The Houston Rockets dropped to fourth place in the Western Conference standings after struggling in recent weeks, losing seven of their last nine games heading into the All-Star break.
Their most recent defeat came on Thursday, where they fell 105-98 to the Golden State Warriors. Following the loss, the Rockets head coach acknowledged that the team needs some time off to regroup and recover.
The team’s slide has been significantly impacted by injuries to key players. Starting point guard Fred VanVleet has been sidelined with an ankle issue, while forward Jabari Smith Jr. has been dealing with a hand injury.
Both players’ absences have left the Rockets shorthanded, affecting their performance on both ends of the court.
“We could be mentally and physically fried,” coach Ime Udoka told Kelly Iko of The Athletic. “But everybody’s in the situation right now going into the break. Maybe our guys are tired, but … a lack of competitiveness is not an excuse.”
Southwest Notes: McCollum, Mavs Hot Streak, Konchar, Rockets Slide, Jackson Jr. https://t.co/dv8ayNbuGZ pic.twitter.com/bdmtD0pDZb
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) February 15, 2025
