Rockets Host NBA-Best Cavaliers in First of Two Game Set
Part One. Cream of the Crop. Reality Check.
It’s Dillons Brooks’ birthday today, and all of Houston’s players will need to channel their inner-Villain as the Rockets host the NBA-best Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night. The Cavs have owned the league’s best record for the entire season so far, and they enter tonight’s matchup at Toyota Center sporting a 36-6 mark. After a disappointing home loss on MLK Day to the Pistons, the Rockets are aiming to bounce back against the NBA’s best team tonight.
Tonight’s game is the first of two straight matchups against Cleveland for Houston. Whereas the Cavs will play in Philly on Friday night before hosting the rematch between these teams on Saturday in Cleveland. The Cavs are a game ahead of the Oklahoma City Thunder for the NBA’s best record, but Cleveland’s been mediocre lately, with a 3-2 record over their last five games.
After a brilliant first half to the season, the Rockets have been finally getting some national recognition. Houston suffered a bad loss on Monday to Detroit, but the squad gets a chance to redeem themselves if they can beat the Cavaliers tonight. Otherwise, the Rockets could be in the midst of a three game reality check. Superstar Donovan Mitchell is playing the best basketball of his career. His backcourt running mate, Darius Garland, is having an All-Star caliber season. And Cleveland has two of the best big men in the NBA in Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. Regardless, if the Rockets are as good as they’ve shown us at certain moments this season, they have enough firepower to beat this Cavs team, especially at Toyota Center.
As brilliant a job as Ime Udoke has done as the Head Coach in Houston, Cleveland’s new coach, Kenny Atkinson is the front-runner for coach of the year. Nobody expected the Cavs to be off to a historic 36-6 start to the season, and the only major change they made was at the head coaching spot. Coach Udoka will have his Rockets ready to play their best brand of basketball against a Cavs team that’s trying to build another winning streak. Cleveland’s won their last two games after dropping two of their previous three matches.
Meanwhile, Houston is clinging to second place in the crowded and competitive Western Conference. The Rockets are currently a half game ahead of the Memphis Grizzlies for the second spot, but a loss tonight could plummet Houston downwards in the standings. Expect a close and competitive game tonight at Toyota Center between two of the NBA’s most disciplined and talented young teams… and the proceedings may get a little feisty on The Villain’s birthday, as two of the league’s toughest team face off on Wednesday night for the first time this season.
Toyota Center: Houston, Texas
Jersey Colors:
Cleveland Cavaliers (36-6): Black
Houston Rockets (28-14): Red
Tip-Off: 7:00 PM CT
TV: Space City Home Network, NBA League Pass