Jan 15, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Houston Rockets guard Jalen Inexperienced (4) dribbles the ball up court docket within the second quarter in opposition to the Denver Nuggets at Ball Area. Necessary Credit score: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Photographs The Houston Rockets will search to begin a brand new highway profitable streak once they go to the Portland Path Blazers on Saturday evening.
Houston received seven straight in visiting venues earlier than succumbing 132-127 to the Sacramento Kings on Thursday.
It additionally was the tip of a five-game general profitable streak for the Rockets.
Houston did not do sufficient to maintain both streak intact within the eyes of coach Ime Udoka.
“We have been fairly sloppy offensively, just a few unforced turnovers, after which defensively too many errors,” Udoka stated. “So to be again within the sport and provides ourselves an opportunity on the finish is an effective factor to me with how poorly we performed general.
“We saved combating, obtained again within the sport, and simply too many errors once we had possibilities. I do not know if we deserved to win this sport.”
Rockets star Jalen Inexperienced continued his sturdy month with 28 factors and 4 made 3-pointers. Inexperienced is averaging 30.3 factors and 4.5 3-pointers (36 complete) in January.
Alperen Sengun (21 factors, 10 rebounds) and Amen Thompson (20 factors, 10 rebounds) every had double-doubles for Houston.
The Rockets additionally obtained 16 factors from reserve Tari Eason, who had missed the earlier 13 contests because of a leg harm. Eason performed 24 minutes.
“Basketball is de facto one of many solely issues I like, in addition to my household, and stepping away from the sport is extremely exhausting for me,” Eason stated of his return. “Clearly we misplaced, and I am upset about that, however I am extremely simply grateful to be again on the ground.”
Fred VanVleet (private causes) missed the sport in Sacramento however will likely be again in motion in opposition to Portland.
The groups cut up a back-to-back in Houston earlier this season. Dillon Brooks scored a season-high 28 factors and Eason added 22 because the Rockets rolled to a 116-88 victory over Portland on Nov. 22. The subsequent evening, the Path Blazers posted a 104-98 win behind 25 factors from Anfernee Simons.
Simons will likely be trying to bounce again Saturday after going scoreless in half-hour throughout Thursday’s 118-89 house loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.
Simons was 0-for-9 from the sphere, together with 5 3-point misses.
“It simply seemed like a tough evening,” Portland coach Chauncey Billups stated of Simons’ taking pictures woes. “They do have a extremely good protection. They key on him rather a lot. I did not assume they have been overly aggressive on him. Their protection, they make you’re taking numerous robust pictures. And he might by no means actually get away from them. … It was only a tough evening on the offense, which all gamers have them.”
Portland has skilled numerous robust nights this season and has misplaced 4 consecutive video games, the final three coming at house.
Previous to the 29-point margin of defeat in opposition to the Clippers, the Path Blazers misplaced 119-98 to the Miami Warmth final Saturday and 132-114 to the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday.
Portland by no means led in opposition to Los Angeles and trailed by as many as 34 factors.
Dalano Banton led the Path Blazers with 23 factors off the bench. The output tied his season excessive.
“Dalano performed with that power offensively that he often does,” Billups stated. “We would have liked it in a significant means. By that time of the sport, it was out of attain.”
Portland’s Deni Avdija (sprained proper ankle) is uncertain after lacking the previous two video games.
–Area Stage Media
