Blog

Rockets Close Road Trip Against Wobbling Warriors

Dream Ending.    Hustle Battle.    Successful Trip.

Not many people expected the Rockets to win more than two games on their current five-game road-trip, but the squad’s exceeded expectations. As Houston arrives at their final stop on this journey, in the Bar Area, they’re winners of three of their last four games. And on Friday night they’ll be facing a Golden State Warriors team who’s struggled since All-Star Klay Thompson returned to the lineup after missing nearly two years with injuries. The Dubs have dropped six of their last nine games, including a brutal three-hour overtime-thriller at home to the Indiana Pacers last night. The Warriors will be without Klay Thompson tonight, who’s still working his way back into NBA-shape. It’s Golden State’s third game in four days, and the second of a back-to-back, and the Warriors won’t be risking anything with one of their cornerstones of their franchise, at least not in the regular season.

Today happens to be Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon’s birthday. Olajuwon is the greatest player in Rockets franchise history. The Dream led the team that won back-to-back Championships, and yet he’s still one of the most underrated great players of all time, in my opinion. His name isn’t mentioned enough when people list their top players of all time. This current Houston team will look to end this road trip with a dream victory over the team that knocked them out of the playoffs several times last decade. A win would give the Rockets a 4-1 record on this road-trip, which no one saw coming before this journey started.

Along with Thompson, Draymond Green remains out with an injury, and Andrew Wiggins is questionable heading into tonight’s matchup with a sore left foot. So the Warriors could be extremely short-handed on Friday night. They’ll likely have a lot of guys on the court fighting to prove they deserve more playing time. And Golden State’s coming off a tough three-hour game last night, so it’ll be interesting to see what their energy level is like against the Rockets, who still hold the worst record in the Western Conference. Regardless, whoever wins the hustle battle tonight, likely prevails as the victor. If Houston can pounce on the Warriors early, they can potentially wear them down if the game gets close in the clutch. The Rockets still have to deal with Stephen Curry, who will be playing tonight. Curry scored 39 points to lead the Dubs, and can win a game by himself if he’s having a hot shooting night. If Houston leaves it all on the floor like they did in Utah… they have a good chance at exceeding the expectations of onlookers once again.

 

Chase Center:  San Francisco, California

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (14-32):  Red

Golden State Warriors (32-13):  White

 

Tip-Off:  9 PM CT

TV:  AT&T Sportsnet SW,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Rally Past Jazz, 116-111, for Second Straight Win

Another Bird Sighting.    Distance Domination.    Road Warriors.

Houston came out like warriors in Utah, gaining a 9-point lead after the first quarter. But to no one’s surprise, the Rockets eventually were mired in one of their usual slumps, scoring only 21 points in the second period, and staring at a 5-point deficit at halftime. Houston trailed by as many as 13 points in the third quarter, before they went on a 15-0 run near the end of the period. Overall, the Rockets ended the third period on a 21-6 run to seize control of the game, and staved off the Jazz for an impressive 116-111 win. The victory is Houston’s third in four games on this current road trip, as the Rockets are playing some of their best basketball of the season. Utah played without their best perimeter player, Donovan Mitchell, who was a late scratch with concussion-symptoms. Regardless, the Jazz still had a talented, experienced enough squad to get the job done, especially at home. The knockout in Utah is especially impressive for this young Rockets team who struggled monumentally on the road to start the season.

Garrison Matthews had his second straight stellar performance. Garry Bird scored 23 points, tying his season-high, to lead all Houston players. Matthews has now scored 40 points on 9-for-15 shooting from distance in the team’s last two wins. The Rockets as a team had one of their best three-point shooting nights of the season in Utah. Houston shot 49% (22-for-45) from three-point range against the Jazz, and had six different players nail at least three shots from distance. When the Rockets are connecting from long range, they’re a very difficult team to beat, as the three-pointer is key to the squad’s success. Christian Wood recorded another double-double, posting 13 points and 15 boards for the Rockets. Jae’Sean Tate added 18 points, and Eric Gordon score 16 for Houston. Kevin Porter Jr. continues to play more efficient basketball as opposed to earlier in the season. Scoot scored 15 points on 50% shooting and dished out 8 assists on the night. Utah, meanwhile, struggled from three-point range, shooting only 26% on the night. Bojan Bogdanovic led the Jazz with 29 points. Rudy Gobert added 23 points and 9 rebounds. But Utah was clearly missing a spark that Mitchell could’ve provided, and the Rockets took advantage of this opportunity.

