Tag: Houston Rockets

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NBA (Basketball)

Rockets finding support from various players as the Pelicans look for a boost

Houston Rockets (NBA)

The Houston Rockets have won three games in a row and five of their last six. The New Orleans Pelicans have lost seven straight games and have only five wins this season.

On Thursday night, the team with the second-best record in the Western Conference, the Rockets, will play the team with the worst record in the conference, the Pelicans.

The Rockets showed their depth in a 114-101 win at Charlotte on Monday. Even with two of their seven players averaging double digits in scoring, Dillon Brooks and Tari Eason, missing from the lineup, the team still managed to score well.

Amen Thompson moved into the starting lineup in place of Brooks and scored 19 points with 11 rebounds, while Cam Whitmore, a two-way player, added 17 points off the bench.

“That’s what I love about this team,” said guard Fred VanVleet, who scored 20 points, “different guys stepping up and contributing every night.”

The Rockets came out strong from the start, leading 62-31 at halftime. They kept focused, knowing that although the Hornets had the third-worst record in the Eastern Conference, they could still pose a challenge. On opening night, Houston had lost to the Hornets after squandering an 18-point lead in a 110-105 defeat.

Earlier this week, the Rockets had a slow start in their game against Toronto, allowing 35 first-quarter points before coming back to win 114-110 on Sunday.

“We had great focus on the back-to-back on the road,” Rockets coach Ime Udoka said. “I loved our grit and intensity from the start.”

New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray dribbles against the Houston Rockets during the second half of an NBA preseason basketball game

The Rockets will now look to complete a sweep of their three-game road trip against teams that together have one less win than Houston’s 20.

The Pelicans are coming off one of their better performances recently. They led the Denver Nuggets by 17 points late in the third quarter before losing 132-129 in overtime on Sunday.

This game continued the trend of guard Dejounte Murray improving and center Yves Missi, the 21st overall pick in this year’s NBA draft, playing like one of the top rookies in the league.

Murray, who suffered a broken non-shooting hand in the season opener and missed 17 games, has started to return to the all-around player the Pelicans hoped for when they traded for him in the offseason.

In the 12 games since coming back, his scoring average is 16.2, which is 6.3 points lower than his career-high from last season, and he’s shooting just 35.7 percent from the field. However, in 44 minutes against the Nuggets, Murray had 17 points, 15 assists, eight rebounds, and six steals.

“His scoring may not be where he wants it to be,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said of Murray, “but he’s going out and finding his teammates. He’s super engaged on the defensive end. He can impact the game in so many different ways.”

Missi played well against Nuggets star Nikola Jokic, who did not score until less than three minutes remained in the second quarter, even though he finished with a triple-double. Missi scored 21 points with nine rebounds. He has started 23 of 29 games and is averaging 9.7 points and 8.6 rebounds.

“It’s incredible,” Green said, “what we’re asking a 20-year-old rookie to do night-in and night-out, and he’s answering the call.”

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Thunder defeat Rockets and clinch a place in the NBA Cup final

Oklahoma City Thunder- Shai Gilgeous-Alexande (NBA)

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 32 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 111-96 win over the Houston Rockets on Saturday night, securing a spot in the NBA Cup final.

The Thunder will face the Milwaukee Bucks in the final on Tuesday in Las Vegas.

Isaiah Hartenstein contributed 21 points, shooting 9-of-12, and added eight rebounds. Jalen Williams had 20 points, five rebounds, and five assists.

The Rockets were only down by two, 68-66, after Dillon Brooks made a layup with 2:12 left in the third quarter. But Oklahoma City stretched its lead to 75-69 by the end of the quarter, then dominated in the fourth.

In the final period, the Thunder went on a 17-10 run, taking a 92-79 lead when Williams hit a jumper. Fred VanVleet managed to reduce the Rockets’ deficit to 101-93 with a 3-pointer at 2:13, but Oklahoma City quickly responded with the next eight points to secure the win.

Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder

Amen Thompson came off the bench for Houston to lead the team with 19 points and seven rebounds. Dillon Brooks and Jabari Smith Jr. each scored 14 points, and Alperen Sengun added 13. VanVleet struggled, scoring only eight points on 3-for-15 shooting.

