Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

NBA

Checkmate! Rockets-Kings Recap: Houston lose again 140-120

Dunk during Rockets Kings
via Michael Wyke - Associated Press

The game of chess is basically all in strategy. It’s the beauty of what moves you make, when you make them, and the response from your competitor. It’s quite a beautiful game to witness. However, when it comes to this Rockets vs Kings game, the Rockets play was the complete opposite of strategy. The Kings, who are in the middle of a playoff hunt, started the first of two games against the Rockets with a checkmate. With superior team cohesion, the Kings were easily able to dispatch the Rockets yet again.


Wanted: Defense and Effort

The last two games collectively by the Rockets have left A LOT to be desired on the defensive end. Tonight the Rockets gave up 140 points to the Kings after giving up 153 points to the Thunder on Saturday. This type of effort and play will not be ideal for the Rockets moving forward. The Kings shot 21/41 from 3 point land tonight and shot 52/89 from the field for 58.4%. Unsure if the Rockets defense were aware, but the Kings are a good team and they can definitely score. It just felt like the Rockets were playing lackadaisically on defense with no regard for how the Kings decimated them offensively. The last two performances should definitely be a cause for concern.


Keegan Murray was probably the biggest beneficiary of the Rockets weak perimeter defense by scoring a career high 30 points tonight. To add insult to injury, Murray also set the rookie record for most 3’s made in a single game. It always seems like the Rockets have a knack to get players to play above themselves when they visit Toyota Center and tonight was no exception.

We got some LIFE from Jalen Green in Rockets-Kings

The Rockets may have lost big tonight but one small sliver of victory for this team was Jalen Green’s shooting tonight. Jalen Green had a horrible shooting night Saturday, and in recent games before his injury, so it was a troubling trend for the sophmore. However, Jalen tonight shot with confidence and precision as he shot 10/21 from the field and hit five 3 pointers in the process. If we’re gonna have a sliver of hope this season, we will need Jalen to shoot this well for the rest of the year.


Eric Gordon makes history in Rockets-Kings

Not to get lost in the noise of negativity, Eric Gordon has surpassed Kobe Bryant in made 3 point shots for a career. In the 3rd quarter, EG jab stepped into a 3 pointer that placed him 22nd all time to pass Kobe. In the grand scheme of things, this feat is quite the accomplishment for EG. Passing up Kobe in the process is a nice touch for that moment. Despite all the losing, this was also a nice positive moment for a player that has played in a Rockets uniform for many years now.


We do this all again Wednesday evening

Thanks to NBA scheduling, the Rockets are scheduled for another shellacking Wednesday evening since the Kings will play the Rockets once more at Toyota. If the Rockets come out with the same energy, the score could be even higher for the Kings. However, the team could use this game as the metaphorical match to light the fire for them to grab a win. The Rockets must properly execute the two man game of Jalen and Sengun to have a chance at all. We will see Wednesday evening if it’ll be a Rockets rising or yet another checkmate for the Kings as they march towards the Playoffs.

Make sure to stay tuned to Apollo’s Houston Rockets coverage. Buy the Rising Son Shirt and the Legion of Stops shirt, follow the Summit State of Mind podcast on Twitter and listen wherever you get your podcasts, follow Justin on Twitter, and follow the company at ApolloHou and Apollo NBA

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Latest

Image via NBA game broadcast

Rockets

For some reason this team cannot win on away from the Toyota Center. Games 16 & 17 What We Learned: Houston Rockets Edition.

Image via USA Today/Sports Illustrated Image via USA Today/Sports Illustrated

Rockets

The Houston Rockets have officially been eliminated from the NBA in-season tournament. Game 15 What We Learned: Houston Rockets Edition.

Image via Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports Image via Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Rockets

Games 13 and 14 What We Learned: Houston Rockets Edition. The streaks keep coming so just keep winning, winning, winning.

Image via Ronald Cortes/Getty Images Image via Ronald Cortes/Getty Images

Rockets

Game 11 & 12 What We Learned: Houston Rockets Edition after the win streak ended, what happened during games 11 and 12?

You May Also Like

Movies & Pop Culture

Let me say right off the top, I hated this movie. Not because it was poorly made but because it is poorly conceived. The...

Movies & Pop Culture

“Then the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah up onto the dry land.” Jonah 2:10 If you’ve seen the movie NOPE, the...

Rockets

Coming into the 2022 NBA Trade Deadline, the Houston Rockets were expected to be key players. The Rockets had an abundance of assets and...

Movies & Pop Culture

Fall is here again, and that means so is Oscar Bait szn. My favorite time on the movie release calendar. While the Summer months...