by Micah Hart
As everyone knows by now, the compressed NBA schedule will force every team to play three games in three nights at least one this season (42 times in total). With only 66 games to stake a claim to a playoff spot or seed, how teams perform during these killer slates could have a large impact on how their seasons turn out.
With that in mind, we’re going to keep track of each of the 42 three-plays to see which teams take advantage and which teams fall apart. Up next, the Houston Rockets, who played three straight from Dec. 29-31.
Game 1: Rockets 105, Spurs 85 – Houston got off to a good start, beating the Spurs so badly that Gregg Popovich pretty much threw in the towel at halftime. 2 points
Game 2: Grizzlies 113, Rockets 93 – A road loss in Memphis is no surprise, and while Houston kept it reasonably close in the first half, the Grizzlies blew it open by outscoring them 31-16 in the third quarter. -1 point
Game 3: Rockets 95, Hawks 84 – The Rockets finish strong and then some, beating the Hawks at home and doing it fairly easily at that. Kyle Lowry had an NBA season-high 18 assists in the win, though none of them were as impressive as his one block. 6 points
All in all an impressive performance from Houston. Two double-digit wins, and the Rockets take an early clubhouse lead with 7 total points.
Up next: The Nuggets take on one of the stranger threesomes, playing the Lakers twice in a row and then the Bucks Dec. 31 – Jan. 2.
Previous three for alls:
– L.A. Lakers
Catch up on every single game-winning buzzer beater during the season and see how it rates on the Horry Scale.
Go Rockets. Always the overachievers. I’ve observed that they have no problem making fast starts but what they must improve is making comebacks and keeping leads.
Hell yeah, GO ROCKETS
so, rockets 7 to lakers 3? pretty damn good.