Rockets Tame Raptors for 6th Straight Win, 107-95
Defensive Demolition. Bench Relief. We the South.
It was quiet. Well, quieter than usual in Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday night. The Rockets rolled into Toronto, and stormed out with their sixth win a row, 107-95. Houston pounced on the Raptors early. The squad had one of their best defensive games of the entire season. The Rockets gave up a mere 37 points in the first half, and got out to a 22-point lead in the second quarter. However, the Raptors made sure there wouldn’t be a thrashing in Toronto. They stormed back to take the lead in the 3rd quarter, but Houston counterpunched. The Rockets bench was outstanding, despite missing Kenneth Faried and Iman Shumpert to injuries. James Harden led the way with 35 points and Gerald Green hit several clutch shots en route to 18 points. The Green Light ejected life into Houston when they trailed Toronto entering the fourth.
Green hit consecutive three-pointers, and the Rockets never really looked back. The Raptors kept it close for part of the final frame, but Harden proved yet again, why he’s the MVP. The Beard had 19 of his 35 points in the fourth, and exhibited his floater with more frequency. Just another deadly asset Harden’s added to his game. One that was on full display on drives to the bucket Tuesday night. Clint Capela was a monster on the glass, grabbing 15 boards for the Rockets. Chris Paul had another distributive performance, dishing out 10 assists. Houston is so lethal with Paul directing the offense. Since he joined the team, the Rockets are 28-1 when CP3 has 10 or more assists in a game. When Paul, Harden, and Capela all play together, the Rockets are 62-12 since last season, plus 11-3 in the playoffs. Even further proof of how important Paul’s health is to Houston’s success.
Houston’s bench came to play on Tuesday night. Led by Green’s spark and shooting, the Rockets’ reserves brought energy and defense to round out a solid victory. Houston’s bench unit combined for a staggering plus/minus of plus-73. The second unit was on fire, especially Rivers and Green. The duo combined to shoot 7/11 from downtown, and hit some key shots when the Rockets were thwarting a Raptor-comeback in the second half. Houston as a team outran the Raptors on the fast-break 23-7. In similar fashion, the Rockets have made moves in playoff positioning.
All of a sudden, Houston, who was once 14th in the West, now find themselves holding onto the third seed in the standings. On Tuesday, the Thunder and Blazers lost, pushing the Rockets up two spots. All 3 teams sport identical records, but that will soon change. Portland hosts Oklahoma City on Thursday night, in a showdown between the two teams now chasing Houston for the third seed. Since their dismal 11-14 start, the Rockets have gone 28-11, best in the West. The Rockets need to keep focusing on their defensive intensity and communication. Houston’s heating up, and crowds across the league are beginning to notice. If the Rockets are playing at an arena near you, and it’s not named Toyota Center, get ready for some peace and quiet.