Category: Uncategorized

Rockets Visit Warriors to Begin Post-All-Star Stretch

Season Reboot.    The Spoilers.    Stretch 24.    

The Rockets begin the final stretch of the season with a matchup against the defending champion Golden State Warriors. The Dubs are still missing Stephen Curry, but have plenty of other firepower on their roster. Houston will aim to keep Golden State from reaching the .500 mark, as the Warriors are currently 29-30 on the season. For the Rockets, they will be playing the role of spoiler in most of their remaining 24 games of the season. Houston has no chance to make the playoffs, and will be facing playoff or potential playoff teams for the rest of the season, as the majority of the league (25 out of 30 teams still have realistic shot at making the playoffs/play-in tournament).

The squad will still be without Jalen Green tonight, as he suffered an injury in the final game before the break in OKC. The Rockets are also still without Kevin Porter Jr., although Coach Stephen Silas said he’s nearing a return to action. For now, the Rockets will have to upset the Warriors with the guys they have on their roster. The season reboot is here.. can the Rockets make the final stretch a little more interesting? Tune in to watch the squad battle their former arch-enemies in the Bay Area tonight.

 

Chase Center:  San Francisco, California

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (13-45):  White

Golden State Warriors (29-30):  Blue

 

Tip-Off:  9:00 PM CT

TV:  AT&T Sportsnet SW,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Blown Out by Thunder, 133-96, in Final Game Before Break

Thundercrushed.    No Chance.    Much-Needed Intermission.

From the opening tip, it was evident this young Rockets team was focused on their upcoming break. They didn’t stand much of a chance against the Thunder on Wednesday night. OKC raced out to an early lead, and blew out Houston, 133-96, in the final game before All-Star Break. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 29 points to lead OKC. The Rockets didn’t have a player score more than 15 points, as Jabari Smith Jr. led the team with that mark.

Houston now gets a much-needed break. After two tough close losses, the Rockets have lost these last pair of games in blowout fashion. It’s time for the group to re-group, and get ready for the final stretch of the season.

Only 24 games remain, and the Rockets will be playing the role of spoiler for the remainder of the campaign. For now, the team needs to have a safe, well-rested break, and hopefully those participating in events at All-Star Weekend in Salt Lake City (Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun, KJ Martin) will enjoy the festivities.

Rockets Battle Thunder in Final Game Before Break

Stopping SGA.    For the Win.    Last Stop.

The Houston Rockets visit the Oklahoma City Thunder for their final matchup before the NBA’s All-Star Break. Houston won’t play again after tonight until February 24th in the Bay Area. The Rockets are 2-1 against OKC this season, and they’ll try and win the season series with a victory tonight. In order to accomplish this, they’ll have to contain Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. SGA is having breakout season, having propelled his game from All-Star to Superstar levels. 

If Houston can contain SGA, they have a chance. Games right before the break can be tough for young teams because young squads start to focus on the break or vacation. The Rockets need to stay locked in, and if they aren’t, it should be evident from the opening tip.

It’s Houston’s last chance for a win before we head into the final stretch. They’ll be short-handed without Jalen Green, but the Rockets have played well against OKC this season, besides giving up 153 points to the Thunder the last time these teams played. Houston needs to tighten up their defense heading into this final game before All Star Break, or they have no chance for an upset tonight.

 

Paycom Center:  Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (13-44):  Black

Oklahoma City Thunder (27-29):  Orange

 

Tip-Off:  7:00 PM CT

TV:  AT&T Sportsnet SW,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Fall to Sixers 123-104, as Skid Reaches Six

Too Much Firepower.    Downward Trend.    One More Chance.

The 76ers had too much firepower, as they handed the Rockets a 123-104 defeat on Monday night. James Harden led Philly with 28 points. Joel Embiid scored 23 points, and Tyrese Maxey had 26 points off the bench as the Sixers made quick work of the Rockets.

Jalen Green led Houston with 29 points, but he didn’t shoot the ball as efficiently as in previous games. After two tough close losses, the Rockets look like they’re running out of steam, anxiously awaiting the All-Star Break so they can get a breather.

