The Houston Rockets, in their 114-104 win on the road over the Cleveland Cavaliers, proved yet again that they are capable of winning no matter what it takes, as they ultimately overcame a threatening run by Cleveland in the second half to come away with the victory.
Yet, given the Cavaliers’ current injuries, this game was one that needed to be won. As they head home to face off against the Denver Nuggets in NBA Cup action on Friday, the matchup will represent the first true test of their merit as championship contenders this season.
The Nuggets have been undeniable this season, having won eight of their last nine games and, currently, looking like they are in line for another big victory over the New Orleans Pelicans tonight. While Houston got the victory over Cleveland, they will need a much better game on Friday to defeat perhaps the second-hottest team in the NBA.
Rockets need to reflect on their intensity as they prepare for their matchup with the Nuggets
At the end of the first half, it looked as though we might be in line for another dominant Houston win. Donovan Mitchell had been essentially a non-factor under the watchful eye of the Rockets’ swarming defense, and the team was carrying a handy 17-point lead at halftime.
Yet, when the Cavaliers attempted a different approach in the second half, giving players such as Lonzo Ball extended run, things started to shift rather heavily. Cleveland won the third quarter 30-17, and, for a bit, it looked as though Houston’s dominant lead might be in serious trouble.
They ultimately won the game, but it certainly wasn’t pretty. Had the Cavaliers not continued their recent struggles from beyond the arc and at the free-throw line, this game could have looked much different.
As good as the Rockets’ offense has been this season, they will meet their match on Friday. Heading into play on Wednesday night, they were first in the NBA in offensive rating. Denver was second. They were first in points per game. Denver was second. First in rebounds per game; Denver was third. You get the picture.
With the way that Nikola Jokic has been playing recently (he’s averaged 37 points, 14.2 rebounds and 10.2 assists over his last five games), Houston will certainly have their hands full attempting to keep the Nuggets at bay. They cannot let their intensity slide for even a moment if they want to continue this winning streak.
Therefore, while their victory in Cleveland represented another step in the dominant direction the team has taken so far this season, they must avoid these lapses in intensity against the best teams in the NBA. Their upcoming matchup with Denver will present a serious test of their ability to do so.
