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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.

Rockets Visit Kings for Final Meeting this Season

Second Leg.    Sweep Seekers.    Royal Difference.

Fresh off a win in Portland to start their road trip, the Rockets make their lone trip to Sacramento this season to battle the Kings for the final time this season. Houston won the first two matchups back in Toyota Center early in the campaign. This is the second stop on a three-game road trip for the Rockets. The squad will close out the trip with a battle with Spurs in the Alamo City on Tuesday night. Houston has won three of their last four games overall. Sacramento has also won three of their past four games, and two straight.

Houston is seeking a sweep of the Kings this season as they enter tonight’s matchup. If the Rockets want any chance of pulling the upset tonight, they need to contain Sacramento’s De’Aaron Fox. The Houston native and All-Star didn’t play in either of the previous two matchups between these teams. In the two wins, the Rockets have held the Kings to the lowest points per game average any team has against any single opponent this season.

This Kings team is currently in sixth place in the Western conference, and are a different squad than the group the Rockets beat twice way back in November of this campaign. Expect a tough, gritty matchup tonight, as Houston aims to keep rolling on the road tonight in Sac-Town.

 

Golden 1 Center:  Sacramento, California

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (28-35):  White

Sacramento Kings (36-26):  Purple

 

Tip-Off:  5:00 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Surge Past Trail Blazers, 123-107, for Second Straight Road Win

Track Meet.    Poster Man.    Clean Finish.

Houston’s road trip started in triumphant fashion, as the Rockets rallied to beat the injury-riddled Trail Blazers, 123-107, on Friday night. Portland actually held a lead into the third quarter, which saw Houston face a 12-point deficit at one point. This game was a track meet, as the Rockets scored a season-high 37 fast break points, dominating the Blazers in transition. Jalen Green led the Rockets with 27 points

The turning moment in this contest featured arguably the dunk of the season by any Rockets player. Houston was staring at a 9-point deficit when Jalen Green absolutely posterized Anfernee Simons in the third quarter. The play energized Houston’s bench, and the Rockets would go on to dominate the rest of the game, garnering a 16-point victory.

Houston had a clean finish to this contest. After a somewhat sloppy start, the Rockets didn’t commit a single turnover in the fourth quarter, exhibiting excellent ball control. Fred VanVleet continues to be one of the best assist-to-turnover ratio players in the league. FVV dished out 10 dimes, and committed zero turnovers in Houston’s victory. The win gives the Rockets their second straight on the road, and a positive start as they continue this three-game road trip out West.

Rockets Seek Revenge, Visit Trail Blazers to Start Road Trip

Back West.    Road Building.    Avengement.

Houston hits the road once again as they travel back West to start a three game road trip with a matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers. In the first matchup between these teams, back on January 27th, the Blazers dealt the Rockets one of their worst losses of the entire season, a 137-134 overtime defeat at home. Malcolm Brogdon hit a tough three, followed by Jerami Grant hitting a wild shot to send the game to overtime, before Portland eventually took over control. Luckily for Houston, none of those players are playing tonight. The Blazers are very injury depleted at the moment, without the likes of Jerami Grant, Malcolm Brogdon, De’Andre Ayton, and Scoot Henderson, among others.

The Rockets are coming off a tough loss to the Clippers which saw Houston blow a 20-point lead. Ime Udoka should have his squad motivated to serve up a dish of revenge to this Blazers team in Portland. Udoka is from the Portland area, as are several Rockets assistants. The players will look to make this a nice homecoming off sorts for their coach by winning two straight road games for the first time all season. Houston won their last road game in Phoenix, and have an even better to chance to get a win over this limping Portland team on Friday night.

Anfernee Simons will be the focal point of Houston’s defense, as he scored 33 points in the first matchup between these squads. Despite the Trail Blazers boasting nearly a full roster, Simons led the team in scoring in Portland’s win in Houston. As long as the Rockets don’t overlook these Blazers, and realize Portland still has professionals on the other side, Houston should be able to win their second straight on the road out West.

 

Moda Center:  Portland, Oregon

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (27-35):  Red

Portland Trail Blazers (17-44):  White

 

Tip-Off:  9:00 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Collapse in Second Half, Fall to Clippers, 122-116

Half Measure.    Three-Headed Trimmer.    Sinking Ship.

Houston led by as many as 20 points in the first half on Wednesday night, seemingly on their way to a third straight win. But once the Clippers got some momentum, the Rockets found themselves in trouble, as L.A. rallied to deal Houston a 122-116 defeat at home. The Rockets are now 0-2 this season against the Clippers, with both losses coming by six points each. Alperen Sengun had another tremendous performance for Houston, but it wasn’t enough, as L.A.’s star-power fueled their comeback. The Rockets led 57-44 at halftime, but this contest was truly a tale of two halves.