The first half was sloppy, with both teams shooting under 34 percent. Houston led 42-41 at halftime after being up by six before Gilgeous-Alexander scored the final five points of the second quarter.

In the first quarter, Oklahoma City made 7 of 23 shots (30.4 percent) while Houston made 6 of 24 (25 percent). Houston had a 16-9 lead just over eight minutes into the game and held a 20-18 advantage at the end of the first quarter.

For the game, the Thunder shot 45 percent, while the Rockets shot 36.5 percent.

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The Rockets-Thunder NBA Cup semifinal turned out to be a defensive showdown, which was to be expected

Kenrich Williams and Steven Adams in the 1st half

It was midway through the third quarter of the Oklahoma City-Houston NBA Cup semifinal on Saturday night. Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had just made a short jumper in the lane, and right after that, a time-out was called.

He needed a break.

Gilgeous-Alexander walked to midcourt, bent down, propped himself up with his fingertips, and took deep breaths. It was that kind of game. Given how the Rockets and Thunder have been playing defense all season, this kind of game was expected.

In the end, Oklahoma City won 111-96, with both teams shooting 41% combined. The immediate reward for the Thunder was two days off to recover. The bigger reward was a game against Milwaukee on Tuesday night for the NBA Cup, where winning could bring over $300,000 per player.

“That’s what defense does for you,” said Thunder coach Mark Daigneault, whose team has kept opponents to 41% shooting or worse a league-best 11 times this season, winning all of those games. “It keeps you in games.”

The Rockets-Thunder semifinal was a basketball game with some elements of football, rugby, hockey, and maybe even wrestling mixed in. It wasn’t unusual. That’s how they play: defense-first, tough, gritty, and physical.

They are the two best teams in the NBA for field-goal percentage defense. Oklahoma City came in at 42.7%, and Houston at 43.4%. They were also two of the top three teams in scoring defense.

Orlando was in first place entering Saturday with 103.7 points allowed per game, Oklahoma City was second at 103.8, and Houston was third at 105.9. By holding Houston to 96 points, the Thunder moved into the top spot.

Aaron Wiggins and Steven Adams in the 1st half

Houston finished with 36.5% shooting from the field, its second-worst performance of the season. When the Rockets shoot 41% or better, they have a 17-4 record. When they shoot below that, they’re 0-5.

“Sometimes it comes down to making shots,” said Rockets coach Ime Udoka. “Especially in the first half, we guarded well enough. But you put a lot of pressure on your defense when you’re not making shots.”

Even though scoring across the NBA is slightly down this season, about one point per game behind last season’s pace and two points behind the pace of the 2022-23 season, it’s still a great time for offense in the league. For example, Boston scored 51 points in one quarter earlier this season.

Saturday’s game was different from most. The halftime score was Rockets 42, Thunder 41. Neither team scored more than 50 points until Dillon Brooks’ 3-pointer for Houston gave the Rockets a 51-45 lead with 8:46 left in the third quarter.

Brooks is known as one of the toughest defenders in the game. Gilgeous-Alexander is one of the best scorers. They are teammates on Canada’s national team, and they had some one-on-one matchups during the game.

“It’s fun. It makes you better,” said Gilgeous-Alexander. “That’s what this league is about, competing against the best in the world. Defensively, he is that for sure. And I like to think of myself that way offensively. He gives me a chance to really see where I’m at, a good test. I’d say I handled it pretty well.”

And he did. Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 32 points, the fifth time this season someone scored that many against the Rockets. He has done it twice himself, and the Thunder scored 70 points in the second half to pull away.

“We knew that if we kept getting stops we would give ourselves a chance,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “And we did so.”

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Top teams from the West face off in NBA Cup semifinals as the Thunder take on the Rockets

Oklahoma City Thunder and Toronto Raptors

The Houston Rockets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder may not be the most high-profile NBA Cup semifinal that the league hoped for, but it could be the best glimpse into the future of the Western Conference.

The Thunder are getting used to being the team that others are chasing this season after surprising everyone last year and earning the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.

While they may not catch anyone off guard this year, they are still the deepest and most dangerous team in the conference, even without Chet Holmgren, who has been out for more than a month due to a hip injury.

For most teams, the “next man up” mindset is more of a wish, but for Oklahoma City, it’s a given. With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the team, it’s not even a second thought. With the depth Oklahoma City has, it’s expected that others will step up.

