Rockets Seek Bounce Back After Losses, Knicks Aim to Regain Form
Houston Rockets vs New York Knicks
On Monday, February 3, 2025, the high-flying Houston Rockets will travel to Madison Square Garden to face the New York Knicks in a compelling inter-conference matchup. Both teams come into the game with solid playoff aspirations, but each is dealing with its own set of challenges. The Rockets, currently the second seed in the Western Conference, look to rebound from a tough loss, while the Knicks, in third place in the East, are eager to bounce back after an unexpected defeat.
Rockets Struggling After Back-to-Back Losses
Despite their overall strong season, the Houston Rockets are dealing with a tough stretch of play. After a four-game win streak, they’ve now dropped two in a row, including a 110-98 loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday night. The loss was particularly tough for Houston, as they played without their All-Star center, Alperen Sengun, and saw guard Fred VanVleet exit the game early in the second quarter with an ankle injury. The Rockets’ shooting woes also resurfaced, as they managed just 40% from the field and were outworked on the boards, getting outrebounded 46-44.
Jalen Green was the standout performer for the Rockets in the defeat, finishing with 29 points. Houston, now 32-15 on the season, ranks 13th in the NBA in scoring, but their shooting efficiency remains a concern. They are just 25th in field goal percentage and 3-point shooting percentage. However, they have made their mark defensively under head coach Ime Udoka, ranking 5th in the league for points allowed per game and 6th in field goal defense. Their ability to limit opponents’ scoring while excelling in rebounding (they lead the NBA in this category) has been a key to their success.
Knicks Look to Regain Form After Setback
The New York Knicks, who had been on a roll with a five-game winning streak, saw that streak come to an end in a 128-112 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday. The defeat was particularly disappointing as it occurred at home, and just hours before the Lakers made a blockbuster trade involving Anthony Davis and Luka Dončić. Josh Hart led the Knicks with 26 points in the loss, but it wasn’t enough to stop the Lakers’ charge.
Despite the setback, the Knicks remain one of the top teams in the East, sitting in third place and just 2.5 games behind the Boston Celtics for the second seed. New York’s offense has been one of the best in the league, ranking 4th in points per game (118.4) and 2nd in offensive efficiency. They’re especially potent from the field, ranking 4th in field goal percentage (48.6%) and 6th in 3-point shooting (37.8%). However, their defense has been inconsistent. While they rank 8th in points allowed per game, they struggle to defend the 3-point line, where they’re dead last in the league in 3-point defense.
Conclusion
The Houston Rockets have had an impressive start to the season, but recent losses raise some concerns, especially if VanVleet is unavailable. The Knicks, meanwhile, have been a high-powered offensive unit but are prone to lapses on defense, particularly from three-point range. With home-court advantage and a potent offense, New York will likely have the upper hand, but the Rockets’ defensive prowess and rebounding strength could make this game closer than expected.
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