They’ll have one more chance to get a victory before the NBA’s intermission, as they head to OKC to battle the Thunder on Wednesday night.

Rockets Visit Philly for Matchup with Sixers

Keep Em Mad.    Miracle Sweep?    Opposite Directions.

The Houston Rockets will try and keep the Philly sports fans upset, as they take on the 76ers on Monday night. The Eagles lost the Super Bowl to the Chiefs last night, and Jabari Smith Jr. didn’t get any sleep, as he posted a clip of Eagles fans going berserk in the streets outside Houston’s hotel room. Hopefully, the Rockets will be ready for Joell Embiid, James Harden, and a tough Sixers team on Monday night.

Houston is looking for the miracle sweep tonight, as they beat the Sixers earlier this season in Houston when the Rockets had that brief stretch where they played well against good competition at home (this stretch also included victories over the Suns and Bucks). Can Houston find a way to re-ignite that magic that seemed to be over a season ago?

These teams are headed in opposite directions, as their records indicate. The Sixers are playoff bound, with anything less than an NBA Championship being considered a disappointing season. The Rockets are firmly in position for a front row seat in the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes this summer. Philly’s led by veterans. Houston just traded their lone veteran in Eric Gordon before the trade deadline. Rockets rookies are averaging 21.6 points per game heading into this matchup. The Sixers rookies are averaging 0 points a night. It’s a battle of opposite styles and contrasting eras. Can Houston pull off the miracle sweep and keep the Philly sports fans mad? Tune in tonight to find out.

 

Wells Fargo Center:  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (13-43):  Red

Philadelphia 76ers (36-19):  Blue

 

Tip-Off:  6:00 PM CT

TV:  AT&T Sportsnet SW,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Lose to Heat on Final Play, Suffer Crushing 97-95 Defeat in Miami

Heartbreak: Part 2.    Herro Again.    Down to Two.

The Rockets lost on the final play of the game, 97-95, as the Heat found Jimmy Butler for a lob dunk with 0.3 remaining, the same amount of time on the clock in Houston’s previous loss to the Kings. This was another heartbreaking loss for the Rockets, albeit not at the hands of the refs this time. Houston let Tyler Herro have another nice game, as he lit up the Rockets for 31 points.

Jabari Smith Jr. led Houston with 22 points, as the team suffered another tough loss. The Rockets will look to rebound in Philly on Monday night as they try and sweep the Sixers. Philly will rocking either way, considering the Eagles play in the Super Bowl the night before.

Only two games remain for the Rockets before the All Star Break. Hopefully, they can muster a victory out of these last two games, and put these last two losses far in the past.

Rockets Visit Heat to Begin Road-Trip

First of Five.    Stopping Herro Ball.    Three to Go.

Houston sets out on the road for the first of five games starting with a matchup against the Miami Heat tonight. The last time these teams squared off, Tyler Herro torched the Rockets for a career-high in scoring, and led the Heat to a close win in the final seconds. Just like in Houston’s previous game, a controversial loss to the Kings, their was controversy in the first matchup with Miami. An out-of-bounds call was incorrectly ruled in Miami’s favor with a couple of seconds remaining. The Rockets should have had the ball for one last chance to tie or win the game, but they never got the chance due to the refs. Houston will attempt to wash the bad taste of the previous game on Wednesday out of their mouths as they hit the road.

The Rockets need to do a better defensive job on Tyler Herro if they want any chance to upset the Heat tonight. Jimmy Butler is capable of having a big game on any night, but Herro is a more lethal threat from beyond the perimeter, as he displayed in the first matchup between these squads.

Counting tonight, Houston has only three games remaining before the All-Star Break. After tonight they’ll travel to Philly to play the 76ers on Monday, before flying to OKC to battle the Thunder in the final game before break. All three matchups are on the road and will be tough tests for Houston, but it would be nice to see the squad win at least one more game before the intermission.

Miami-Dade Arena: Miami, Florida

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (13-42): Black

Miami Heat (30-25): White

Tip-Off: 7:00 PM CT

TV: AT&T Sportsnet SW, NBA League Pass

Rockets Collapse in Final Seconds, 130-128, as Kings Sweep Season Series

Royal Hosing.    Improper Sendoff.    On the Road Again.