Houston has now won three of their last four games, all on this current five-game road trip. After starting the season 4-18 away from home, the Rockets are now now trying to end the road trip with a 4-1 mark. Although the task won’t be easy, as Houston faces the best team on this road-trip at their last stop, a matchup with the Golden State Warriors. Similar to Utah, Golden State has struggled lately, trying to adjust with Klay Thompson’s return to the lineup after a two-year absence. The Warriors have lost six of their last nine games. Houston will try and add to the Dubs’ misery as the Rockets try and prove that they’re worthy road warriors with a win in the Bay Area on Friday night.

Rockets Travel to Utah for Matchup with Slumping Jazz

Recipe for Disaster.    Stringing Two Together.    All In.

Houston, in a groove of sorts, has won two of their last three games to start their five-game road trip, which continues on Wednesday night in Salt Lake City. The Rockets will battle the sliding Jazz, who’ve lost five of their last six games overall. Utah is still in fourth place, only a game out of third in the West. But there’s no doubt they’ll be licking their chomps to feast on this young, inexperienced Houston team. In other words, tonight’s a recipe for disaster for the Rockets. Utah is one of the hardest places to play in the league, with arguably the most ruthless and audacious fans in the entire NBA. Salt Lake City isn’t as high as Denver, but the Jazz still play in high altitude, another factor opponents battle when playing in Utah. And losers of five of their last six, expect the Jazz to play hungrier than usual tonight. This game could be over in the first five minutes if Houston isn’t careful.

Since their seven-game winning streak (which feels like six months ago), the Rockets have failed to win consecutive games in a row. Houston has lost after every victory since their streak, and tonight’s matchup won’t be any easier. The Rockets do have the rest advantage, not having played since Sunday. Meanwhile, Utah played a late game in Los Angeles on Monday night, resulting in a hard-fought loss to the Lakers. Both teams are fairly healthy, and will have all their firepower tonight.

If Houston wants to pull off what would be their biggest upset of the season, they’re going to need to play with maximum effort, and leave it all on the floor. Everyone that sees court action for the Rockets needs to be all-in, playing with energy on a level comparable to Jae’Sean Tate and Garrison Matthews, who bounced back with a solid game in Houston’s win on Sunday. Utah’s Donovan Mitchell is having a career season, despite hardly being mentioned by the national media, and Rudy Gobert is once again one of the best rim protectors in the NBA for the Jazz. Those are Utah’s two primary damage-makers, but the Jazz have plenty of players who can hurt  opponents on the perimeter. Veteran point-guard Mike Conley has been a perfect fit since he joined Utah in 2019. Jordan Clarkson and Joe Ingles are two of the best sixth men in the league, with Clarkson winning the award last season. And Bojan Bogdanovic beat the Rockets on a buzzer-beating three a few seasons ago. Utah has all the of components assembled to play the right tune that results in a Jazz victory tonight… can Houston’s groovy Garry Bird and company derail the noise in unexpected fashion? Tune in tonight to find out.

 

Vivint Arena:  Salt Lake City, Utah

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (13-32):  White

Utah Jazz (29-15):  Black “City Edition”

 

Tip-Off:  8 PM CT

TV:  AT&T Sportsnet SW,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Surge Past Kings, 118-112, Split Weekend Series

Clutch Scooting.    Cleared for Flight.    Spotlight Dominance.

