Russell Westbrook tallied 27 points, six assists, and five rebounds for the Rockets in Sunday’s home game versus Dallas, and his 2-of-5 showing (40%) from three-point range was his best percentage since Houston’s regular-season opener back in October.
Unfortunately for Westbrook and the Rockets (11-6), it wasn’t enough to avoid the team’s third straight defeat. Houston gave up 45 points in the first quarter and trailed by 20 early in the second half, which proved to be a deficit that was too large to overcome in the 137-123 loss (box score).
Led by Westbrook, the Rockets fought back in the second half, but couldn’t get the margin any closer than five points.
After the game, Houston coaches and players largely blamed themselves for their poor defensive effort early in the game.
Though each loss in the three-game skid (Mavericks, at Nuggets, at Clippers) has come against a team currently in the top four of the Western Conference standings, any losing streak from a perceived NBA title contender inherently raises eyebrows around the league.
But when Westbrook, a 12-year NBA veteran, was asked postgame whether he had any concerns, he pushed back strongly on the notion.
I’m not worried one bit, I’ll tell you right now. Honestly, I’m encouraged. Because, when you lose — and everybody is trying to point fingers over what happened and who did what — I think it’s very interesting.
I love it, because to me, it just shows the character of your team. You always know the strongest when adversity hits and you see what happens. So I’m very, very encouraged, and not worried one bit. I look forward to the next night.
The Rockets already have experience from this year to fall back on, as it pertains to dealing with adversity. After losing by a humiliating 29 points in Miami on Nov. 3 to fall to 3-3 on the 2019-20 season, Houston responded by reeling off an eight-game winning streak.
Westbrook and the Rockets return to action Wednesday night at home in Houston, and it feels somewhat appropriate that it comes against that same Heat team. Though Miami is 11-4, it’s an opportunity for the Rockets to enact some revenge — and perhaps also serve as a reminder of the adversity that they’ve already overcome this season.
