Category: Uncategorized

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.

Rockets Square-Off Against 76ers to Close Home-Stand

Starting the Second.    More Trouble.    Avoiding a Repeat.

The Rockets begin the second half of their season on Monday night, as they play host to the Philadelphia 76ers. And hopefully avoid a repeat of what occurred a week ago in these squads’ first battle. Last Monday in Philly, the Sixers pounded Houston for a 133-113 victory. If the Rockets want to make tonight’s contest more completive, they need to exert more energy defensively. It’s easier said than done, but it comes down to effort for these Rockets. And as they commence the second part of this journey, Houston could be in for more trouble tonight. Monday marks the final night of what’s been an ugly thee-game home-stand so far for the Rockets.

After losing their last two games by a combined 42 points, Houston hosts a far tougher opponent in Philly on Monday night. Joel Embiid torched the Rockets only a week ago with a monstrous triple-double, registering 31 points, 15 boards, and 10 assists. The good news for Houston is they didn’t have Christian Wood in that game. Wood will be playing tonight, but will he make enough of a difference?

Tonight’s game is the second half of a back-to-back for the Rockets, who haven’t won the latter of these contests all season. Houston hopes the second half of the season brings better fortune than the first, and they avoid repeating blowouts, and poor starts. Whether it be getting out of the gate, or coming out of the break, the Rockets have struggled revving up all year. That will have to change tonight if the Houston wants any chance of pulling off the upset against the Sixers. Philly’s won six straight games, and are playing their best basketball of the year after sitting in Average Lane for the first quarter of the season. Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr. struggled in the Rockets’ previous two blowout losses. Especially KPJ, who other than his game-winner, has performed below-expectations since returning from injury. The backcourt needs to have a strong performance if Houston wants to turn their chance of victory into a realistic one tonight. Otherwise, the Rockets could be in for a repetitive, ugly start to the second half of this season.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Philadelphia 76ers (22-16):  Navy “City Edition”

Houston Rockets (11-30):  Red

 

Tip-Off:  7 PM CT

TV:  AT&T Sportsnet SW,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Dominated by Wolves in 141-123 Beatdown

Too Much Towns.    No Defensive Force.    Searching for Answers.

For the second straight game, the Rockets were blown out on their home floor, as the Timberwolves feasted on a 141-123 victory in Houston. Karl-Anthony Towns was unstoppable, as the Rockets had no answers for KAT defensively. Towns led Minnesota with 40 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists. De’Angelo Russell added 22 points, and Anthony Edwards chipped in 19, but KAT was the beast who ultimately made sure Houston had no chance.

The Rockets once again weren’t lacking versatility, seven players scored in double-figures, led by Christian Wood, who had 22 points. Josh Christopher continues to play well. The rookie scored 19 points, the same amount as Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green combined, as Houston’s backcourt has struggled over the last two matchups. And defensively the Rockets have been an embarrassment over the past couple games. Since Kevin Porter Jr.’s game-winner in D.C., Houston has given up a whopping 271 points over the last two games. That’s an average of almost 136 points a night. If this level of defense continues, so will the losses for Houston. On Star Wars Night at Toyota Center, the “force” certainly wasn’t with the Rockets on defense.

Houston’s now lost two straight games by a combined total of 42 points, and remains a team searching for answers. The Rockets have a lot of young, talented players with potential, but something’s missing. Granted, the lack of experience will lead to letdowns like Sunday’s, but Houston is too talented to be getting blown out this frequently. Having played 41 games, the Rockets are now officially halfway through the season. Has the squad run out of gas too early? It’s going to be hard to snap out of this funk soon for Houston, as they get right back to action on Monday night. Only the opponent is more difficult than the last two teams the Rockets got torched by. The Philadelphia 76ers come to town on Monday night, exactly one week after blowing out Houston, 133-113, in these squads’ first matchup back on January 3rd. And if the Rockets want to be more completive than their recent losses, they’ve simply need to play with more energy and force, especially defensively.

Rockets Look to Bounce Back, Welcome Wolves to Town

Midway Point.    Back to the Basics.    Hungry Like the Wolves.

