Rockets Begin Lengthy Road-Trip in Miami with Matchup Against Heat
Half Dozen Road. Hot Start and a Missing Toe. Player of the Week.
Fresh off their longest home-stand of the season, and an impressive win over the Milwaukee Bucks, the Rockets now embark on their longest road-trip of the campaign. The journey begins with a matchup in Miami, against the Heat, on Monday night. Tonight’s game is the first of six games on this road trip for Houston, who enter this contest with a 3-10 record away from home. The Rockets have great opportunity to improve that record over the next few games, as they have several beatable teams mixed in with some tougher opponents on this upcoming trip. The Heat have lost three of their last four games overall, and enter this matchup with a 2-0-15 record, good for eight place in the Eastern Conference.
Tari Eason and Dillon Brooks are both progressing with their respective injuries. However, both players will be out of tonight’s matchup with Miami. The Heat are missing their best player, Jimmy Butler, who will miss his fourth straight game with a toe injury. The Rockets need to take advantage of Butler’s absence, and pounce on a Miami team that’s struggled without their star in the lineup. Despite the All-Star’s absence, the Heat still have plenty of firepower coming Houston’s way. Bam Adebayo is one of the best centers in the NBA, and should be another tough matchup for Alperen Sengun inside. Miami also has one of the most surprising rookies of the season, in UCLA’s Jaime Jaquez Jr., who has shined in his first season with the Heat. Tyler Herro has a recent history of having great shooting performances against the Rockets. Houston needs to focus defensively on preventing Herro from getting open looks at the basket. Adebayo will also be a rebounding force on both ends. The Rockets need to bring the same effort tonight that was on display in their previous victory over the Bucks. They withstood a furious Milwaukee rally, and it if wasn’t for a solid first-half, Houston could’ve lost that matchup. The Rockets have to get off to a hot start in Miami, as it’s even harder to play from behind on the road, something that’s been a trend Houston will attempt to buck tonight.
Earlier today, Alperen Sengun was named the Western Conference Player of the Week. At age 21, he’s the youngest Rocket in franchise-history to receive the honor, and the first since James Harden back in 2019. In a conference loaded with talented players, this is a very impressive addition early on in Sengun’s career for his resume. Jalen Brunson, the New York Knicks’ best player, and likely All-Star, was the East’s recipient. If Houston can weather this upcoming road-trip, and keep their record above .500, Sengun should be a lock for his first All-Star bid. Despite being down a superstar in Butler, this Heat team is coached by one of the league’s best to ever do it in Erik Spoelstra. Coach Spo won’t let his Miami team play soft. The Heat are one of the few teams that play hard every night, regardless of who’s available. The Rockets need to adapt this mindset and be prepared for a defensive battle… as they begin the longest road-trip of the season on Monday night in Miami.
Kaseya Center: Miami, Florida
Jersey Colors:
Houston Rockets (18-16): Black
Miami Heat (20-15): White
Tip-Off: 6:30 PM CT
TV: Space City Home Network, NBA League Pass