Rockets Welcome Cavaliers for Matinee Matchup
Afternoon Hoops. Drive for Five. Step Up.
Get ready for some afternoon hoops, as the Rockets host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday at Toyota Center. Houston is aiming for their fifth straight win today. The Rockets have won six of their past seven games, and are riding a four-game winning streak into this afternoon’s contest. Despite losing Alperen Sengun and Cam Whitmore to season-ending injuries, Houston is currently playing the best basketball they’ve played all season. This matchup will prove to be tougher than the Rockets’ most recent victories over league bottom-dwellers, as Cleveland is playoff-bound once again this season.
The Cavaliers currently sit in third place in the Eastern Conference, but have been playing average basketball lately, going 6-7 over their past thirteen games. Donovan Mitchell led the way in the first matchup that saw the Cavs beat the Rockets, 135-130, in Cleveland back on December 18th. Mitchell led the way in that matchup with 37 points, and he will once again be the focal point of Houston’s defense in this contest. His backcourt running mate, Darius Garland, could also be a major threat, as well as big man Jarrett Allen in the interior. Jock Landale will have his work cut out for him trying to contain Allen. Expect Houston to experiment with Jabari Smith Jr. and Amen Thompson defining Allen in the post, especially if Landale comes off the pine again, which has been the trend all season.
The Rockets are rolling in March, but the Cavs are a step up in competition compared to Houston’s last several opponents. The Rockets are coming off wins over both last place teams in each conference (Wizards in the East, Spurs in the West). If they want to extend their streak to five, they need to continue playing intense defense, with a balanced offensive attack. Amen Thompson is coming off arguably the best game of his career, and Jalen Green had a season-high 37 points in their previous win. If the Rockets can contain Mitchell, they have a solid chance to win their fifth straight game on Saturday.
Toyota Center: Houston, Texas
Jersey Colors:
Cleveland Cavaliers (42-24): Maroon
Houston Rockets (31-35): “City Edition” White
Tip-Off: 4:00 PM CT
TV: Space City Home Network, NBA League Pass