In Milwaukee on Monday, the Houston Rockets squandered a 13-point first-quarter lead and rallied from a 14-point second-half deficit but faltered in the final moments, resulting in a 101-100 loss to the Bucks, ending their five-game winning streak.
This game marked Houston’s sixth in nine days, and they will now host the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday to kick off their third three-game homestand of the month.
The loss highlighted the inconsistency that plagued the Rockets last month, an issue they appeared to have resolved in their previous five games. Despite shooting just 40 percent and missing 23 of 32 three-pointers, Houston managed to stay competitive by converting 16 offensive rebounds into a significant shot attempt advantage. However, defensive lapses allowed Brook Lopez and Gary Trent Jr. to combine for 8-of-10 shooting from beyond the arc in the first half.
The Rockets mounted a rally behind Fred VanVleet, who scored 12 consecutive points in the third quarter, and Jalen Green, who added 10 points in the fourth. Houston led by as many as seven points in the final period and held a 100-94 lead with under two minutes remaining, but went cold and allowed Damian Lillard to lead the Bucks to a comeback victory.
The Rockets’ reliance on defense, second-chance opportunities, and transition points has been effective to some extent, but their half-court offense continues to lag. The team expended significant energy to erase the 14-point deficit but couldn’t finish the job.
Coach Ime Udoka has often pointed out the team’s shortcomings in detail, and Monday was no exception.
Meanwhile, the Pacers’ rebounding struggles continued in their 130-119 road loss to the Toronto Raptors on Monday. Indiana finished with a minus-14 rebounding margin and entered Tuesday tied for 26th in the NBA with a 47.7 percent rebounding rate, ahead of only the Wizards, 76ers, and Thunder.
Rebounding has been an ongoing issue for the Pacers. Last season, they posted a 49.2 percent rebounding rate, ranking tied for 23rd, and their inability to compete on the glass remains detrimental.
Indiana also allowed 18 points off 11 turnovers against the Raptors, marking their fourth loss in six games.