Houston beat the Kings on Sunday, 118-112, earning a split in their Sacramento Weekend Series. The Rockets scored the first 13 points of the game, and held their biggest lead at 21-5 early in the contest. Hitting 9 of their first 13 shots helped Houston build an early edge, but they found themselves facing 5-point deficit at halftime. And entering the fourth quarter, Houston still trailed by 3 points. An 18-5 run helped Houston counter Sacramento’s comeback bid, and Eric Gordon hit a bucket with 8.5 seconds left (courtesy of the biggest rebound of the game by Jalen Green) that sealed the victory for the Rockets. Christian Wood co-led Houston with a monstrous double-double, recording 23 points and 14 rebounds. Kevin Porter Jr. also scored 23 points on 50% shooting from the floor, including some clutch buckets when the game was tight during crunch time. Buddy Hield was Sacramento’s biggest threat on the night, leading the Kings in scoring with 27 points.

The Kings closed the second and third quarters with dominant runs. Sacramento ended the first half on a 23-7 run to give them a 5-point lead entering the break. And the Kings closed the third period on a 13-4 run to earn a 3-point edge entering the final frame. Lucky for Houston, the air was cleared for flight, as Garry Bird returned with a vengeance after going scoreless in the two previous games. Garrison Matthews scored 17 points on 4-for-6 shooting from distance, and drew a few of his signature charges against the bulldozing opposition. It’s good to see Matthews back in form, as his energy is a key part of the Rockets maintaining momentum during games. Garry Bird can swing the game in Houston’s favor with a few plays on either end. Matthews’ relentless energy gets everyone from his teammates to the fans pumped up.  Garry Bird was a part of arguably the biggest play of the contest. With 8:14 remaining in the game, Matthews was karate chopped to the floor in malicious fashion by De’Aaron Fox, Sacramento’s best player. Fox was rightfully given a Flagrant-2 foul, and ejected from the game as a result. The Kings’ lacking Fox down the stretch hurt their offense, and paved the way for a Rockets comeback.

As the trade deadline gets closer, the two biggest names heard from the Rockets roster in rumors are Eric Gordon and Christian Wood. Both players continue to play well despite all the trade talk. EG hit another game-winning basket, and Wood further proved he’s a double-double machine with another dominant performance. Gordon’s been a Rocket for six seasons now, and Wood has All-Star caliber talent. Personally, I’d hate to see either player leave town, but it appears at least one of the two will be dealt before the trade deadline in February. Similar to these rare wins this season, appreciate Gordon and Wood while they’re still in Houston. If one or both guys eventually split ways with the squad, we won’t know until after the fact that they’ve played their last game in a Rocket uniform… so appreciate them while they’re still here.

Rockets Aim for Different Result, Face Kings in Rematch

Double Down.    Dangerous Duo.    Respecting the Bird.

It’s not exactly a golden ticket or the hottest show on the NBA calendar, but the Rockets face the Kings for the second straight game in Sacramento. Sunday’s matinee tip is a rematch of Friday night’s up-and-down tilt, a contest that slid in the Kings’ favor. Houston looks to improve in the rematch. They’ll need to do a better job containing De’Aaron Fox and especially Marvin Bagley. Bags had the game of his life on Friday, and if Houston doesn’t double down on Sacramento’s center, the Rockets could be in for more trouble on Sunday.

Fox and Bagley combined for 53 points on Friday night. Houston needs to make other Sacramento players beat them if they want a shot at winning the rematch. Alperen Sengun should be better after having a game under his belt after returning from an injury that caused him to miss seven games. Maybe an improved Sengun down low will make the difference? Christian Wood and Eric Gordon, Houston’s two hottest trade targets for other teams, have played well as they continue to boost their stock. The Rockets need a few other guys, besides Jae’Sean Tate, to join the exclusive “playing with a purpose” party. Tate’s been tremendous in the last couple of games, seemingly doing everything on both sides of the floor.

