The Rockets challenge the Cavaliers
The Houston Rockets have grown into a force to be reckoned with in the West, and the young team has not chosen to play with talent, ranking only 22nd in the league in offensive efficiency but second in the league in defensive efficiency, which is the key to their success. Seeing this, I have to praise Udoka's coaching ability, as well as the Houston Rockets' offseason selection, Van Jordan and Dillon are both defensive giants. In this game, the Rockets will take on the Cleveland Cavaliers away for the final game of the three-game trip.
The Cavaliers are also a playoff-caliber team, and despite Mobley Jr.'s injury, the team still has Allen at the basket. Garland is injured on the guard line, but Mitchell is still an All-Star level guard, and LeVert has been in great form recently, averaging 15.2 points per game this season.
Mitchell scored 20 points in the first quarter
At the beginning of the first quarter, the Rockets' veterans stepped up, Van Jordan got 7 points, 1 rebound and 5 assists, Jeff Green on the bench also had 10 points and 2 assists on 4-of-4 shooting, the team scored 34 points in a single quarter, and the Cavaliers also scored 33 points, Mitchell scored 8 points and 1 assist, and Allen had 8 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists. After returning from the game in the second quarter, Dillon stepped up and scored 8 points and 2 rebounds on 3-of-4 shooting, Shen Jing and Jalen Green each scored 6 points, Van Jordan sent 5 more assists, and the halftime assists doubled, and the Rockets scored 25 points in a single quarter.
Mitchell lost touch and missed a point on 0-of-4 shooting, but the Cavaliers still scored 24 points, and at halftime, the Rockets led the Cavaliers by two points at 59-57. In the second half, the Rockets went all out, Van Jordan scored 9 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists, and Ethan had 10 points, 2 rebounds and 3 steals, and the team scored 39 points in a single quarter. Mitchell completely exploded, shooting 7-of-9 with 20 points and 2 assists, which was simply unstoppable. Strus also had 7 points, 1 rebound and 2 assists, Wade had 7 points, 2 rebounds and 1 steal, and the team scored 42 points in a single quarter and successfully surpassed by 1 point.
In the final quarter of the game, the scores of the two teams were deadlocked, Mitchell scored 7 points, 1 rebound and 1 assist, Strus scored 6 points, LeVert 5 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists, the team scored 23 points in a single quarter, Van Jordan continued to step up, 7 points, 1 rebound and 2 assists on 3 of 5 shots, Shen Jing also had 7 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists, but in the end the final shot missed, and the two teams tied 122-122 into overtime.
In overtime, Allen took the lead in scoring in the air, Shin Kyung turned and made a layup, Strus scored in the air, and Merrill scored five points in a row to open the difference. Mitchell scored on a strong attack, Jalen Green was hatted, Shin Jing hit an empty three-pointer, Strus made both free throws, and Van Jordan continued with three points, but it was too late. In the end, the Cavaliers managed to beat the Rockets 135-130.
Van Jordan really tried his best
The Houston Rockets unfortunately lost the game, the whole team scored 7 double-doubles, Van Jordan fought hard for 45 minutes, got 27 points, 8 rebounds and 17 assists, what more could you ask for? Shen Jing had 24 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists, Dillon had 16 points, 3 rebounds and 1 assist, Jalen Green shot 2 of 12, only 12 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists, and 14 shots, 8 rebounds and 2 assists off the bench, Jeff Green had 15 points, 1 rebound and 3 assists, shooting 6 of 6, and Holiday also had 14 points and 2 rebounds.
Mitchell showed the strength of the star of the house, with 37 points, 6 assists and 2 blocks on 14-of-27 shooting, which is why the Cavaliers traded him, and the Rockets currently lack an absolute offensive core, and until they find this offensive core, they can only be a playoff-level team. Strus had 17 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists, Merrill had 19 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists, LeVert had 12 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists, Wade had 12 points, 3 rebounds and 1 assist, and Okoro had 11 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists.