Houston’s Rally Falls Short as Heat Extinguish Rockets, 120-110, to Close 2021
Not Another One. Harder Heat. Welcome Return.
Although they were playing an undermanned Miami squad, the Rockets couldn’t close the deal once again. Houston’s comeback attempt fell short, resulting in a 120-110 loss, their sixth in a row. Jimmy Butler led his group of ragtag “who-he play-fors” with 37 points, and Tyler Herro added 16 for the Heat, who’s remaining roster most people wouldn’t recognize. Houston trailed by as many as 25 points, but a Jae’Sean Tate-fueled rally got the Rockets within four in the fourth quarter. However, once again, Houston failed to finish. Hopefully that trend will change in 2022. Jae’Sean Tate had a welcome return from protocols, leading the Rockets with 22 points. However, Houston was outplayed by a Miami team that played harder than the Rockets throughout the night.
Houston dug themselves in a hole they would could never climb out of, trailing by 25 points before halftime. These bad starts have killed the Rockets all season, it’s a habit they’re going to have to rid to become a better team. Jalen Green scored 16 points, and continues to look like a different player since returning from injury. Kevin Porter Jr. struggled against Miami, scoring only 7 points while committing 5 turnovers.
It’s hard to have a worse 2021 than the Rockets did. They’ll begin 2022 with a home matchup against the Denver Nuggets. Houston has yet to win on the second-half of a back-to-back this season, but maybe that trend changes on New Year’s Day. It won’t be an easy task, as the Nuggets are coming off impressive road wins over the Clippers and Warriors. Last year’s MVP, Nikola Jokic, will be a force to reckon with to ring in 2022. Denver will once again be undermanned like the Miami team Houston lost to on Friday. But the Nuggets still have Jokic, and that’s enough to potentially give the Rockets fits to start the New Year.