As the February 10th trade deadline gets nearer, Houston now has only one player on the entire roster who’s not eligible to be traded: Garrison Matthews. Garry Bird has struggled in the last two games, going scoreless over that stretch. Matthews will look to bounce back on Sunday, and prove he’s too important to be included in a deal. Regardless, Matthews didn’t sign his contract with the Rockets until December. Due to other players contractual restrictions or lack thereof, Garry Bird is the only player on the Rockets who fans can be 100% sure won’t be traded before the deadline.

It’s tough to beat the same team in back-to-back games. Houston is 1-1 in these situations after playing the same team in the previous game. The Rockets aim to improve that mark to 2-1, before they head off to close this road trip with two straight games against brutal competition, Utah and Golden State.

 

Golden 1 Center:  Sacramento, California

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (12-32):  Red

Sacramento Kings (18-27):  Black

 

Tip-Off:  5 PM CT

TV:  AT&T Sportsnet SW,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Lose First of Sacramento Double-Header, Fall to Kings, 126-114

Losing Control.    No Match for Bags.    Changing Flavors.

After the first quarter, the outlook seemed bright for the Rockets. Houston held a 40-31 lead after one, but they play four quarters for a reason. Houston fell apart after the first frame, losing the first of two in Sacramento, 126-114, to the Kings. Christian Wood led the Rockets with 26 points and 8 rebounds, but was outplayed by Sacramento’s Marvin Bagley. Houston had no answers defensively for Bagley, who had his best game of the season, recording 26 points, 13 rebounds, and 2 blocks on the night. De’Aaron Fox also proved to be unstoppable against the Rockets defense. Fox led the Kings with 27 points, while also registering 8 assists, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals. Jae’Sean Tate had another outstanding game for the Rockets. Tate almost recorded a triple-double, garnering 17 points, 10 rebounds, and for the evening. Eric Gordon and Kevin Porter Jr. scored 16 points apiece, but the Rockets didn’t have much help outside of those players. D.J. Augustin was solid in only 11 minutes of action, scoring 11 points. And Jalen Green’s shooting struggles continued against the Kings. Green shot 5-for-18 for only 11 points on the night, his lowest output since returning from injury.

Alperen Sengun returned after missing seven games with an ankle sprain. Sengun scored 9 points and grabbed 4 boards in only 14 minutes of playing time. Garrison Matthews went scoreless for the second straight game. Houston hopes Garry Bird breaks out of his slump in the second half of this double-dip, which takes place on Sunday. The Rockets need a change in flavors for this second scoop if they want to come away victorious at least once in Sac-Town this season. Houston shot 5-for-11 from long range in the first quarter. But once the second quarter rolled around, so did  the Rockets shooting woes, as they only shot 8-for-32 from deep for the rest of the night.

The Rockets are 1-1 in the second match against teams after playing them in the previous game. Houston aims to improve that record to 2-1 on Sunday, but they’ll need to play with focus and efficiency for four quarters. Houston started off Friday night looking poised to win their second in a row, even building an 11-point first quarter lead. But the Rockets have struggled putting four quarters together all season long. Can they get back to their winning ways, and keep Bags under control in Part 2? We’ll find out as Houston looks for a brighter result in their next test, when these squads take part in the rematch on Sunday afternoon in Sacramento.

Rockets Head to Sacramento for First of Two Against Kings

Part 1.    Building a Streak.    Fox Hunting.

Eric Gordon and the Rockets take their show into Sacramento for a weekend series, as they face the Kings this Friday and Sunday. Houston is coming off an impressive comeback win over the Spurs in San Antonio that kicked off their current five-game road trip. The Kings have a similar record to the Spurs. They just snapped a five-game losing streak with a win over the Lakers in their previous game. Sacramento’s a half game ahead of San Antonio in the standings, meaning the Rockets should have a decent chance to win at least one of these two upcoming games in Sac-Town.