Houston hosts the Minnesota Timberwolves in what will be the 41st game of the season, exactly the halfway point of the journey for the Rockets. So far, Houston has certainly had its share of ups and downs, as as has any team in the NBA. However, at the midway mark, it’s clear the Rockets have plenty to work on as they continue to progress through the current rebuilding state of the franchise. Houston is in last place in the Western Conference, and has the third-worst record in the league behind Detroit and Orlando. Which basically means the Rockets have a legitimate chance in this summer’s draft to potentially land another top pick.

After their embarrassing loss on Friday, Houston simply needs to play harder. The Rockets played with no effort against Dallas, who kicked them back to reality after they were in a haze from KPJ’s awe-inspiring game-winner in Washington D.C.The Timberwolves are riding a three-game winning streak as they stroll into H-Town. The Wolves have their own “Big Three,” consisting of Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Edwards, and DeAngelo Russell. The trio combined for 70 points in Minnesota’s previous game. Houston will have their hands full trying to contain these All-Star caliber players tonight.

Houston will have to be hungry like this improved Wolves squad, who currently sit in 8th place, good for a playoff spot in the West. Minnesota has been much better than people expected. Towns is one of the best Centers in the league, but it’s been Anthony Edwards, in the midst of a breakout-season, who’s been garnering the most attention in Minnesota. Edwards is one of the most explosive players in the league, and the Rockets need to eliminate his transition opportunities, where he flourishes as one of the league’s best finishers. After getting kicked in the mouth by Dallas on Friday, Houston has nowhere to go but up, and if they play hard… possibly seal the first half of the season on a positive note.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Minnesota Timberwolves (20-18):  Blue “City Edition”

Houston Rockets (11-29):  Red

 

Tip-Off:  6 PM CT

TV:  AT&T Sportsnet SW,  NBA League Pass

No-Show: Rockets Late to their Own Party, Blown Out by Mavs, 130-106

Nothing to Offer.    Pompous Comfort to Agonizing Reality.    The Kick-Back.

As they honored the legendary Houston broadcaster Bill Worrell, the Rockets unfortunately had arguably their worst game of the season. Houston got out to an early 6-2 lead, but that’s when things began to go south for the Rockets in this battle of Texas rivals. By the end of the first quarter, Houston already trailed Dallas by 20, and the squad wouldn’t get any closer. The Rockets were blown out of their own building, 130-106, by the Mavericks, on Bill Worrell night of all days to sour the wound. Houston simply played with no effort. Dallas didn’t even have their two best players, Luka Doncic and Kristpas Porzingis, yet had no issues manhandling the Rockets. Tim Hardaway Jr. led the Mavs with 19 points, and Dallas had five different players score 15 or more points. Adding insult to Houston’s lack of injuries, the Mavs didn’t seem to miss from long range, and punished the Rockets poor defense all night.

Christian Wood led Houston scorers with 20 points, but the Rockets were clearly suffering a hangover from their previous win. Kevin Porter Jr.’s game-winner carried over to certainly affect the proceedings at Toyota Center on Friday night. The team as a whole was too comfortable. Their in-state rival Mavs came they a kick in the face it appears they needed. After trailing by 20 at home all night, Houston can only seeming go up from here in their next game. Hopefully the Rockets turn on the jets and get back to business.

Up next, Houston hosts Minnesota in the first of a back-to-back on Sunday night. At least it would seem affairs on the court can’t get any worse for the Rockets. Expect a motivated Houston squad to play with more effort in their next contest. That legendary game-winner’s in the past, and hopefully these 20-point home losses are as well.

Rockets Host In-State Rival Mavs on Historic Night

Hometown Hero.    Money Green.    Stopping the Kill.

After the most jubilant victory of the season, the Rockets return home to host their in-state rivals, the Dallas Mavericks. And just as Dallas honored Dirk Nowitzki in their previous game, Houston is honoring a face close to the franchise tonight, and a hometown hero, in Bill Worrell. Worrell was the Rockets’ play-by-play announcer for four decades, and will be recognized for his greatness on Friday night. Worrell was born in Houston, and worked with the Astros and the University of Houston, but he’s best known as the voice of the Rockets for nearly 40 years, including the Championship glory days and the birth of “Clutch City.” Can Houston bring their clutch momentum back home with them for an encore. It’s possible, as Dallas is likely short-handed tonight.

