6 days ago
2
The Houston Rockets walked into Brooklyn on Thursday night and treated the Brooklyn Nets like a tune-up- no drama or panic or swings. Just a steady, controlled 120-96 win that never felt competitive. Houston never trailed at any point. From the opening tip, this game lived in transition, in the paint, and firmly under Rockets control.
The tone was set immediately by Alperen Şengün, who returned to the lineup and wasted no time reminding the building what Houston looks like when he’s available. Two quick paint touches in the opening minute turned into four fast points, and suddenly the floor opened up.
Advertisement
Brooklyn started doubling early- on Şengün, Kevin Durant, and even on Reed Sheppard- but that only accelerated a Rockets opening of 7-for-7 from the field.
Durant used his gravity to the team’s advantage and notched five quick assists. Houston built a double-digit lead in under three minutes, and even when Brooklyn managed a small run late in the first, the game never tilted.
The Nets couldn’t grab a single offensive rebound in the opening frame, and Houston rotated freely, sending ten different players onto the floor before the buzzer. It ended 26-20 Rockets, but the control already felt wider than the score.
The second quarter extended the Rockets’ lead. Brooklyn kept throwing bodies at Durant and Şengün, which left shooters unattended. Sheppard buried back-to-back catch-and-release threes because the Nets simply couldn’t guard everyone.
Advertisement
Brooklyn generated looks, but nothing dropped. They shot just 38-percent from the field and missed eight of nine from deep, while Durant went 5-for-7 and continued orchestrating instead of forcing. At halftime, Houston led 53-42, holding Brooklyn to its lowest-scoring half of the season.
The Rockets opened the third with a steal and a layup from Amen Thompson, pusing him into double-digits, joining Sengun, Durant, and Sheppard. Houston pushed the pace at Ime Udoka’s direction and never let up.
Back-to-back threes from Jabari Smith Jr. blew the lead open. Houston went 8-for-9 to start the quarter, shot nearly 64-percent overall, and stretched the margin to 25 before the Nets could reset. By the end of the third, six Rockets were already in double figures, Durant had logged a double-double with assists, and the score sat at 90-67.
The fourth quarter was procedural. Houston took a 26-point lead, coasted through the final minutes, and closed with ease.
Advertisement
Thompson led the night with 23 points on 10-for-12 shooting. Durant finished with a season-high 11 assists, weaponizing his gravity instead of his shot. Tari Eason, with his minutes restriction lifted, went 6-for-7 and flirted with a double-double of his own with 9 rebounds. Jabari stayed perfect through six straight makes in the second half. Houston dominated second-chance points, dominated on the glass, and turned a New Year’s road game into a cakewalk.
The Rockets advance to 21-10, while Brooklyn drops to 10-22. This one came down to focus, and Houston never lost it.
English (US) ·