Jordan Clarkson, for this matchup. The Rockets can’t afford to take this Jazz team lightly. Houston barely survived the first meeting, and this Utah team always plays hard, regardless of who’s available. With more than enough firepower to beat this wounded Jazz squad, the Rockets should continue their winning ways tonight. Expect Houston to fend off a feisty Jazz team, and earn their eighth straight win on Saturday night.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Utah Jazz (29-41):  Black

Houston Rockets (34-35):  “City Edition” White

 

Tip-Off:  7:00 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Wrangle Bulls, 127-117, for 7th Straight Win

Scrappers.    Necessary Villain.    Bakers Dozen.

Led by Jalen Green’s 26 points, the Rockets used a balanced attack to beat the Bulls, 127-117, on Thursday night. Six different players scored at least 14 points for Houston, who won their seventh straight game to climb back to within one game (34-35) of .500 on the season. Green’s 26 points came on 10-for-22 shooting, as he continues to lead the way and play with an unforeseen consistency since Alperen Sengun’s injury. The Rockets led by as many as 19 points in the first half on Thursday, and weathered a Chicago comeback attempt to fend off the Bulls for victory. Jock Landale had the best game of his Rocket career. Landale scored 17 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, to go with 5 assists and 2 blocks. The Aussie continues to take advantage of his increased playing time due to the absence of Sengun. Amen Thompson had another solid game with 15 points and 8 boards. Aaron Holiday chipped in 15 points off the bench, and the never-aging “Uncle” Jeff Green contributed 14 points off the pine for Houston. Ayo Dosunmu led the Bulls with 35 points, as he, along with Coby White, continue to have break-out seasons for Chicago as they deal with several injuries (Zack LaVine, Patrick Williams, and others).

The most talked about play of the game came in the third quarter, when DeMar DeRozan frustratingly hip-checked Jalen Green. Thankfully, Dillon Brooks immediately came to have his teammates back. DeRozan attacked Houston’s best player, and Brooks was having none of it in his house. A scuffle ensued, and afterwards, Brooks was ejected for initiating the confrontation with DeRozan. It was obviously a dirty play, and DeRozan was assessed a Flagrant Foul 2 and  also ejected from the contest. Brooks was having one of his best games of the season, as he scored 23 points less than three quarters into the game. Regardless, Brooks sent a message that these young Rockets are not going to be bullied or pushed around, especially in Houston. Dillon may be a “Villain” to the rest of the league, but he’s the villain the Rockets need right now. Someone not afraid to stand up for his teammates. Three seasons ago, Green would’ve been tossed aside and non one would’ve confronted DeRozan. Those days are long over. These Rockets are genuine scrappers. Houston is now 4-0 this calendar year in games where a scuffle breaks out. The squad is truly fighting their way back into the playoff picture.

The Rockets now trail the Golden State Warriors by only two games in the loss column for the Final Play-In Spot. Only 13 games remain for the Rockets on this campaign. Houston’s schedule toughens up after the next two games, and the Rockets are still long shots to make the Play-In, but their winning play recently has put them right back in the picture. The Rockets are breathing down the necks of the ninth and tenth place Lakers and Warriors respectively. Houston still needs help via losses from L.A. and Golden State, but if the Rockets keep winning, they could shock the NBA world and sneak into the Play-In Tourney. Up next, Houston hosts the Utah Jazz on Saturday night at Toyota Center, as they’ll aim to reach .500 in the standings for the first time since last November.