Luka Doncic is doubtful to play heading into tonight’s matchup. Which means Rocket-Killer Tim Hardaway Jr. will receive a plethora of chances to damage Houston’s historic night. If the Rockets can contain Hardaway Jr. and keep him from having an explosive game, Houston should have a good shot at victory. The Mavs are coming off an impressive win over the team with the NBA’s best-record, the Golden State Warriors. Houston is coming off a rousing game-winning shot by Kevin Porter Jr. in Washington D.C. A shot the Rockets hope will change the aura of their entire season.

Hopefully Scoot’s game-winner in DC will spur KPJ to have a better overall shooting night against Dallas. Scoot was 3-for-13 against the Wizards, but hit the biggest shot of the night. Christian Wood will again look to return with a vengeance after one of his best games of the season. With the controversy cloud (presumably) in the past, the Rockets should be excited to start another winning streak. It was easy to get caught up in Houston’s drama over the past few days. Just don’t be surprised when Jalen Green keeps rolling. Green has been superb since returning from a hamstring injury. The Rockets rookie is finally looking like the Rookie of the Year many predicted him to be before the season began.

The Rockets are aiming to prove their previous win wasn’t a fluke, and return to more efficient basketball. This contest will give fans a better idea of where KPJ and Christian Wood stand moving forward. Was the win in the Nation’s Capitol just a game won out of frustration? Or a sign of more victories to come in the future? Friday night’s in-state rivalry matchup will answer a lot of those questions. Just like Dallas secured a win when honoring Dirk in their previous game, Houston hopes to have similar results when they honor their own legend tonight. Worrell was a part of so many special moments as the voice of the Rockets. On flashback Friday, Houston will aim to do what Worrell witnessed so many times first-hand… win.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Dallas Mavericks (20-18):  White

Houston Rockets (11-28):  Navy “City Edition”

 

Tip-Off:  7 PM CT

TV:  AT&T Sportsnet SW,  NBA League Pass

He Scoots, He Scores!:  KPJ’s Game-Winning Bullet Sends Rockets Past Wizards, 114-111

Capitol Win.    Saved by the Yell.    Rousing Returns.    

Houston needed some magic if they were going to survive in D.C. on Wednesday night. And the Rockets got a late miracle from an unexpected source. With the match tied, Kevin Porter Jr. hit a game-winning three-pointer with 0.4 seconds remaining to secure Houston’s 114-111 victory, snapping the team’s eight-game losing streak, and giving the Rockets one of their best wins of the season.

Scoot and Christian Wood were suspended the previous game, but both came out with early fire in the first quarter, combing for Houston’s first 9 points as the Rockets got out to an early 12-point lead. However, overall KPJ struggled from the field. Before his final shot, Porter Jr. missed 10 of his 12 shot attempts although he did have 7 boards and 8 dimes on the night. Stephen Silas put enough confidence in his player to allow Scoot to nail the game-winner, seemingly putting all the controversy in the past. Wood had a dominant performance from the start, and played motivated and hungry from the opening tip. He finished with 22 points, 11 boards, and 3 steals on the night.

Jalen Green continues to flourish since his return from injury. Green scored 22 points to lead the Rockets (along with Wood), and grabbed 6 rebounds. He’s beginning to show flashes of the reason many pundits in the preseason picked Green to be the Rookie of the Year. Green’s already one of the fastest players in the league in transition, and his quick first step and driving ability has improved as the season’s moved along. Garrison Matthews had an off shooting-night, but drew four charges, as he continues to lead the league in that impressive defensive category. Garry Bird is one of the hardest playing guys in the league, and will sacrifice his body on any given play for the betterment of the team. Eric Gordon scored 14 of his 19 points in the second half, as EG continues to quietly have one of the most efficient seasons of his career, leading the NBA in 3-point shooting percentage.

This win for the Rockets was impressive for several reasons. Houston wasn’t sure what performance they would receive with the returns of Porter Jr. and Wood. Both players exceeded fan expectations with their motivated play, and were key elements to the Rockets’ victory. Coming into this game, the Wizards were one of the best teams in the entire league. Washington was 7-1 in games decided by 3 points or less, and 15-3 in clutch games (matchups decided by 5 points or less with 5 minutes or fewer remaining). Houston prevailed against one of the best clutch teams in the league this season.

