New York Nix: Rockets Rally Late but Fall to Knicks, 125-123, as Winning Streak Ends
Late Liftoff. Fake Blueprint. Small Lesson.
“This one’s on me. I didn’t bring the amount of pressure I needed to be able to make us go. So, I’ll take this one and get ready for the next one,” Russell Westbrook said after Houston’s winning streak was snapped with a 125-123 defeat in New York. Westbrook had a shot to send the game into overtime, but it rattled off the rim as the buzzer sounded, securing a Knicks win. Brodie had a sub-par game, but it’s not his fault the Rockets lost. Merely spoken accountability from one of the best players, and leaders in the NBA. Westbrook finished with 24 points, 9 boards, and 3 dimes, but like the rest of the squad, Brodie waited too late to turn it on. Houston faced a 21-point deficit, and came all the way back, even getting the lead late in the game. However, R.J. Barrett and the Knicks still had enough gas to run with Houston and hold off the Rockets. New York’s rookie led the Knicks with 27 points, as he’s starting to find consistency with his game as the season moves along. James Harden led the Rockets with 35 points, but didn’t shoot the ball from the field despite a 16-for-16 showing at the charity stripe. The Beard was only 3-for-13 from long range, and lacked the usual aggression he’s shown at Madison Square Garden in the past. Danuel House Jr. and Robert Covington were both excellent for Houston. Each scored 20 points on efficient shooting, with RoCo grabbing 13 boards as well. The Rockets’ bench scored only 24 points, and Houston didn’t decide to take the Knicks seriously until the fourth quarter, when it was too late to overcome a feisty Knicks team, with the crowd rocking in The Garden.
It’s the first time the Houston’s lost in New York since 2009, and another bad loss to a bad team. It appeared that the Rockets had turned the table on playing down to inferior competition. Houston was riding a six-game winning streak, and coming off one of their most emotionally compelling victories of the season in Boston. But, it just felt like the squad was due for a let-up. As I mentioned in the pre-game, this match-up would not be easy. New York played to their strengths, rebounding, and interior scoring, and killed the Rockets inside on Monday night. The Knicks out-rebounded Houston 65 to 34, and won the scoring battle in the paint, 64 to 36. Along with R.J. Barrett’s heroics, New York had big games from Julius Randle and Mitchell Robinson inside. Randle had 16 points and rebounds apiece. Robinson had 12 points and 13 boards, the only two Knicks with double-doubles. The duo’s the main reason the Knicks dominated the Rockets in the paint and on the glass. After the loss, many will jump to proclaim this is the blueprint to beating Houston’s small-ball. And yes, if you out-rebound and dominate the paint like the Knicks did to the Rockets on Monday, Houston’s small-ball is certainly exposed. However, the Rockets didn’t enter the match with the proper attitude and focus. And they shot only 41.5% from the field. Meanwhile, New York shot the ball better than usual. By the time Houston wanted to get serious, the Garden was rocking, and it was too late for the Rockets to overcome New York’s momentum. Unless you’re the Knicks, who Houston won’t see again this season, don’t expect the Rockets to play this lackluster again.
The defeat in the Garden is Houston’s first “bad” loss with their new small-ball lineup. The Rockets are 10-3 since morphing to micro-ball. Of the losses, one came without Westbrook, one came at the buzzer on a lucky heave from near half-court, and the latest… Houston had a chance to tie it as time expired, but Brodie’s shot rimmed clanked out. All is not lost. The Rockets could honestly be 12-1 in the small ball era. Shrinking the lineup was the right-move, the squad just didn’t take the Knicks seriously. Understandable, given their reputation. But, Monday’s loss is a teaching tool for the Rockets’ new small-ball squad. Houston now has two days off before their next game, and it’s a big one. The Rockets return home to face their biggest rivals, the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday night. If there was any doubt… expect Westbrook and the Rockets to be ready for the next one.