The Rockets’ win on Monday ended their 13-game losing streak and simultaneously snapped...
Minnesota Timberwolves' Anthony Edwards leaps while defending against Houston Rockets' Jae'Sean Tate during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 23, 2023, in Houston. The Rockets won 119-114.
Confetti rained at Toyota Center as a rare accompaniment to the customary postgame hugs the Rockets and their opponents exchanged on the court, but a welcome and cathartic addition to a routine that had turned stale without a win to celebrate in almost a month., offered a short yet achingly accurate summary.The Rockets’ win on Monday ended their 13-game losing streak and simultaneously snapped a seven-game losing streak against the Timberwolves. It also relieved some of the pressure mounting from Houston’s repetitive mistakes and lack of progression.“I just told the team before the game, ‘Be desperate,’” Rockets rookie forward Tari Eason said. “And I think that’s what we did tonight. Everybody played desperate. Everybody played their tails off.” Just like in their nine-point loss to the Timberwolves two days earlier, the Rockets blew a 12-point lead and committed 23 turnovers. They also missed 10 free throws. On Monday, however, they got stops in critical situations and thwarted several Timberwolves runs while shooting 50 percent from the field. “It was time for us to really just buckle down and have a focused game for 48 minutes,” Rockets coach Stephen Silas said. “You think about this game compared to last game. We still turned it over a bunch of times. We still didn't make enough burritos. But it was the mental fortitude that we showed to win the game.” The Rockets had 11 steals after recording a total of eight the three games prior. Seven occurred in the third quarter, a period notorious for Rockets collapses, when Houston outscored Minnesota 34-25 with 10 points coming directly off of Minnesota turnovers. Although Green headlined the evening with his best pro game, the effort was a group one. Alperen Sengun countered every defense Minnesota tried against him and scored 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting. Eason was a fire-starter on the glass and blocked a career-high three shots. K.J. Martin was plus-22 in 33 minutes played with a career-high three steals. Jae’Sean Tate organized the Rockets’ defense and came three rebounds shy of a double-double. Eric Gordon went to work in pick-and-rolls to dissect Minnesota’s coverage. “Before, we were playing so good for three quarters. Last quarter, we were playing selfish,” Sengun said. “But right now, this game, we did the same. Shared the ball, no one was selfish. Everyone played for their teammates. That’s what I think was the key to the game.” Green said he came into the game with a chip on his shoulder after he was held to nine points and 10 points in the last two games against the Timberwolves, and admitted he was “in my head a little bit” after the most recent of those games on Saturday.“Being around those guys helps, and talking to my people at home, too,” Green said. “But I learned last year that you’ve got to have that next game, next shot mentality, so that kind of plays a part, too in the game I just had.” Silas devoted time at Monday morning’s shootaround to a one-on-one film session with Green, in which the coach broke down clips of blitzes the 20-year-old guard so often faces. The Timberwolves ironically did not attempt to double-team Green, perhaps to their detriment.
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