The Thunder have gone 11-3 without Holmgren, and they are 19-5 for the season, on track to be the No. 1 seed again.

They made it to the NBA Cup semifinals as the top seed in the West, finishing 3-1 in group play. They secured a spot in Las Vegas by defeating the Dallas Mavericks 118-104 on Tuesday.

Houston Rockets vs San Antonio Spurs (NBA)

Gilgeous-Alexander doesn’t plan to leave Las Vegas empty-handed.

“It would mean a lot, this opportunity to win,” he said. “You play the game at a high level as a kid. You tie your shoes up and play AAU ball to win the tournament on the weekend. You go to college to try and win the NCAA Tournament. (Or even) the tournament at the beginning of the season, the Maui Invitational or whatever it’s called.

“You’re always trying to win. That’s my mindset. That’s my teammates’ mindset. We’re always trying to win.”

Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 30.2 points, ranking fourth in the league before Friday’s games, and 6.3 assists. Jalen Williams has also become a key player; the third-year forward is averaging 21.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game.

Isaiah Hartenstein has stepped into Holmgren’s role in the starting lineup with 11.6 points and 12.8 rebounds per game after making his Thunder debut on November 20.

The Rockets are in a similar position to last season’s Thunder, but their rise is even more surprising. While Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun have shown promise, they both struggled during their first few seasons in the league. Green, in particular, had trouble finding his rhythm.

Houston’s decision to stick with their young duo seems to be paying off. The Rockets are 17-8, second only to the Thunder in the West, and have won seven of their last 10 games. Green is leading the team with 19.2 points per game, while Sengun is averaging 18.8 points and 10.6 rebounds.

Jalen Green and head coach Stephen Silas shake hands after a score and a foul by Green against the New York Knicks during the first half

The Rockets earned the West’s No. 2 seed in knockout play by finishing 3-1 in the group stage. They advanced to Las Vegas with a thrilling but controversial 91-90 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday, thanks to a loose-ball foul that sent Green to the line for the game-winning free throws with 3.5 seconds left.

It was a strong defensive performance from the Rockets, who are now one of the toughest defensive teams in the league. Saturday’s semifinal is another chance for them to prove themselves against a Thunder defense that many consider the best in the league.

“I think we’re the top two defenses,” said Rockets coach Ime Udoka. “They’re very stingy on that end and they do it in a different way. They’re one of the best at creating turnovers and drawing (players) into a crowd. They give up some things as well, but they really protect the paint at a high level.

“It’s an honor to get here, and we felt we did good in our group to get here. Now we just want to make some more noise while we’re here.”

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The NBA Cup semifinal games in Las Vegas are set: Thunder vs. Rockets and Bucks vs. Hawks

Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Clippers

Winning the NBA Cup won’t bring a championship parade to Oklahoma City, Houston, Atlanta, or Milwaukee. There is a trophy, some cash, and bragging rights, but not much else.

For the four teams left in the tournament, that’s enough.

The NBA Cup semifinals are on Saturday: Atlanta plays Milwaukee, and Houston faces Oklahoma City. These games will be held in Las Vegas, as will the championship game on Tuesday night.

“As a kid, you grow up, you watch Lakers versus Boston on TV. You watch Miami versus Cleveland. You watch big matchups and big games, and you dream about being there one day,” said Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. “To be in this position is special. You don’t take it for granted.”

For most players in these NBA Cup semifinals, this is their first time on such a big stage. Only nine players from the Hawks, Thunder, Bucks, and Rockets have ever played in the NBA Finals.

“We’re a group that’s trying to develop an identity,” said Hawks coach Quin Snyder. “Having some success can help that.”

It’s not a huge surprise to see these teams in the final four. Oklahoma City was the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference playoffs last season, and if the season ended Friday, the Thunder would hold that seed again, just ahead of No. 2 Houston. In the East, the Bucks (winners in 11 of their last 14) and Hawks (winners in seven of their last eight) are some of the hottest teams right now.

Oklahoma City Thunder and Dallas Mavericks

“For a lot of guys who haven’t tasted the playoffs yet, it’s the closest thing to that in terms of intensity, physicality, and having something on the line,” said Rockets coach Ime Udoka about the NBA Cup. “Meaningful basketball is really good for our young guys. They haven’t had many of those games.”

