MANILA – Houston Rockets finally puts an end to a 20-game losing streak following a 117-99 domination over Toronto Raptors in the 2020-2021 National Basketball Association (NBA) Season on Monday night at Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.
Jae’Sean Tate led the way with 22 points, while Sterling Brown posted a double-double 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Rockets (12-30), whose 20-game losing spell was the ninth-worst in NBA’s history.
John Wall tallied triple-double 19 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists. Christian Wood had 19 markers, while Danuel House Jr. ended up with 12 points for the Rockets – without Victor Oladipo and Kevin Porter Jr.
Holding to a slim 88-86 after three quarters, the Rockets started the fourth quarter with a 9-1 scoring run courtesy of Kenyon Martin Jr., DeVante Wilson, Darryl Gerald Augustin for a 97-87 lead.
The Raptors rallied to within seven late in the period but conversions from Tate, Wood, and Wall widened the lead for good for the Rockets at 117-99 with under a minute remaining.
Fred VanVleet finished with 27 points including four triples, while Pascal Siakam added double-double 21 points and 10 rebounds as the Raptors (17-26) fell to its ninth straight defeat.
Meanwhile, Oklahoma City Thunder (19-24) survived the absence of several key players due to injuries and rest, to wallop the Minnesota Timberwolves (10-33), 112-103.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made his return from a one-game absence to score 31 points, while Ty Jerome chipped in 15 markers, and Aleksej Pokusevski contributed 13 for the Thunder.
Sacramento Kings (18-25) cruised to a wire-to-wire 119-105 victory over Cleveland Cavaliers (16-27). DeAarox Fox spearheaded the attack with 30 points, while rookie Tyrese Haliburton chipped in 28 markers for the Kings.
In other results, Charlotte Hornets edged San Antonio Spurs, 100-97; Utah Jazz prevailed over Chicago Bulls, 120-95; Milwaukee Bucks upended Indiana Pacers, 140-113; Memphis Grizzlies mauls Boston Celtics, 132-126; and Los Angeles Clippers toppled Atlanta Hawks, 119-110.
BOX SCORE:
HOUSTON 117 – Tate 22, Brown 20, Wall 19, Wood 19, House 12, McLemore 7, Wilson 7, Martin 7, Augustin 4.
TORONTO 99 – VanVleet 27, Siakam 21, Powell 19, Lowry 17, Watson 6, Boucher 4, Bembry 3, Baynes 2, Johnson 0, McCaw 0, Flynn 0.
Quarterscores: 27-28, 65-60, 88-86, 117-99./PN
