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Rockets Aim for Seven Straight Wins in H-Town Clash with Bulls

March Gladness.    Sneaking Up.    High Leverage Necessity.

With March Madness in full swing, the surging Houston Rockets return home to host the Chicago Bulls. These teams are rising in their respective conferences, trying to get back to .500 in the standings. Chicago is 10th in the weaker Eastern Conference, and will likely secure a spot in the Play-In Tournament. Houston sits in 11th place out West, with a more difficult path to the Play-In. The Rockets will need to rely on the Golden State Warriors or Los Angeles Lakers losing the majority of their final games to have a chance. The Bulls won the first matchup between these squads, beating Houston in Chicago, 124-119, back on January 10th. Entering tonight’s matchup, Houston is playing their best basketball of the season. The Rockets have seemingly ended their road woes, and return to H-Town seeking a season-high seventh straight win. Houston now owns the longest winning streak in the Western Conference, and the second longest in the entire league only to the NBA-leading Boston Celtics.

With their brilliant play of late, the Rockets are sneaking back into the playoff picture out in the Western Conference. Houston trails the Warriors by three games for the 10th and final Play-In position. They will also host the Warriors on April 4th in what could be a very high leverage contest. It’s been nearly three years since Houston has played meaningful games in March and April. This team was 27-35 only a few weeks ago, and seemingly out of the picture entirely. With this winning streak, the Rockets have made a realistic push to sneak into Play-In. It’s still a long shot and the odds are still against Houston, but if the squad keeps winning, they could potentially surprise the Warriors and knock them out of contention, essentially ending any memories of the fizzling Bay Area dynasty.

Tonight’s tilt with the Bulls is the first of three straight winnable games at home for the Rockets. After tonight, they host the Jazz followed by the Trail Blazers, two teams below Houston in the standings. This Bulls team has been playing well since they lost Zach LaVine to a season-ending injury earlier in the campaign. Chicago has won three of their past four games overall, and they sit only a game below .500, sporting a 34-35 record. The Rockets are aiming for that mark with a seventh straight win tonight. They’ll need to buckle down defensively on DeMar DeRozan, and contain Nikola Vucevic in the paint. Although he’s not playing, tonight is Tari Eason Bobble Head night inspired by Spider Man at Toyota Center. Hopefully the Rockets on the floor will be inspired to play with the defensive swagger and hustle that embodies Eason’s game. The Bulls have played ten overtime games so far this season, by far the most in the entire league. With both these teams on the rise, expect a close and competitive contest at Toyota Center. If Houston continues to play with defensive intensity, and Jalen Green continues to shine, the Rockets should swipe their seventh win in a row tonight.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Chicago Bulls (34-35):  Black

Houston Rockets (33-35):  Red

 

Tip-Off:  7:00 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Blast Past Wizards, 137-114, Win Sixth Straight

Greenlit.    Block Landale.    Capitol Victory.

Jalen Green continues to evolve into a star in this league, as he scored 42 points to lead the Rockets to a 137-114 win over the Wizards on Tuesday night. The 42 points ties a career-high for Green, who’s efficiency and consistency has both spiked since the All-Star Break. In his first game after being named the Western Conference’s Plaer of the Week, Green scored 42 points on 12-for-21 shooting, including an impressive 7-for-13 from beyond the arc. In the past, Green would put up big numbers, but it didn’t necessarily translate into winning basketball. Now, Green’s showing an increased confidence and maturity on the court that’’s propelled his game to different levels. He finished the win in D.C. with a plus/minus of plus 26, second on the team. Whereas he used to be a stat padded, Green has been easily the Rockets best player during this current win streak. His improvement as a rebounder continues, as Green grabbed 10 boards on the evening as well. The young guard is playing with more aggressive and confidence. Green’s being more active on both ends of the court, leading to his increase in rebounding numbers. With Sengun out, Green’s taken full-advantage of increased usage. We’re finally seeing glimpses of the player the Rockets envisioned they were getting when they drafted Green with the second overall pick back in 2021. His next step is working on facilitating chances for teammates, a facet of the game Green’s already improving on this season. He’s shown he has the potential to dish out more assists with his quickness and play-making ability, even achieving his first career triple-double earlier this season.

Houston spent a little more time in the locker room than usual at halftime after holding only a three-point lead over the Wizards at the break. Whatever Coach Ime Udoka said fired up his squad, as the Rockets burst out the gates after halftime, outscoring Washington 41-25 in the third quarter to take control of the game. Jabari Smith Jr. had another solid contest with 18 points and 14 rebounds, and Fred VanVleet dished out 11 dimes to pass the 500 assist mark for this season, the most he’s had in any campaign of his career. And starting once again, Amen Thompson had one the of best games of his career. The rookie was a beast cutting and finishing around the basket with several ferocious dunks. Thompson finished the night with a career-high 25 points, to go with 10 rebounds, and team-high in plus/minus of plus 32. And Jock Landale recorded a career-high 7 blocks as he was a beast inside the paint defensively. Landalde has quietly been solid as a reserve, teaming up with Thompson, Smith Jr. and others to fill in the minutes that would’ve been designated for Alperen Sengun.

With the victory, the Rockets have now won six games in a row and eight of their last nine overall. After starting the season 5-24 on the road, Houston has won five consecutive away from Toyota Center. This was a huge win, as the Rockets are now 33-35, now only 2.5 games behind the Golden State Warriors for the final Play-In Spot. Houston holds the NBA’s best record this month, as they’ve gone 8-1 so far in March. It’s unfortunate Sengun and Cam Whitmore suffered season-ending injuries just as Houston seemed to turn matters around with this late push to sneak into the Play-In. Regardless, everyone else has stepped up accordingly. Green’s been playing at an All-Star level. Thompson is receiving more opportunities and finally showing why he was a lottery pick. Jabari Smith Jr. continues to quietly have a solid second season, and the team as a whole has really bought in on the defensive end. The Rockets still need a lot of luck to go their way over these remaining 14 games to make the Play-In, but they’ve given themselves a chance with this six-game winning streak. Up next, Houston returns home for three very winnable games at Toyota Center. If Jalen Green continues to play at a high level, and the Rockets stick to their defensive principles, this streak could extend into the next few games.

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.