It was Christmas Day at Crypto.com Arena all in attendance wanted what every basketball fan wants on Christmas… a victory. Unfortunately on this festive day, the Los Angeles Lakers ran into the Grinch disguised as the Houston Rockets.
While Kevin Durant is regarded as one of the NBA's greatest scorers ever, the Houston Rockets acquired him for more reasons than scoring points. His sheer presence is what will take them to the next level.
It’s been a rough road trip for the Houston Rockets, with three overtime losses and blowout loss to the Clippers. Heading into Thursday’s Christmas Day matchup with the Lakers, Rockets fans were hoping to see them make a statement on the big stage.
Tari Eason has carved out a consistent role for the Houston Rockets as one of the spark plugs off the bench. While he is not as heralded as Alperen Sengun, Kevin Durant, and Amen Thompson, Eason has no problem being under the radar.
Christmas and the NBA go hand-in-hand. The day serves for the top hoops league in the world, like Thanksgiving for the NFL. However, while the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys are perpetual Thanksgiving participants, the NBA has mixed up the matchups and the teams throughout the years.
Christmas in Los Angeles is supposed to be a spectacle. The stars are out, and the Lakers are usually the ones delivering the gifts. But the Rockets had other plans.
Amen Thompson scored 26 points and Kevin Durant added 25 as the visiting Houston Rockets led wire-to-wire in a 119-96 win over the Los Angeles Lakers in a Christmas Day matchup on Thursday.
It has been a nightmare stretch recently for the Houston Rockets. Four of the last five games were not just simple losses. From overtime blunders, late-game meltdowns and underwhelming displays, the Rockets encountered major questions about whether they truly have what it takes to capably compete for a title this season.
The Houston Rockets are looking to get back on track after a rough stretch of basketball through December. This month, they're 4-6, ranking 23rd in defensive rating and 29th in turnover percentage.
The Houston Rockets have hit a skid. (Even if Kevin Durant wants to downplay it). The Rockets have dropped four of their last five contests and have lost to each of the bottom-four teams in the Western Conference this month. It gets worse.
The Houston Rockets have some glaring issues with their game plan as they have struggled to consistently pick up wins this season. Houston's inabilty to create open shots for their most effective players has led to their downfall, as Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun have had to put on a hero cape to lead Houston's offense in most games.
The Houston Rockets have been short-handed at the point guard spot for years. Fred VanVleet has taken on the mountain share of minutes since leaving the Toronto Raptors and coming to Houston.
The Houston Rockets have had a long tradition of playing on Christmas Day. The Rockets have played on Christmas Day since their first season in the NBA, even before they became the Houston Rockets.
Tonight, the Rockets face off against the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA’s Christmas Day slate. Houston is in desperate need of a pick-me-up game, having suffered five losses in their last seven tries.
Kevin Durant has always been a man of perspective. He seemingly always keeps his cool. Even when being cursed out and singled out by the loquacious Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors several years back.
In the high-stakes world of professional sports, few moves have been as divisive as Kevin Durant’s 2016 departure from the Oklahoma City Thunder to join the Golden State Warriors.
The Houston Rockets have hit rock bottom lately. At least based on the expectations placed on them entering the season. Which were valid for a team that finished second in the Western Conference and added an all-time great in Kevin Durant.
Veteran forward Dorian Finney-Smith could make his Rockets debut today when Houston faces the Lakers. He’s listed as questionable to play, according to Real GM.
On Tuesday evening, the Houston Rockets suffered their second straight puzzling loss with a road defeat at the hands of the Los Angeles Clippers. Just two days after dropping a game against the lowly Sacramento Kings, the Rockets were unable to bounce back against the 8-21 Clippers, ultimately falling by a final score of 128-108.