The Bucks have players like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton who have been to the NBA Finals and won. But reaching Las Vegas is a big achievement, even for them, considering Milwaukee started 2-8 this season.

“It’s just a lot on the line,” said Bucks guard Damian Lillard. “It requires you to focus. You’ve got to come and get the job done. So, I think in that way, it’s similar to a playoff experience, just that you’ve got to get the job done.”

For smaller-market teams, this is a chance to get more national TV coverage and possibly gain more fans. There are no Boston, New York, or Los Angeles teams in the final four.

“At the end of the day, you just want to win,” said Gilgeous-Alexander. “But it’s pretty sweet to be highlighted and showcased in this way. Yeah, it’s what dreams are all about, and for them to come true is special.”

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NBA: Referees made the right decisions during the Warriors-Rockets game

Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets

Coach Steve Kerr’s strong criticism of a foul call against his Golden State Warriors in the final moments of their loss to the Houston Rockets was found to be incorrect, according to the NBA on Thursday night.

The controversial play occurred after Stephen Curry missed a 3-pointer with 11.1 seconds remaining, giving the Warriors a 90-89 lead. Gary Payton II was the first to reach the loose ball and seemed to attempt to call a timeout while on the ground. However, Fred VanVleet came in and poked the ball away, with clear contact between the two players.

The ball rolled away, and Jalen Green of the Rockets and Jonathan Kuminga of the Warriors fought for possession, which looked like it could have been a jump ball.

However, Kuminga was called for a foul on Green, who then made both free throws to give the Rockets the lead and win the game. The game was a quarterfinal in the NBA Cup, and Houston moved on to face Oklahoma City in the semifinals on Saturday.

The NBA’s statement supported the referees’ decision, saying that Kuminga “reached over Green in an attempt to get to the ball and pull his shoulders down.” It also mentioned that the contact between Payton and VanVleet while chasing the loose ball was “incidental.”

Steve Kerr reacts in the 1st half

Kerr had argued for a jump-ball call, claiming that the referees had allowed a lot of contact throughout the game. Some others also thought Payton should have been allowed to call a timeout. Kerr called the foul call “unconscionable.”

“A loose-ball situation, 80 feet from the basket, with the game on the line. I’ve never seen that,” Kerr said. “Think I saw it in college one time, 30 years ago. Never seen it in the NBA. That is unconscionable. I don’t even understand what just happened.”

He added that the game “was taken from us by a call I don’t think an elementary school referee would have made, because that guy would have had feel and said, ‘You know what? I’m not going to decide a game on a loose ball 80 feet from the basket.’”

Kerr also disagreed with officials in a game on Dec. 3 in Denver when his team was behind by four points. Kerr wanted a technical foul to be called on Christian Braun of the Nuggets for trying to call a timeout after gaining possession of the ball when his team had no timeouts left.

If that had happened, the Warriors would have had free throws and the ball with 1.9 seconds remaining. Instead, the officials didn’t clearly see Braun try to call a timeout, and the play was ruled a jump ball. The Warriors lost that game 119-115.

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Rockets take late lead over Warriors, advance to NBA Cup semifinals

Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors

Jalen Green made two free throws with 3.5 seconds remaining to give the Houston Rockets a 91-90 win over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday in an NBA Cup quarterfinal.

The Rockets ended a 15-game losing streak against the Warriors and moved on to the NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas, where they will play the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday night.

Green got the ball after a foul on Jonathan Kuminga and made both free throws. After that, Brandin Podziemski’s 3-point attempt was blocked by Jabari Smith Jr. Earlier in the fourth quarter, Podziemski and Kuminga hit back-to-back 3-pointers to give Golden State an 89-82 lead, their biggest of the game.

Alperen Sengun led the Rockets with 26 points and 11 rebounds. His layup with 27 seconds left cut the Warriors’ lead to 90-89. Smith added 15 points, and Green scored 12. The Rockets won despite shooting poorly from long range, hitting just 6 of 27 3-pointers, and turning the ball over 17 times.

Kuminga led the Warriors with 20 points and seven rebounds. Stephen Curry added 19 points and five assists. Golden State had 22 turnovers, which the Rockets turned into 30 points.

