Rockets Feast on Wolves, Earn Comfortable 139-109 Win
Space City Cakewalk. 20K Club & Climbing. The Sky Isn’t Falling.
Sometimes all it takes is a return home to comfort the grind of the NBA season. The Rockets returned to Toyota Center on Saturday night, earning a comfortable 139-109 victory over the Wolves. It’s been rare this season. A Rocket-cakewalk. Houston controlling a game from start to finish. But the squad finally managed to make beating inferior teams seem like a challenge they should accomplish every night. Even with the heart and soul of their hustle (P.J. Tucker) suffering a game-ending injury a minute into the game, H-Town led by 16 points at halftime, and never looked back. Tucker’s injury isn’t expected to be serious, he’s considered questionable for Houston’s next contest, which luckily isn’t until Tuesday. Plenty of other Rockets got extended time due to P.J.’s absence, and ensured the Hustle King’s departure wouldn’t result in a loss to the lowly Wolves.
On Saturday night, James Harden regained his shooting stroke. The Beard connecting on over half of his shots (6-for-11) from downtown, and finishing with 32 points, 8 boards, and 12 assists. In the process, Harden joined the NBA’s 20,000-point club, becoming the 45th member of the group. James is only 30 years old. If the Beard continues to rack up points at a torrid rate, he has a chance to finish among the NBA’s all-time leading scorers, and passing up the likes of MJ and Kobe. It’s a nice accomplishment. But if Harden wants to be remembered in history like the aforementioned legends in the previous sentence, he needs what they have, a ring. The Beard can become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, but if he never wins a championship, Harden will never get the respect he truly deserves.
Russell Westbrook scored 30 points, and continues to play solid basketball in Houston’s offense. Isaiah Hartenstein had the best game of his young career, notching 17 points and 15 boards. “Hustlestein” saw extra minutes due to Clint Capela’s absence, who didn’t play as he nursed a minor injury, and Tucker’s unfortunate injury early in the contest. Harty yet again seized the moment, and showed he’s a solid future NBA-role player, at worst, in this league. The big man has the potential to be the backup center this Houston teams always searched for in the Harden era with Capela starting. Eric Gordon had another soldi game with 17 points, as he continues to adjust to feeling healthy after his knee surgery. EG sat out the previous game to nurse his sore knee, but with time, Splash Gordon looks to be returning to his old self. Michael Frazier played in his second game as a Rocket, getting a bucket and 3 rebounds in 8 minutes of action. Frazier needs more court time to determine if he can succeed with this Houston group. Only time will tell if he gets the chance.
After an embarrassing defeat in Oklahoma City, and the prospect of Houston not possessing a contender’s consistency, after Saturday night’s blowout, the big picture tells a different story. Sure, the Rockets have had way too many bad losses this season. But, overall, the sky’s not falling. Houston’s tied in the loss column for second-place. Harden and co. have won 9 of their last 12 games overall. They trail the first-seeded Lakers by 5 games. That may seem tough to overcome, but Houston has yet to play LeBron and the Lakers. The Rockets haven’t even reached the season’s midway point. And the Lake Show’s getting banged up with injuries as the season’s moved on. Anthony Davis is currently out with an injury, and is considered doubtful for next Saturday’s showdown in Houston. The Rockets have plenty of time to take the top seed. But, their test is coming, as the schedule gets tougher later this month. Up next for Houston, the Rockets travel to Memphis to face the Memphis Grizzlies, who’ve suddenly emerged in the playoff picture. Memphis currently sits in the eighth spot out, after starting the season appearing lottery-bound. League officials can confidently write Ja Morant’s name on the Rookie of the Year award. Morant has been terrific lately, leading the Grizz to 5 straight victories. It might not present a challenge like the Grindhouse of years past, when Mike Conley and Marc Gasol pushed the Grizz to the playoffs year-after-year. But Memphis is playing above expectations, on a roll with nothing to lose. Houston should pull off the victory on Tuesday night… just don’t expect a cakewalk in the Home of the Blues.