The Houston Rockets responded to a loss to the Lakers with three straight wins, including a statement win over the Golden State Warriors.
With three consecutive victories the Houston Rockets secured the second seed in the Western Conference, with a 52-27 record that cannot be caught, with the Lakers five games back.
The key win to clinch was a 106-96 victory over the Golden State Warriors, one that saw Stephen Curry score an uncharacteristic total of only three points.
This came as a surprise with Stephen Curry scoring 37 points nights earlier against the Lakers and 36 versus the Nuggets.
Stephen Curry’s bad night against the Rockets was not simply a case of a bad shooting night, where Houston were concerned. It was something they initiated.
Curry was 1-8 from three point range and 1-10 from the field overall. Buddy Hield led the team with 20 points.
The Rockets defended Curry with Amen Thompson, their exciting young star who was a +26 on the court and had 14 points of his own, 6 rebounds and 6 assists.
Thompson spoke post-game and was asked about how he went about guarding Curry, and he said his secret was a combination of being physical and pressing him into bad decisions.
He said: “Just beating them up, making shots they don’t want to take.”
Thompson’s performances have drawn lots of praises this season, with Vernon Maxwell praising his ‘crazy’ talent, and Kevin Garnett comparing him to Tracy McGrady.
At just 22, the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft is proving to be a valuable player for the Rockets, looking to make an impact in the upcoming playoffs.
Amen Thompson was keen to point out after the win that the Houston Rockets win was a team effort, although one player stood out.
He talked up Alperen Sengun, who had 19 points, 14 rebounds and 4 assists, and Thompson believes his teammate makes everything easier.
“He brings a lot. You can’t guard him in the post, easy buckets for me and the rest of the team.
“Proven defender and super competitive.”
Sengun is averaging 19.2 points per game this season and has played a crucial role in the Rockets’ run to the two-seed, while Thompson is averaging 14.0 ppg, a jump on his 9.5 ppg in his rookie season.