Despite still sitting in last place in the Western Conference, Houston is only 5 games out of the final play-in spot. Despite losing streaks of 15 and 7 games this season, the Rockets still have a legitimate chance to make the playoffs. However, they’ll have to play with the desire and requisite composure they showed in San Antonio if they want to climb up in the standings. It’s still more unlikely Houston makes the playoffs, but, despite everything they’ve been through this season, the parity in the NBA hasn’t knocked any team out of contention yet. The Rockets have a chance to build a small winning streak in Sac-Town if they display the discipline they’ve yet to show after a morale-boosting win. Houston has suffered from the hangover of still basking in their previous victory when playing games that have come after big wins for the Rockets. The squad will look to avoid that hangover in Sacramento, before the road-trip becomes incredibly tough, with stops in Utah and the Bay Area.

Just like in their previous game, the best player for Houston’s opponent is their point guard. In this case, Sacramento’s De’Aaron Fox is having another quietly solid season for the Kings, who get little national recognition, because of their location, and their lack of talent. Fox doesn’t lack talent, and Houston needs to maintain the Kings best player from having a big night. Similar to Dejounte Murray, Fox is capable of having a big triple-double, and single-handedly carrying the Kings. The Rockets need to hunt down Fox at every opportunity and force other Sacramento players to try and beat them. After several off-shooting nights, it’s time for Jalen Green to have a bounce-back performance for Houston. The Rockets roster gets a boost tonight, as Alperen Sengun returns to the lineup after missing several games with an ankle injury. Houston is only four games behind the Kings in the loss column, a measure they could potentially cut in half… if they conquer the Kings over the weekend.

 

Golden 1 Center:  Sacramento, California

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (12-31):  White

Sacramento Kings (17-27):  Black “City Edition”

 

Tip-Off:  9 PM CT

TV:  AT&T Sportsnet SW,  NBA League Pass

Gordon’s 31 Points Lift Rockets Over Spurs, 128-124, as Houston Snaps Skid

Splash Brother.    Tate’s Perfection.    The Closer.

His teammates have changed, and as the only remaining player from the James Harden era, Eric Gordon is still having fun on the court, regardless of who’s playing with him. EG had arguably his best game of the season, rallying the Rockets to a 128-124 victory over the Spurs on Wednesday night. The win gives Houston a boost to start their five-game road trip. Gordon put on his own Splash-Brother impersonation, scoring 31 points on 9-of-10 shooting from the floor. EG nailed 6 of his 7 three-point attempts and was huge in the clutch. Houston led after the first quarter, but a late first-half run gave San Antonio the lead at the break. The Spurs built a 9-point edge in the third quarter, but EG, Jae’Sean Tate, and Kevin Porter Jr. led a second-half Rockets rally. Houston also spoiled Dejounte Murray’s career night. The Spurs’ star had the best game of his life, registering a triple-double with 32 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists. Murray, the league’s leader in steals per game, also had 3 takeaways, but it wasn’t enough for the San Antonio, as the Rockets managed to escape the Alamo City with a win, breaking their three-game losing streak.

Jae’Sean Tate was a perfect 6-for-6 from the floor on Wednesday for 13 points. But Houston’s energizer bunny made contributions across the board. Tate also accumulated 7 assists, 6 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 1 steal during an extremely efficient performance. Tate doesn’t always show upon the highlight reel, but Houston doesn’t win this game without him. If only the rest of the roster could play with Tate’s unrelenting energy. But, everyone’s built and wired differently… not every player has the stamina to match Tate’s all-out hunger on every play.

His appetite came later in the contest, but Kevin Porter Jr. showed up when the Rockets needed him most. KPJ played the role of the closer, scoring 12 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter, including some impressive shots from long range, helping Houston stave off the Spurs for the win. It was a nice bounce-back performance from Scoot, who’s struggled overall since returning from injury. Jalen Green had another off-shooting night, connecting on only 4 of his 14 shots, for 14 points. Christian Wood secured another double-double with 23 points and 11 boards, as the Rockets took advantage of a Spurs team that was dealing with some health-and-safety protocol issues.