In one of the worst calls of the entire NBA season, De’Aaron Fox, was able to somehow draw a foul on Eric Gordon in the final seconds. Replays clearly showed EG didn’t touch Fox, and no foul was anywhere to be seen. Unfortunately Stephen Silas had used his challenge, and the Rockets were at the mercy of the referees, who made sure that once again, Houston wouldn’t be in store for a victory. Fox nailed all three free throws, as the Kings snuck past the Rockets, 130-128, to deal Houston their fourth straight loss.

Jalen Green had one of his best games of his entire career, scoring 41 points on an efficient 14-for-22 shooting. Alperen Sengun fell one rebound shy of a triple-double, registering 18 points, 11 assists, and 9 boards on the night. And in his final game as a Rocket, Eric Gordon scored 9 points, and unfortunately his last moment was being called for the terrible foul call.

Gordon was dealt to the Los Angeles Clippers before the trade deadline. Bruno Fernando and Garrison Mathews were also traded, both to the Atlanta Hawks. Other than cap space and draft picks, the Rockets received Frank Kaminsky, after several other players, including former Rocket John Wall, were waived by Houston. Justin Holiday also request to be dealt to a different team, as the Rockets acquired him along with Kaminsky. For now, Houston’s roster doesn’t appear much different other than the absence of EG. Gordon had long been in trade rumor discussions, dating back even several seasons, so this comes as no surprise to Rockets fans. Houston will miss EG, he was the longest tenured Rocket, and the only player remaining from the 2017-2018 team that set the regular-season franchise win record, with 65, and fell one game short of making the NBA Finals.

The Rockets now hit the road for five straight games, with the All-Star break smashed in between. Houston will play three more road games before the break, then head back to Houston, Utah, or vacation. After the intermission, the Rockets start their post-All Star break schedule with two road games before finally returning home to Toyota Center in late February.

Rockets Aim for Different Result, Host Kings in Rematch

Part 2.    Last Chance.    Home Cooking.

The Rockets host the Kings on Wednesday night as these teams will meet for the second time in as many games. Sacramento won the previous matchup easily, 140-120, on Monday. Houston will try to beat the Kings for the first time all season, and this is their last chance, as this is the final meeting between the squads this season.

After tonight, the Rockets hit the road for five straight games, with the All-Star break meshed in between. Houston’s fans won’t get to see the team play for a few weeks after tonight, so the Rockets will try and give the hometown crowd their money’s worth in Wednesday’s rematch.

This game is also the final game before the trade deadline, so it could be the last game in Rocket uniform for several players. Eric Gordon’s name has been the most mentioned in the trade rumor mill, but other Houston players could be dealt as well. If it is EG’s final game for the Rockets, hopefully he ends his tenure here with a dominant performance, and leads Houston to a victory.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Sacramento Kings (30-23):  Black

Houston Rockets (13-41):  Red

 

Tip-Off:  7:00 PM CT

TV:  AT&T Sportsnet SW,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Suffer Royal Beatdown in 140-120 Loss to Kings

Chef Murray.    Defensive Letdown.    Back At It.

Sacramento’s sophomore Keegan Murray scored a career-high 30 points, as the Kings snapped their two-game skid, handing the Rockets a 140-120 loss on Monday night. Murray did his best Steph Curry impression, setting a rookie-record with 8 made threes in the contest. Jalen Green led the Rockets with 27 points on a solid 10-for-21 shooting from the floor. KJ Martin added 18 points and 8 boards as he continues to display excellent consistency with Houston having holes in their lineup. K-Mart has taken full advantage of the extra opportunities and playing time.

The Rockets have now given up a combined 293 points in their last two games, as their defense has been atrocious. Houston needs to find some consistent level of acceptability on the defensive end or they’re going to get torched on a nightly basis.

These two squads will square up right back in H-Town for a rematch on Wednesday night, similar to when these teams first met in Sacramento for two straight games. The Rockets will aim for a different result in the next matchup, and try to beat the Kings for the first time all season in their final chance on Wednesday.