Kawhil Leonard, Paul George, and James Harden combined to score 60 of the Clippers’ 122 total points. L.A.’s Big-Three was simply too much for Houston to handle on Wednesday night. The Rockets didn’t necessarily play poorly, the stars for the Clippers just hit some tough shots. Sengun finished with 23 points, 19 rebounds, and 14 assists on the night, his fourth career triple-double. Jabari Smith Jr. bounced back from a poor showing last game to score 19 points against L.A. Jalen Green and Fred VanVleet added 15 points apiece, and Cam Whitmore contributed 17 points off the bench for Houston.

The Rockets now find themselves with a 27-35 record. They sit roughly five games out of the final Play-In spot, and their chances of sneaking into the playoffs are dimming with each loss. To give the coaching staff and team credit, they were never expected to even contend for a playoff spot this season. The squad has exceeded everyone’s expectations. Getting off to a 13-9 start when Tari Eason was healthy may have raised those expectations a little too high, as this year proves, it’s a long NBA season. Houston still has a slight chance, but they need to reel off some wins quickly, or the Rockets will likely miss the playoffs once again this season.

Rockets Seek Third Straight Win, Host Rising Clippers

Back to Work.    First Appearance.    Measuring Stick.

Fresh of the best game of his career, Alperen Sengun gets his Rockets ready to host the star-studded Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night. Houston is coming off a big victory over the Spurs last night with Sengun scoring a career-high 45 points. The Clippers have quietly crept up the Western Conference standings, currently holding the fourth position. Tonight’s matchup is James Harden’s first visit to H-Town this season. The former Rocket torched Houston in the first matchup between these teams in L.A. back in November, as he completed a clutch four-point play to seal a 106-100 win for the Clips. Besides Harden, the Clippers boast former All-Stars Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and Russell Westbrook, who comes off their bench as the Sixth Man. Basically, they have four future Hall-of-Famers when have finally figured out how to play together. It’s a problem, not just tonight for the Rockets, but for the entire NBA, and the Clippers are legitimate threats to win the title this season.

The Rockets have to hope James Harden did some partying in retuning to the city he still calls home, as they’ll need all the help they can get against a very tough Clippers team. Houston’s road win over Phoenix a few games ago seemed like a turning point in season. The Rockets finally won two games in a row for the first time in over two months last night. If they want to push this streak to three games, they’re going to need a more balanced attack against a smart, veteran Clippers squad. L.A.’s center, Ivica Zubac, likely won’t allow Sengun to erupt for another 40-Burger tonight, so the Houston will need other players to step up.

This game is a true measuring stick to see whether this Rockets club has turned a corner as we enter the final 20 games of the season. It’s hard to beat the same team twice, as Houston showed in Phoenix, and the Rockets have been solid at home all season. But the Clippers are a top-tier that will test Houston’s resolve unlike most. Even if he was out partying, there’s no doubt Harden is motivated to beat his former team tonight. Can the Rockets match the Clippers firepower? We’ll find out tonight, as the Rockets play on national tv for only the second time all season. Hopefully the bright lights at home can inspire Houston to pull off the upset, and earn one of their best wins of the season.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Los Angeles Clippers (39-21):  Blue

Houston Rockets (27-34):  Red

 

Tip-Off:  6:30 PM CT

TV:  ESPN,  Space City Home Network

Sengun’s Career Night Boots Rockets Past Spurs, 114-101

Sleeping Giant.    Steady Freddy.    Fantastic Four.

San Antonio’s rookie sensation, Victor Wembanyama, may have been the headlining name on the national stage entering this matchup, but Alperen Sengun managed to temporarily humble the hype. Houston’s center had the best game of his career, exploding for a career-high 45 points, 16 rebounds, and 5 steals, as the Rockets rallied past the Spurs for a 114-101 victory on Tuesday night. Sengun played as if someone had just woken a sleeping giant, dominating Wemby on both sides of the floor. Sengun didn’t just outplay Wembanyama, he attacked the rookie. Sengun scored 11 baskets with Wemby as his primary or closest defender, tied for the most baskets by one player against another all season in the NBA.

Fred VanVleet continues to be a steady leader at the point for this young Houston squad. FVV finished with 21 points and 10 assists on a clean 8-for-15 shooting. VanVleet has quietly been the second best player on this Rockets team all season, behind only Sengun, who is having a true breakout-season. Jalen Green added 23 points despite a dismal 1-for-10 shooting from beyond the arc, although he was 10-for-13 on two-point attempts, suggesting Green needs got attack the basket more instead of relying on outside jumpers. And Cam Whitmore continues to shine in limited minutes off the bench. Whitmore scored 19 points and grabbed 8 boards in only 19 minutes of action.

