Rockets Return Home Seeking Win, Host Knicks on NYE
Last Chance. H-Town’s Ball-Drop. Victory Finish.
This New Year’s Eve, the Rockets look to get back on track as they host the New York Knicks back home at Toyota Center. Houston has dropped two straight games after their impressive victory in Chicago on Monday night, and tonight is their last chance for a victory this calendar year. To close out 2022, the Rockets face a Knicks team that’s heading in the wrong direction. After putting together an eight-game winning-streak, New York enters tonights game riding a five-game losing streak. Houston hopes to make that number six tonight with a win to end the calendar year.
The Rockets need to show more resilience than they’ve displayed over the past couple games if they want to beat this Knicks team. Don’t be fooled by the five-game skid, New York is more than capable of beating a young, inexperienced Houston squad haunted by inconsistency all season long. Knicks’ Head Coach Tom Thibodeau is one of the more established coached in basketball, and he makes sure his team plays hard every night. If the Rockets have a letdown similar to the one we witnessed in Dallas, Houston’s in for another long, disappointing night to end 2022.
However, the Rockets can certainly beat this Knicks team, and add to New York’s losing skid. Houston needs to channel the toughness they displayed in Chicago, and back during their five-game home-winning streak. If the squad can avoid playing from behind, compete at a controlled pace, and tighten up their defense, the Rockets should be able to ring in 2023 with a victory. That’s asking a lot from a Houston team who’s shown only one consistent variable in 2022: inconsistency. The Rockets have put good stretches together, but their poor defense and turnovers usually lead to their demise. As we close 2022, the squad will try to control the ball and toughen up on defense as they face the New York Knicks in the final game before New Year’s.
Toyota Center: Houston, Texas
Jersey Colors:
New York Knicks (18-18): Blue
Houston Rockets (10-25): Red
Tip-Off: 6:00 PM CT
TV: AT&T Sportsnet SW, NBA League Pass