Yahoo News Rockets beat Nets to extend win streak, set wild NBA record after early 15-game losing skid
The Houston Rockets pulled off a historic upset win on Wednesday night — one that gives them one of the strangest records in NBA history.
The Rockets beat the Brooklyn Nets 114-104 at the Toyota Center, marking their seventh-straight win.
That win streak is wildly impressive, considering it came directly on the heels of a 15-game losing streak. No team in NBA history has had those two streaks anywhere in a single season, let alone back-to-back.
The Rockets have won 7 straight games immediately following a 15-game losing streak.
They are the 1st team in NBA history to have a 15-game losing streak and 7-game win streak in the same season, let alone one right after the other. h/t @EliasSports pic.twitter.com/VdXWw1SDHh— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 9, 2021
Houston bounced back after brutal start
The Rockets lost 15 straight games, and 16 of their first 17, to start the season. Though the team is clearly in a rebuilding mode overall, the losing skid landed coach Stephen Silas on a pretty hot seat only about a month into his second season with the Rockets.
Houston’s losing skid finally ended on Nov. 24 with a narrow win over the Chicago Bulls. Now, seven games later, the Rockets still haven’t lost.
Houston actually led for most of the contest on Wednesday, and took a 15-point lead into halftime. Though Brooklyn cut the game down to four points in the final quarter, Houston held the Nets to only 10 points in the final 6:17 of the game to seal the win.
“It’s a great feeling … Being able to pull out a close game like that, I mean earlier in the year when they cut it down by four, but being on this streak and knowing we can beat anybody if we play together, it’s a great feeling,” Rockets guard Garrison Mathews said, via Fox26’s Mark Berman.
Eric Gordon led Houston with 21 points while shooting 8-of-12 from the field, and Christian Wood dropped a double-double with 12 points and 15 rebounds. The Rockets shot nearly 50% from the field as a team, too, and Josh Christopher dropped a career-high 18 points off the bench while shooting a perfect 7-of-7 from the field on Wednesday, his 20th birthday.
“Oh, is this the best birthday I’ve ever had? Yeah for sure,” Christopher said, via Berman. “I’ve had a lot of great birthdays, but I don’t think anything compares to this one thus far.”
Josh Christopher (@Jaygup23) asked if this is the best birthday he’s ever had: “Oooh, is the best birthday I’ve ever had? Yeah, for sure…I’ve had a lot of great birthdays, but I don’t anything compares to this one thus far. I don’t think so.” pic.twitter.com/k1Ko0i57pk
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) December 9, 2021
James Harden finished with a near-triple double in just his second game back at the Toyota Center since he was traded to the Nets. He finished with 25 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists despite shooting just 4-of-16 from the field. Cam Thomas added 18 points off the bench, and Patty Mills finished with 12 points. They were the only three Brooklyn players to score in double figures.
Kevin Durant, the league’s leading scorer, and LaMarcus Aldridge both did not play for the Nets.
James Harden on his return to Houston and the Nets frustrating loss. pic.twitter.com/jsP1SdzJKj
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) December 9, 2021
“We got down early. We gave them too many opportunities,” Harden said, via the YES Network. “We know how well they’ve been playing these last week or two. But it’s frustrating when you’re just shorthanded too many guys and you try to make up for so many things … It's just frustrating but there’s nothing you can do. It’s out of your control, you just have to keep pushing.”
