Rockets Squash Hornets, 118-106, Win 9th Straight
Early Boost. Healthy Returns. Back to the Flash.
Add another game to Houston’s winning streak. The Rockets put away the Hornets early, and made sure it was never close on Monday night. Houston defeated Charlotte, 118-106, to move their winning streak to 9 games. The Rockets withstood a stellar performance from Kemba Walker, to inch close to the top of the West. Walker had 40 points for Charlotte, and kept the contest mildly competitive. Houston’s defense jumped on the Hornets to the start the game. Charlotte managed only 19 points in the first quarter, and the Rockets held the Hornets to only 44 points at halftime. Houston held on in the second half. Led by James Harden, with 28 points and 10 assists, the Rockets staved off a Hornets comeback attempt, one that never got very close. A great sign for Houston as they keep bad teams out of games.
Monday’s game was only the second of the season with a completely healthy roster for the Houston Rockets. They’ve been relatively healthy since Clint Capela returned, but have had minor injuries to several bench players. Particularly Iman Shumpert, and Kenneth Faried. Capela had a monster night on the glass, and finished with 19 points and 15 boards. The Manimal’s return last night gave Houston a completely healthy squad, and the Rockets looked good having a full unit together. Faried didn’t miss a beat, returning to action with 16 points and 9 rebounds. They led by 29 points at one point in the contest over Charlotte. The Hornets aren’t a contender, but the Rockets are finally beating the teams they’re supposed to beat. It’s a trend that follows championship teams. And it was missing earlier in the season for Houston.
Eric Gordon’s shooting was also missing at the start of the season. But EG’s finally returned to form. Slash Gordon continues to roll for the Rockets, and scored 22 points on the evening. Flash Gordon has arguably been Houston’s most consistent offensive player since the All-Star break. Slash Gordon’s ability to drive to the basket, combined with his lethal shooting from deep, makes EG hard to contain when he’s playing at potential. And Splash Gordon has been huge during the Rockets’ current winning streak. Gordon’s aggressiveness on both ends doesn’t get enough attention. He commands focus from defenses and it opens up so much for the rest of Houston’s offense. EG also is a strong defender, and isn’t afraid to back down from anyone on defense. They’ll need EG to continue his resurgence, as the Golden State Warriors come to town as the Rockets next opponent. It’s the last matchup between the NBA’s 2 best teams. Houston will be facing Golden State with a healthy roster for the first time all season. They’re also looking to become the first team to sweep Steve Kerr’s Warriors in the regular season. On Wednesday night, the Rockets have a chance to add an impressive victory to their winning streak.