Way Too Cavalier: Rockets Self-Destruct in Third Quarter, Fall to Cavs, 112-96, for 9th Straight Loss
Sized Up. 9 Lives. Rewriting the Script.
In their first game since parting ways with center DeMarcus Cousins, the Rockets immediately felt sized-up. Cleveland’s Jarret Allen dominated with 26 points and 18 boards, as the Rockets had no answer for the Cavs’ big man of the future. John Wall scored 20 points to lead Houston, and Eric Gordon and Victor Oladipo each chipped in 17 a pair, but the Rockets were dominated in the paint, in a game they could’ve won. Houston led at the half, but a disastrous third quarter let the game get out of reach, as the Cavs cruised to a 112-96 victory in the final period. The loss is the Rockets’ ninth in a row, a league-high. Houston can only hope Christian Wood returns as soon as possible, or it may be time to seriously embrace the tank, as getting a top-4 pick in this year’s draft seems more and more possible with each loss.
Comparable to the losses during this skid, the Rockets started this game down double-figures, trailing by 10 points after the first quarter. But, the squad regrouped, and entered the half with a 2-point lead. Too bad they couldn’t come out with the same energy, as a miserable third quarter put this game in the losing column for Houston. If they had nine lives, the Rockets have used all of them. Any more losses, and this season will evolve into a preparatory session for next season.
It continues to appear that the Rockets have hit rock bottom, but as the skid grows longer, we’ll never really know when they’ve hit their low point, until this squad can string four quarters together for a win. This latest loss to the Cavs could, and should, be rock bottom, but the schedule gets tougher, with games coming up against teams intent on making the playoffs, the Raptors and the Grizzlies. Hopefully, the squad can end the misery and secure a victory for some pride. Losing streaks are embarrassing. Double-digit losing streaks are historically embarrassing. Houston looks to get off the wrong side of history as they continue their road trip to a place they usually don’t part ways for during the season: Tampa Bay, the Raptors home for this season.