The Houston Rockets have received 12 of their previous 13 video games and may’t even declare to be the most popular group within the NBA.
It is not the Rockets’ fault that the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder have dropped simply one among their previous 17 video games, however Houston will look to proceed its torrid play when it visits the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night time.
The Rockets (49-26) put a significant whipping on the host Phoenix Suns Sunday night time with a 148-109 victory. Second-place Houston now stands two video games forward of the third-place Denver Nuggets and three 1/2 video games in entrance of the fourth-place Lakers within the Western Convention playoff competitors.
Houston misplaced 55 or extra video games in three consecutive seasons earlier this decade earlier than ending .500 final season in Ime Udoka’s first season as coach.
Now the Rockets are closing in on a 50-win marketing campaign.
“I noticed the enhancements that we made within the final 12 months,” Udoka mentioned. “… We acquired the compete with everyone half out of the way in which final 12 months. We knew we might try this. Now it was time to take one other step and win these video games towards good groups.
“I am not shocked by what we’re doing. We really feel like we could be even higher.”
Houston was a lot good whereas demolishing the Suns. The Rockets scored greater than 30 factors in each quarter — together with 46 within the second — and shot 57.1 % (56 of 98) from the sector and 58.1 % (18 of 31) from 3-point vary.
The Rockets had a 32-8 edge in fast-break factors and scored 34 factors off 19 Phoenix turnovers.
Fourth-year professional Jalen Inexperienced scored 33 factors and made 4 treys on Sunday. He is excited that the playoffs are looming.
“It feels good, that is what I dreamed about and that is what I’ve wished to do since I acquired right here to Houston,” Inexperienced mentioned. “I am enthusiastic about it. Proper now, it is all about particulars and I feel we’re executing that.”
That is the primary of two occasions that the Rockets will go to the Lakers (45-29) down the stretch. Houston returns on April 11.
Earlier this season, the Rockets beat Los Angeles 119-115 on Jan. 5 in Houston.
The Lakers posted a 134-127 street victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday. It marked simply their fifth win previously 13 contests.
Guard Austin Reaves had 31 factors and eight assists for his second straight 30-point outing. He mentioned the gamers might really feel the urgency after a last-second 119-117 loss to the Bulls on Thursday when Chicago’s Josh Giddey made a halfcourt shot.
“I feel this was an enormous recreation for us within the sense of how we misplaced the opposite night time,” Reaves mentioned. “We hadn’t been taking part in nice. So, coming into (the Memphis) recreation, it was clearly excessive depth. It is laborious, the final recreation on a street journey since you’re fairly excited to go house. However for that three hours or regardless of the recreation is, you bought to lock in and attempt to put your greatest foot ahead and win.”
Reaves has 4 30-point outings this month whereas averaging 24.2 factors, 5.6 assists and 5.3 rebounds.
Luka Doncic added 29 factors and 9 assists and LeBron James had 25 factors and eight assists. James (left groin pressure) is listed as possible for Monday.
The sport towards Houston is the primary of a three-game homestand. The Golden State Warriors go to Thursday and the New Orleans Pelicans are on the town Friday.
Los Angeles is simply 2 1/2 video games away from the seventh-place Minnesota Timberwolves within the competitors for a top-six playoff spot, with the Grizzlies and Warriors in between. So coach JJ Redick is bored with discussing how excessive the Lakers can end.
“I need to make the playoffs — I do not need to be within the play-in (match),” Redick mentioned. “Till that’s secured, the seeding thought will not cross my thoughts.”
–Subject Stage Media