Jonathan Kuminga fouls Jalen Green, during the second half of an Emirates NBA Cup tournament quarterfinal basketball game in Houston

The Warriors gained momentum with a strong 32-point third quarter. Kuminga grabbed a pair of offensive rebounds and scored, then Curry made a basket through a foul to bring the Warriors within two points, 57-55. When Trayce Jackson-Davis made two free throws at 3:54, Golden State took its first lead since the first quarter, 60-59.

After hitting just 4 of 22 3-pointers in the first half, the Warriors made 4 of 8 from beyond the arc in the third. Buddy Hield scored 11 points in the period and made three 3-pointers, becoming the 17th player in NBA history to hit 2,000 career threes. The Warriors led 69-68 going into the final quarter.

Both teams struggled offensively in the first quarter. After Dillon Brooks completed a three-point play to give the Rockets an 18-15 lead with 4:25 left, neither team scored until Curry hit a 3-pointer with 60 seconds remaining to tie the game. The Rockets held a 20-18 lead at the end of the quarter.

The Rockets built a 40-26 lead after Amen Thompson’s dunk with 4:14 left in the half, but the Warriors answered with an 11-2 run.

The Rockets led 44-37 at halftime, and the Warriors came back with their strong third-quarter performance.

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Steve Kerr calls the foul call that resulted in the Warriors’ loss to the Rockets in the NBA Cup “unacceptable”

Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga fouls Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green, left, during the second half of an Emirates NBA cup tournament quarterfinal basketball game in Houston

Golden State coach Steve Kerr criticized a foul call against his team that led to their loss to Houston in the NBA Cup on Wednesday, calling it “unconscionable” and saying even a referee at an elementary school level wouldn’t have made that decision.

With Golden State ahead by one point and just 11 seconds left, Stephen Curry missed a 3-pointer. Gary Payton II grabbed the rebound but made a bad pass that Jalen Green intercepted. Jonathan Kuminga was then called for a foul on Green as they both went for the ball on the floor. This gave Green two free throws, which helped Houston win 91-90 and advance to the NBA Cup semifinals.

Kerr was upset, saying, “That is unconscionable. I mean, I don’t even understand what just happened.” Kerr believed it should have been a jump ball or, at the very least, the Rockets should have been allowed a timeout they were trying to call.

“Our guys battled back, played their (expletives) off and deserved to win that game or at least have a chance for one stop at the end to finish the game,” Kerr said.

“And that was taken from us by a call that I don’t think an elementary school referee would have made. Because that guy would have had feel and said: ‘You know what I’m not going to decide a game on a loose ball 80 feet from the basket.’”

Stephen Curry in the 2nd half

Crew chief Billy Kennedy was asked why the foul was called and explained, “The defender makes contact with the neck and shoulder area, warranting a personal foul to be called.”

Kerr continued to rant about the officiating for about two minutes after the game, also complaining about what he thought was a clear foul on Curry that wasn’t called earlier.

“The game was a complete wrestling match,” Kerr said. “They didn’t call anything. Steph Curry got hit on the elbow plain as day on a jump shot, just clubbed right on there and no call.

So, you’ve established that you’re just not going to call anything throughout the game, it’s a physical game. Then you’re going to call a loose ball foul on a jump ball situation with guys diving on the floor with the game on the line?”

Houston ended a 15-game losing streak against the Warriors, securing their first win against Golden State since February 20, 2020, when James Harden and Russell Westbrook played for the Rockets.

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Rockets optimistic about Fred VanVleet’s return for NBA Cup quarterfinals against Warriors

Fred VanVleet in the 1st half (NBA)

The Rockets understand the importance of veteran guard Fred VanVleet, especially his ability to score and distribute the ball while keeping turnovers low. When VanVleet is not available, the Rockets are still developing as a team.

However, Houston showed progress on Sunday when VanVleet missed the game due to a knee injury, leading to a 117-106 win over the Los Angeles Clippers.

VanVleet could return on Wednesday, as he told The Houston Chronicle that he is ready to play in the NBA Cup quarterfinals against the Golden State Warriors. VanVleet averages 16 points per game, ranking third on the team, and leads the Rockets with 5.9 assists while committing just 1.2 turnovers.

