As the Houston Rockets prepare to take on the Dallas Mavericks this Wednesday, concerns about their late-game execution weigh on them. After a dramatic showdown with the Miami Heat that ended in a 104-100 loss, the Rockets find themselves struggling with their offensive struggles that also marred their last game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
In that game, Houston blew a comfortable 16-point lead in the final five minutes, a pattern that repeated itself in its last game against the Heat. The Rockets only managed to score 18 points in the fourth quarter, including only six points at the very end thanks to three-pointers from Cam Whitmore and Dillon Brooks, when the outcome of the game was already sealed. Notably, the Rockets’ success percentage in the fourth quarter was alarming: 6 shots made out of 25 attempted.
This disastrous performance echoed their previous game against the Timberwolves, where the Rockets collapsed in the final minutes, ultimately allowing their opponents to turn a 106-90 deficit into victory. Currently, the Rockets are tied for 28th in the NBA in three-point shooting, with the percentage dropping to 32.7. This inefficiency beyond the three-point line led rivals to close the paint, making life even more difficult for scorers like Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun.
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“Our late-game struggles are obvious and need to be addressed,” Houston coach Ime Udoka said. He emphasized the need to improve after the Heat managed to capitalize in the final quarter, where they scored 23 points, thanks in large part to frequent runs to the free throw line. “While our defense held Minnesota under 100 points for three quarters, we failed offensively when it mattered most. »
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-Compounding Houston’s concerns, they will be without the services of guard/forward Amen Thompson for the next game due to a two-game suspension stemming from the altercation with the Heat.
On the other side of the floor, the Mavericks also approach this meeting with their own frustrations. They recently suffered a 110-100 loss to the Sacramento Kings despite showing resilience with a significantly reduced team. With four of their starters – including Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson and Derek Lively II – out due to various injuries or suspensions, the Mavericks have had to make major adjustments along the way, having already used 15 different formations this season .
“We had confidence in the group we fielded against Sacramento,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said. “We are facing staffing challenges and looking to get our groove back. » However, the team is going through a rough patch, having lost three of its last four games, and with Doncic expected to be out for at least a month, consistency becomes a pressing topic.
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PJ Washington and Spencer Dinwiddie were thrust into leadership roles, as both players scored a combined 58 points against Sacramento, while playing plenty of minutes to lead the team through this difficult stretch.
As the Rockets and Mavericks prepare to face off, both teams will be eager to correct their recent mistakes in pursuit of a long-awaited victory.
