When everything clicks for the Houston Rockets, as it did in the fourth quarter Sunday against the Milwaukee Bucks, they look every bit like the most efficient offense in the NBA.
The Rockets shot a solid 71.4% in the final period of their 122-115 comeback win over Milwaukee, a win that saw Houston erase a 14-point deficit and set a positive tone ahead of a three-game home streak, starting against the Washington Wizards on Wednesday.
When it mattered most, the Bucks couldn’t stop the Rockets, who ranked first in the league in offensive rating (121.7 points per 100 possessions), 3-point percentage (42.8) and offensive rebound rate (41.4%).
What continues to undermine the Rockets’ offensive skills is their propensity to commit turnovers. Houston gave up 30 points on 18 turnovers against the Bucks, with the 14-point first-half deficit tied directly to 12 turnovers that yielded 21 points before intermission.
After the Rockets finally got their ball security under control in the second half, their offense went wild. Kevin Durant (31 points, seven assists), Alperen Sengun (23 points, 11 rebounds), Jabari Smith Jr. and Reed Sheppard (16 points each) were too much for Milwaukee to handle.
At this point early in the season, the Rockets’ injuries appear to be self-inflicted. Houston was expected to struggle without Fred VanVleet, who was lost to a knee injury in the preseason. What seems obvious is that when the Rockets prioritize ball security, they are extremely difficult to contain.
“It’s a new team,” Sengun said. “We lost our PG (point guard), and everyone is trying to get that responsibility now. Amen (Thompson) is trying to do some things, KD is doing some things. We’re just going to get better at that. We’re going to get better every day and we’re going to learn more.
“If we want to win, we have to take care of the ball.”
The Wizards lost their ninth straight game with a 137-135 overtime loss to the Detroit Pistons on Monday. Washington shot 52.6 percent overall, made 15 3-pointers and led by as many as 13 points before falling to a league-worst 1-10.
But en route to their third single-digit loss, the Wizards finished minus-17 in rebounding and gave up 27 points on 20 turnovers. For a young team trying to develop winning habits, failing over time and trying to achieve a victory was a tough pill to swallow. Gathering the courage to move forward is part of the maturation process.
“You get up tomorrow and you go to work,” Wizards coach Brian Keefe said. “You watch the film, go to practice, all the things that we think are important. All that consistency in how you prepare and how you practice. We watch the film, we do it as a group, we challenge ourselves to get better.
“I think that’s how you deal with anything. That’s how we’ve always done it here, and I’m really proud of the group that’s doing that. We’re going to continue to do that. I’m already looking forward to practice.”
–Field level media
