Entangled in their fourth three-game losing streak of the season, the Houston Rockets have abruptly relinquished the defensive identity.
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Entangled in their fourth three-game losing streak of the season, the Houston Rockets have abruptly relinquished the defensive identity that initially propelled them to an unexpectedly positive start in this campaign.
On Wednesday, the Houston Rockets saw their impressive 11-game winning streak at home come to an end with a 134-127 loss to the Atlanta Hawks. Heading into a matchup against the Dallas Mavericks on Friday, Houston faced defensive challenges as the Hawks shot 51.6 percent from the floor and successfully connected on 17 3-pointers, with 13 of them coming in the first half.
In the midst of their losing streak, the Rockets, despite maintaining the sixth position in the NBA for defensive rating at 110.4 as of Thursday, have witnessed a defensive lapse, conceding an average of 131.1 points per 100 possessions. Only the Charlotte Hornets have exhibited a poorer defensive performance during this period, emphasizing the clear objective for the Rockets against Dallas.
For the Rockets, Eason (leg injury) and Oladipo (knee injury) will not be playing the game. As for the Mavericks, Doncic (injury), Green (elbow injury), Irving (heel injury), Kleber (toe injury), and Lively (ankle injury) will be sitting this one out.
The Milwaukee Bucks and Cleveland Cavaliers inflicted damage on Houston by excelling in securing offensive rebounds. Although the Hawks managed to convert 12 offensive boards into a relatively modest 15 second-chance points, the timing of some of those baskets proved particularly debilitating for the Rockets.
Experiencing a 120-111 defeat against the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday, the Mavericks faced their third loss in four games. Injury attrition has left Dallas susceptible on both ends of the court, with guard Kyrie Irving (heel) sitting out his sixth consecutive game. Additionally, the Mavericks were without the services of centers Maxi Kleber (toe) and Dereck Lively II (ankle).
Nevertheless, even with their limited player rotation, the Mavericks staged a comeback from a daunting 22-point first-half deficit, seizing the lead in the fourth quarter before eventually succumbing in the closing moments.
Dallas strategically shifted to a small-ball lineup, featuring the nimble 6-foot-5 forward Derrick Jones Jr and the robust 6-6 forward Grant Williams alternating at center. This adjustment played a pivotal role in the Mavericks’ comeback. The success achieved in this configuration could potentially serve as the foundation for Dallas to continue experimenting with smaller lineups.
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