Against the Clippers, the Rockets relied on Alperen Sengun, Jalen Green, and Amen Thompson, who filled in for VanVleet. Sengun and Thompson combined for 10 assists, and Green led the team with 31 points. Although VanVleet was missed, Houston found a way to win.

“He’s such a calming influence for the team that kind of gets us into what we need to a lot,” said Rockets coach Ime Udoka. “You still want guys to grow and learn that, so when he’s not out there they’re forced to do it a little bit more.” Udoka also mentioned the team did a good job stepping up and working together when VanVleet was absent.

Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors

Green added, “Fred is a big part of our team but I think we held it down for him. It’s going to be good momentum going into Wednesday.”

The Rockets will need all their momentum when facing the Warriors, who have won 15 straight games in this series, including a 99-93 victory last Thursday. In the first matchup of the season, the Rockets trailed by 31 points in the first half but made a comeback, forcing overtime before losing 127-121 in Houston on Nov. 2.

The winner of Wednesday’s game will move on to face either Dallas or Oklahoma City in the NBA Cup semifinals on Saturday in Las Vegas.

The Warriors were without Stephen Curry for both prior games against the Rockets this season, and Draymond Green (left calf) missed their win last week. Both players returned in a 114-106 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday.

Curry scored a game-high 30 points and added eight assists, while Green contributed six points, six rebounds, and seven assists.

The Rockets and Warriors have had memorable playoff matchups in recent years, with Golden State eliminating Houston in 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2019. The Warriors’ wins in 2015 and 2018 sent them to the NBA Finals.

Though the NBA Cup may not match the intensity of those playoff games, Wednesday’s matchup will still feel more charged than a regular-season game.

“There’s still an appreciation for a moment, like a build-up for a game,” Curry said. “We all want to get to Vegas for sure so we’ll give everything we’ve got to it. It’s a little different context than the playoffs.”

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Jalen Green scores 31 points to lead the Rockets’ recovery against the Clippers

Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Clippers

Jalen Green scored 31 points, and Amen Thompson added 22 as the Houston Rockets bounced back from two straight losses to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 117-106 on Sunday in Inglewood, California.

Dillon Brooks scored 19 points, and Jabari Smith Jr. had 13 points along with 12 rebounds as the Rockets finished their three-game road trip in California with a 1-2 record after losing to Sacramento and Golden State. Alperen Sengun contributed 11 points and 10 rebounds, and Aaron Holiday also scored 11 points.

The Rockets won without Fred VanVleet, who missed the game due to a right knee contusion, his second absence of the season. Tari Eason was also out due to concussion protocol, missing his second straight game.

Ivica Zubac scored 21 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for the Clippers, while Norman Powell added 17 points. The Clippers were without James Harden, who was sidelined with right groin soreness.

Los Angeles has been without Kawhi Leonard all season due to a knee issue, and Terance Mann, who has a fractured finger, missed his second consecutive game.

Rockets offered Jalen Green, draft picks to Nets for Mikal Bridges, but were turned down
Jalen Green (NBA)

Kevin Porter Jr. returned for the Rockets after missing three games with an ankle injury and scored 19 points. The Clippers lost their second straight home game after a nine-game winning streak in their new arena.

Houston, which led by as much as 14 points in the first half, extended its lead to 16 in the third quarter and was ahead 95-83 going into the fourth. The Rockets never faced a serious challenge in the final period and improved to 3-0 against the Clippers after winning two games in Houston in November.

The Rockets shot 48.8 percent from the field, while the Clippers made 44.6 percent of their shots. Houston also won the rebounding battle 50-33.

The Rockets led 30-28 after the first quarter with 54.2 percent shooting, then dominated the second quarter to take a 64-52 lead at halftime. Green scored 11 points in the first quarter and 18 in the first half, while Brooks added 14 points before the break.

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The Rockets will take on the Clippers as they look to secure at least one victory on their California road trip

Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors

After losing two games in a row for the first time this season, the Houston Rockets will finish their three-game California trip with a matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday in Inglewood, California.

The Rockets had been playing well, winning 10 out of their last 12 games, but they lost 120-111 to Sacramento on Tuesday. Then, they suffered a 99-93 defeat against Golden State on Thursday, marking their lowest-scoring game of the season.

“One of our softest games since I’ve been here, for sure,” Rockets head coach Ime Udoka said about the loss to Golden State.

