Rockets Lose Steam Late in 117-111 Loss to Raptors
Game of Runs. Troublesome Trio. Death by Three.
The winning times came to an end on Friday night, as the Rockets were edged by the Raptors, 117-111, Houston’s first loss in three games. This truly was a game of runs. The Rockets scored the game’s first 9 points, and started the game on a 19-6 run. However, Houston failed to score for the final four minutes of the period, hanging onto a one point lead after the first quarter. Toronto started the second half on a 14-2 run, and while the Rockets got back in the game and made it competitive, Houston was outplayed by a better team.
Fred VanVleet, Gary Trent Jr., and Pascal Siakam combined to score 84 points, as Houston and no answer for the Raps’ lethal trio. Eric Gordon scored a season-high for the third straight game, this time nothing 28 points for the night. KJ Martin’s consistency continues to be on full display. K-Mart scored 20 points and grabbed 6 boards in another start for Houston. Josh Christopher scored a season-high 15 points in 19 minutes, as he continues to make the most of his sparse playing time. And Alperen Sengun finished with 21 points, 4 boards and 4 assists on the night.
The Rockets didn’t shoot terribly, they just were destroyed from beyond the arc. Toronto outscored Hosuton by 24 points from three, which was essentially the difference in the game. Too many clutch threes late from VanVleet and Trent Jr. prevented a Rockets comeback. The squad will get right back into action on Saturday night, as they fly to Oklahoma City to take on a familiar foe in the Thunder, for the second time in three games. Hopefully the winning times can return on the road… Houston is 2-0 against OKC so far this season.