After leading 86-83 going into the fourth quarter, the Rockets went on an 8-0 run to grab an 11-point lead less than two minutes into the final period. The Wiz countered with their own 10-2 run, turning the game into a nail-biter down the stretch. Fortunately for Houston, Bradley Beal, Washington’s best player, fouled out with 9:10 left in the game. Beal still led the Wizards in scoring with 27 points, but his absence was sorely felt for D.C. in the final 9 minutes of action. This game shouldn’t have even come down to the final seconds, but a pesky Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who scored 26 points for the Wiz led a late rally. The Rockets led by 5 points with only 48 seconds left in the game. KCP hit a 3-pointer to start Washington’s 5-0 run to tie the game at 111 before Scoot’s game-winner.

Houston is now 9-4 when leading after three quarters, proving their achilles heal is falling behind in games. The Rockets now return home where they’ll honor the legendary Bill Worrell on Friday night when they host Dallas. Worrell was the voice of the team for four decades, and is an icon of Houston’s sports broadcasting scene. Hopefully the Rockets carry this magical momentum back home with them for what will be a very special night in H-Town.

Rockets Search for Positive Spells, Face Wizards in D.C.

Formula Test.    Average Magic.    New Rockets.

The Rockets meet the Wizards for the first time this season as the teams will battle in Washington D.C. on Wednesday night. Houston is trying to snap an eight-game losing-streak. The Wizards started the season 8-3. Since that point, they’re only 8-15, signifying their potential as merely average. However, they still have Bradley Beal, one of the league’s best players. The Wiz also got a plethora of ex-Lakers from the Russell Westbrook trade who are having career seasons. Kyle Kuzma stands out the most as a guy Houston needs to keep their eye on, besides Beal. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has also played well in Washington.

The Rockets have a chance tonight, but it’ll depend on the return of Christian Wood and Kevin Porter Jr. Both players were suspended in Houston’s previous game for their childish outbursts in the Denver game on New Year’s Day. These cases are different, despite happening in the same game. Wood has been a discussion of trade rumors all season, this outburst only seems to almost signify he’ll eventually be traded. KPJ is a harder case to discern. This seems like his final chance. He was shipped out of Cleveland for behavioral issues. If the NBA’s connoisseur of player development, John Lucas, can’t get the best out of Scoot, it’s hard to imagine anyone accomplishing the feat. KPJ has a lot to prove in his return, and Houston will determine if he’s fit to be the point-guard for the franchise long-term. Stephen Silas’ formula will be put to the ultimate test on Wednesday night.

Tonight’s game is the first chance to get a look at the new Rockets. No… no new players have joined the team since the previous game, neither have any new injuries developed. But after the behavior Wood and KPJ displayed against Denver, they will never be the same. They can learn to put their actions in the past, and move on to a better future. Or they can stubbornly play on a squad who will soon ship them to another team. The choice is theirs: Wood and Porter Jr.’s. And these incidents could turn out very different. This is the first problematic issue Scoot has had in a Rockets jersey. Is this a sign he’s trending back towards the immature, raw player in Cleveland who no one wanted? KPJ’s showed flashes of brilliance. Last season’s 50-Burger against the Champion Milwaukee Bucks. But this season, Scoot’s been inconsistent to merely-average. If he can control his behavior, KPJ has the potential to grow into a formidable player, but he has to perform more consistently at a higher level.

Meanwhile, Wood has shown he’s capable of being a legitimate All-Star in this league. That is, when he wants to play. Who knows if the trade rumors are getting to his head, but Wood obviously was upset about coming off the bench. As a player, regardless of talent-level, you have to accept coaching. At least in the eyes of the public. Rocket fans should get a good idea of where these players stand as they return to the court tonight in D.C. It should be fairly easy to tell whether or not Wood wants to stay in Houston long-term. Scoot, meanwhile, will be a trickier puzzle to solve, and one that may take more time.

 

Capitol One Arena:  Washington D.C.

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (10-28):  White

Washington Wizards (19-18):  Blue “City Edition”

 

Tip-Off:  6 PM CT

TV:  AT&T Sportsnet SW,  NBA League Pass