The Cleveland Cavaliers are one of only three NBA teams with a worse record than the Houston Rockets, and they entered the second night of a rugby game and lost by 10 in their last 11 games on Wednesday.
Still, that was not enough for the Rockets (11-19) to end their losing streak, which is now at nine games and the longest for the franchise in more than 20 years. Overall, Houston is 0-9 since Christian Wood’s ankle injury on Feb. 4 after being 7-1 in the eight previous games.
While the Rockets were suddenly without size after Wood’s injury and the release of DeMarcus Cousins, Jarrett Allen, Cavs center (26 points, 18 rebounds, 4 blocks), towered over PJ Tucker, Jae’Sean Tate and every Houston front piece except Justin Patton. Allen was dominant in Cleveland’s 112-96 victory (top score) and shot 10-out-11 (90.9%).
John Wall led the undersized Rockets by 20 points in a defeat.
“Defense was not very good,” head coach Stephen Silas said. ‘The offense was not combined. Totally bad. ”
Wall, a five-time All-Star and clear-cut team leader, has delivered more targeted criticism over Houston’s sudden lack of size. “We definitely need some kind of paint repellent,” Wall of Cleveland said.
Veteran guards Victor Oladipo and Eric Gordon each played for the Rockets after being listed as suspicious with injuries, but that was not nearly enough yet. Oladipo and Gordon scored 17 points each, but they only shot 3-of-15 from 3-points (20.0%). Meanwhile, the Cavaliers shot 16-out-36 on three-pointers (44.4%), led by 4-out-4 from Dylan Windler.
The Rockets will complete a two-game ride in Tampa on Friday, where the Toronto Raptors play this season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Central. Here’s for the first time a collection of highlights and reaction from Cleveland to the game.
Stephen Silas
John Wall
Victor Oladipo