Houston is now 6-2 in games decided by 5 points or less, proving they can perform in the clutch moments. The Rockets just haven’t gotten many opportunities for clutch performances, given they’re blown out on a consistent basis. The squad will look to avoid that trend that haunted them for the first half of the season as we wind down to the final 39 games of the season. Up next, Houston takes their show to Sacramento, where they’ll battle the Kings for the next two games. Sacramento has a similar record to San Antonio. Before the road trip concludes with matches against two daunting opponents, the Rockets have a chance to garner similar results they saw in the Alamo City… and rack up two wins against the Kings.

Rockets Clash with Spurs, as I-10 Showdown Begins

Slumping Rivals.    Silver Linings.    On the Road Again.      

Jalen Green and the Rockets hit the road for their first showdown this season with their I-10 rivals, the San Antonio Spurs. Both teams are skidding closer towards official draft lottery contention. Houston is 2-13 in their last 15 games. The Spurs are 1-7 in their last 8 games. Something’s gotta give tonight, in this battle of slumping rivals. No matter how sloppy or incongruent the contest becomes, their will be a winner determined tonight in the Alamo City. The Rockets need to focus on containing San Antonio’s Dejounte Murray. The Spurs’ point guard is having a break-out season, posting All-Star caliber stats on a nightly basis. He’s by far San Antonio’s best player, and projected to be their point guard of the future. In the interior, Houston needs to keep bodies on Jakob Poeltl, who’s the type of scrappy player who could have a big game tonight against the Rockets if they’re not physical with the Spurs’ center.

We’re now officially into the second half of the season. Houston commenced this latter stage with a blowout loss to the Sixers on Monday night. The Rockets will try and find silver linings as we wind down to the final 40 games of the season. Houston’s playoff hopes are all but officially non-existent this season. The Rockets will definitely be back in the draft lottery, but that’s no reason to tank the final 40 games of the season away. If the squad keeps their current pace, Houston will lose the majority of their remaining matchups. The team;’s mindset should be: play hard, improve on the fly, and see if we can upset a few teams. We’ll see if the Rockets can start these final 40 games on a positive note.

Tonight’s game is the first of five straight on the road for Houston, all against Western Conference teams. After tonight, the Rockets will head further West to face the Kings twice in a row, followed by a pair of brutally tough matchups to close the trip, against the Jazz and Warriors respectively. It’s unlikely Houston pulls off an upset in the final pair of games on this trip. If the Rockets exert more energy and effort defensively, they have a shot against the struggling Spurs. In fact, tonight may be Houston’s best chance for a victory on this entire road trip… as they face their bitter in-state rivals for the first time all season.

 

AT&T Center:  San Antonio, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (11-31):  Red

San Antonio Spurs (15-25):  White

 

Tip-Off:  7:30 PM CT

TV:  AT&T Sportsnet SW,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Drop Third Straight in 111-91 Loss to Sixers

First Half Misery.    Embiid-ed Again.    On to San Antonio.

The Rockets actually played a more competitive game, hanging around until the Sixers pulled away in the third quarter, as Philly dealt Houston their third loss in a row, 111-91, on Monday night. Joel Embiid dominated once again for the Sixers, leading Philly’s charge with 31 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 blocks. Christian Wood and Jalen Green scored 14 points apiece to lead the Rockets, who had no answers for Embiid or the Sixers defensively. Philly dominated in the interior, outscoring the Rockets 56 to 28 in the paint. Despite crawling back into the game in the second quarter, Houston continued their trend of first half with seemingly absent defense.

Philly scored 62 first half points, as the Rockets have now given up at least 55 points in the first half in seven straight games. Houston needs to buck that trend if they want to end this losing streak. The squad now heads out West for a five-game road trip beginning in San Antonio. They’ll play their in-state rivals before facing the merely average Sacramento Kings twice in a row. However, their trip ends with matchups against two of the West’s best, Utah and Golden State.

Houston will have to be even more competitive as they take their scrappy play on the road, another test for this young squad. Can the Rockets win a game on this trip, or are they in the midst of another long skid? Answers can be found at the Alamo… as the Rockets are on to San Antonio Wednesday night, where they’ll start their competitive road trip out West.