The trip hasn’t been easy for Houston, with more than just the losses causing issues. Udoka and center Alperen Sengun were fined after being ejected during the game in Sacramento. Tari Eason also received a fine for an incident with a fan during the same game.

Thursday’s loss came despite Golden State missing Stephen Curry and Draymond Green due to injuries. Houston shot just 37.6 percent from the field in that game.

“It doesn’t feel good,” said Rockets guard Fred VanVleet, who scored 13 points but shot 3 of 10 from three-point range. “You never want to be called soft or be a part of anything soft. I don’t think anybody here is proud of our effort.”

Sengun led the Rockets with 16 points and eight rebounds against the Warriors, while Dillon Brooks had 15 and both Jalen Green and Amen Thompson scored 14 each.

Green leads Houston with 19.0 points per game, while Sengun contributes 18.9 points and 10.6 rebounds.

Los Angeles Clippers and Portland Trail Blazers

Sunday’s game gives the Rockets a final chance to regain their confidence before hosting the Warriors in an NBA Cup quarterfinal game on Wednesday.

The Clippers have been off since Wednesday, when their nine-game home winning streak ended with a tough 108-80 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Kawhi Leonard (knee) remains out for Los Angeles, while leading scorer Norman Powell rested on Wednesday after recently returning from a hamstring injury.

The Clippers were also without Terance Mann, who missed his first game with a broken finger, and Kevin Porter, who is out with an ankle injury. Bones Hyland, playing in just his ninth game of the season, led the Clippers with season highs in points (18) and minutes (23).

James Harden struggled in the loss, shooting 1 of 10 from the floor and 1 of 6 from three-point range, finishing with just five points, his lowest of the season. He is averaging 21.6 points per game this season.

“In the NBA, the next game is up, so you don’t really have time to sit back and dwell on it,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “We’ve gotta prepare for Houston, who’s played very well against us the two times we’ve played them in Houston. So, we just gotta be ready for that. Move onto the next and be ready to play on Sunday.”

The Rockets and Clippers faced each other in mid-November, with Houston winning both games, 111-103 and 125-104. Green led the Rockets with 21 points in the first game, while Jabari Smith Jr. bounced back from a quiet performance to score a season-high 28 points with 11 rebounds in the second game.

Eason may miss his second straight game on Sunday as he remains in concussion protocol.

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Warriors continue their winning streak against Rockets, now at 15 games

Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets

Jonathan Kuminga scored a career-high 33 points, and Andrew Wiggins added 23 as the Golden State Warriors defeated the Houston Rockets 99-93, extending their winning streak against Houston to 15 games in San Francisco.

With Stephen Curry resting due to sore knees and Draymond Green dealing with a calf injury, the Warriors used a 21-4 run between the second and third quarters to take control and break a five-game losing streak.

The Rockets, trying to beat the Warriors for the first time since February 2020, got 16 points from Alperen Sengun and 15 points from Dillon Brooks in a balanced effort but lost their second straight game.

Houston led for the first 21 minutes of a low-scoring first half, holding a 42-40 advantage before Moses Moody hit a 3-pointer and Wiggins turned a 27-foot shot into a four-point play. This sparked a 9-1 run that gave the Warriors a 49-43 lead at halftime.

Stephen Curry slides into the scorers table after a foul

Golden State carried their momentum into the second half, with Wiggins and Kuminga hitting 3-pointers in a 12-3 run that stretched their lead to 61-46.

The Rockets made a push and closed the gap to four points twice in the final 1:36, and got as close as 96-93 with Sengun’s layup with 32.6 seconds left.

However, Kuminga answered each time, scoring inside, hitting one of two free throws, and then driving for a layup with 16.9 seconds left to seal the win for the Warriors.

Despite shooting just 41.9 percent from the field, the Warriors won, while the Rockets shot 37.6 percent.

Kuminga’s 33 points were two more than his previous career-high, set in January against the Sacramento Kings. Brandin Podziemski grabbed 12 rebounds and scored 8 points, while Kevon Looney had 11 rebounds for the Warriors.

Sengun and Amen Thompson grabbed 8 rebounds each for the Rockets, while Thompson and Fred VanVleet recorded 5 assists each. Jalen Green and Thompson each scored 14 points, and VanVleet added 13.