Despite trailing at the half, Houston dominated the second frame en route to their 21st home win of the season. Houston’s defense did a solid job on Wembanyama, who scored only 10 points, well below his average. Wemby did register a ridiculous 7 blocks to go along with 11 rebounds, but overall, the Rockets forced the rookie into a below-average game, as Sengun got the better of this matchup on Tuesday night. Houston’s defense suffocated Wemby after halftime, as the Rockets didn’t allow him to score a point or even attempt a shot in the second half. Houston had four players combine to score 108 of the team’s 114 total points in this game. Those players were the aforementioned Sengun, Green, VanVleet, and Whitmore. Besides those fantastic four, the rest of the roster managed to score only six points. The Spurs are last place in the West, and obviously not the toughest opponent. But on nights against tougher opposition, the Rockets will need contributions from more players on the roster as well if they want to come out victorious.

The squad is right back in action tomorrow night as they host the Kawhi, The Beard, PG-13, and the Los Angeles Clippers. It’s James Harden’s first visit to Houston this season, as the Rockets will look to deal the Clips a loss after losing the first matchup in L.A. in a tightly-fought battle. With another big night from Sengun, and some added help… Houston may be able to upset the star-studded Clippers tomorrow night.

Rockets Host Spurs in Return to Toyota Center

Silver Streakers.    Emerging Stars.    Rare Favorites.

After a three game road trip, Houston returns home to host their in-state rivals, the San Antonio Spurs. Despite their last-place record in the West, the Spurs have won their last two games, over solid competition as well, in the Thunder and the Pacers. Victor Wembanyama has improved since the last time these teams squared off. Wemby’s nearly a lock to win Rookie of the Year, and has multiple SportsCenter highlights on a nightly basis.

Other than Wemby, this game features several emerging stats, including Houston’s Alperen Sengun, Jalen Green, Cam Whitmore, among others. Devin Vassell, San Antonio’s second-best player, is quietly having a very solid season as the Spurs second option behind Wemby. The Rockets are 1-1 against San Antonio this season, with the home team winning both of the previous matchups. With Houston still a solid 20-10 at home this season, the Rockets should be energized enough to beat a Spurs squad that simply doesn’t match their talent level.

Ime Udoka announced after the previous game that Tari Eason underwent surgery on Monday, and will be out for the season. Hopefully Eason returns to full strength next year, as he was instrumental in the Rockets getting off to a 13-9 start to the campaign. Tonight’s game is the first of two straight at Toyota Center for the Rockets. Houston will host James Harden and the Los Angeles Clippers tomorrow night. The Rockets are the rare favorites in tonight’s matchup. With a boost from their home crowd, expect Houston to continue their winning ways at home over a lowly Spurs team.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

San Antonio Spurs (13-48):  Black

Houston Rockets (26-34):  White

 

Tip-Off:  7:00 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Eclipse Suns, 118-109, Snap Road Skid

Launch Pad.    Streaking Halt.    Green Valley.

Jalen Green stole the opening tip, and the Rockets didn’t look back, as Houston took the second part of the Phoenix set, 118-109, on Saturday night. For the second consecutive game, Green scored 34 points in the Valley of the Sun. He was even better in Houston’s victory, shooting the ball more efficiently at a 12-for-23 clip in the squad’s victory on Saturday night. If the Rockets can find a way to channel Phoenix Jalen Green outside of the desert, Houston will be tough to beat on any night. Green was an instrumental part of giving the Rockets an early advantage. Houston led 38-19 after the first quarter, arguably their best frame of the season, considering the opponent and location. The Rockets would extend that lead to 20 points in the second period before the Suns began their comeback attempt. Luckily for Houston, they had enough players step up to prevent Phoenix from overtaking the lead. Alperen Sengun finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds, while Fred VanVleet registered 24 points and 11 dimes for Houston

Entering tonight’s contest, the Rockets had lost 9 straight games on the road, with the Suns winners of 9 straight games at home. Both those streaks ended on Saturday night, as Houston earned one of their most impressive wins of the year in a rare road victory. The Rockets are now 6-24 away from Toyota Center. If this latest victory wasn’t the best all season for this young Houston team, it at least ranks up near the top of the list. Phoenix came back to make it a contest in the second half, but Houston were able to fend off the star-studded Suns. Bradley Beal was ejected after getting into a scuffle with Jalen Green. Regardless, the Rockets survived a combined 54-point outing from Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. Houston dominated Phoenix in transition, outscoring the Suns 28-10 in fast break points.

Saturday’s win ends Houston’s road trip and tough stretch which saw them face only the Suns and the Thunder over the past five games. Considering those opponents, 2-3 isn’t too bad of a record coming out of that stretch. Could their latest victory be a turning point as Houston enters the final 22-game portion of the campaign? We’ll find out soon enough, as the Rockets enter the home stretch of this season. Up next, Houston gets a rare two days off before returning home for back-to-back games at Toyota Center next week. The Rockets will host Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs, followed by a visit by James Harden and the Clippers. It’s a chance for this young Houston squad to start the final quarter of this campaign on a high-note, and with a lot of luck, potentially sneak into the Play-In at season’s end.