Liftoff!: Rockets End Skid with Triumphant 117-99 Win Over Raptors
Streaks and Skidmarks. Trade Buzz. Coming Together.
“It’s about damn time,” Christian Wood said after the Rockets finally won their first game in nearly two months, besting the Raptors, 117-99, in Houston on Monday night. John Wall had a triple double to lead the Rockets. Christian Wood scored 19 points despite early foul trouble. And Jae’Sean Tate led the team in scoring with 22 points, as Houston finally washed that horrid taste of the franchise’s worst losing streak out of their collective system. For the first time in about 20 games, the Rockets outplayed the Raptors from nearly the start. Despite trailing by 1 point at the half, and only a 2-point edge heading into the final quarter, Houston pulled away in the fourth, as they won their first game comfortably in a long, long time. Even if you couldn’t see it, the weight of the losing streak was starting to wear on the players, and Stephen Silas, who seemed beyond discontent after Sunday’s loss. Now, the Rockets can move on, and try to close the second half of the season strong.
Changes are likely coming Houston’s way. The NBA trade deadline is this Thursday at 3 PM ET. Victor Oladipo is supposedly expected to be dealt somewhere before the deadline, as multiple sources have confirmed the Rockets are expecting to deal Oladipo, so they don’t lose him in free agency for nothing. Whether it’s a solid-caliber player, or draft picks, anything’s better than nothing for a guy who seems poised to leave Houston after this season regardless. We’ll know soon enough what final changes the Rockets have planned to implement this season.
Nevertheless, this team has to come together. With all the new parts, the squad has a chance to grow and really form a new beginning here in Houston. The playoffs are likely out-of-reach for the Rockets, so getting youngsters Kevin Porter Jr., Kenyon Martin Jr. Jae’Sean Tate, Christian Wood, and so many other guys acclimated should be goal number one for the remainder of this season. Houston has plenty of talent and potential on this roster. They’re young, and while the present might not be shining, the future is very bright for these Rockets. For those who were wondering when Rocket-Bottom would come, well, that historic losing streak is about as low as you can get in this league. Now, it’s time to start the climb back to the top in Houston… it’s about damn time.