Rockets Lose to Bucks, 123-114, as Streak Comes to an End
Back to Earth. Failure to Close. Right Back at It.
Despite leading for most of the night, the Rockets lost their first game in over two weeks, as the Bucks snapped the streak at seven by dealing Houston a 123-114 loss on Friday night. The Rockets had no answer for Giannis Antetokounmpo, who erupted for 41 points and 17 rebounds to lead Milwaukee. The Bucks also got 21 points apiece courtesy of Khris Middleton and Bobby Portis. Garrison Matthews continues to live up to his legend in Houston. Garry Bird led the Rockets in scoring with 23 points, and played with plenty of fire, even drawing the ire of former Rocket DeMarcus Cousins. Christian Wood posted 21 points and 13 boards, and Alperen Sengun had arguably his best game of the season. Sengun went right at the Greek Freak on offense, scoring a career-high 15 points in only 16 minutes of playing time. Armoni Brooks kept his streak of solid games, adding 21 points for Houston.
Down the stretch, the Rockets just lost to a better team. The champs put the clamps on Houston in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Rockets 33-19, and erasing a small 5-point edge Houston held entering the frame. This was a game where Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green’s absences were both sorely felt for the Rockets. The squad could’ve really used their two starting guards against an opponent who might win it all again this year. After winning seven games in a row, and being the talk of the league for a second, the Bucks brought the Rockets back to Earth. The team now hits the road to begin a tough stretch featuring eight of the next nine games away from Toyota Center.
Houston has no time rest. The Rockets are in the midst of a five games in seven days stretch. Tomorrow, the squad travels to Memphis to take on the Grizzlies in the second half of a back-to-back, and Houston’s third game in four days. They’ll look to start another win streak against a Ja Morant-less Memphis squad. But it won’t be easy. The Grizzlies are 15-11, good enough for fourth place in the West at the moment. So even if Houston leads for most of the night, if the Rockets can’t fire on all cylinders in the final quarter, they’re going to experience what happened on Friday often this season. Hopefully Houston can snap that bad habit.