Rockets 110 Raptors 104

Terrence Jones joined the Rockets rotation and join he did. Jones was a key member in the Rockets double overtime win over the Raptors 110 to 104. Before the game a flu bug was going through the team it affected James Harden and it sidelined Francisco Garcia for the night. The Rockets started off like normal and went with twin towers lineup, 6 minutes in to the game Head Coach Kevin McHale had seen enough and scrapped the lineup and inserted Omri Casspi for some spacing.

2 minutes left in the 1^st quarter Terrence Jones entered the game and Jones ended up playing 32 minutes, Jones played more minutes tonight than he played in the 1^st 8 games combined. While Jones may not have had a perfect night, he played the robin to Dwight Howard’s batman very well. Jones on the night finished with 7 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 blocks. Totally out playing Omer Asik who finished with 18 minutes despite no injury, or no foul trouble. In big spots it was Jones not Asik in the game. The Twin Towers lineup is neat and can cause problems for teams, but it seems Coach Kevin McHale might be wavering on that lineup “you have the big lineup to start off and I’m 50/50 on it”.

So if McHale does scrap the “BIG” lineup with 2 true centers, you would have Dwight Howard starting with Omer Asik providing the relief. It looks like Terrence Jones would be the favorite to start opposite Howard, coach has complained about spacing from day 1 and while Jones is by no means a 3 point shooting specialists he provides more room for the offense to operate.

Rockets vs. Raptors: Game 8

Tonight the Rockets will take on the Raptors at home, with the hopes of snapping a 2 game home losing streak. Rockets have lost to the Lakers and the Clippers in different but yet the same fashion. The Lakers got off to a hot start yet the Rockets were able to counter and take the lead before ultimately blowing it in the final minute. The Clippers game at home the Rockets had pretty much controlled the game from the start but once again had it slipped through their hands at the end.

Today the team is dealing with a problem that is invisible to the naked eye, James Harden and other members of the Rockets are dealing with a flu bug of sorts. Harden did however say that he will go tonight dispute having flu like symptoms and bad feet “I’ll be alright, just get some rest and hydrate myself” Harden said. You could see Head Coach Kevin McHale open up the bench a little bit more than normal with players dealing with this bug and the team playing 4 games in 6 nights.

The Rockets also will get a visit from Ex Rocket Kyle Lowry who will try to move his Raptors to .500 on the season. Lowry battling ankle problems will make it a go tonight and will play against his former team. Lowry after shoot around today mentioned he enjoys his trips coming back to Houston “I always get a good kick coming back here". The key tonight is rebounding the Raptors are snagging 3 extra offensive broads a game more than the Rockets while the Rockets are the number 3 team in the NBA in overall rebounds. If Dwight Howard and Omar Aisk can control the glass this game the Rockets should win.

Below is audio from Ex Rockets guard Kyle Lowry