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The Houston Rockets, having started their 2023-2024 campaign with a three-game losing streak under new head coach Ime Udoka, appear to be rallying for their first series of wins. The team took a significant step in this direction with a 107-89 win over the visiting Sacramento Kings on Nov. 4.
"Got the dub for the home crowd," said the Rockets in a postgame Tweet.
New addition to the team, forward Dillon Brooks, played a key role in securing the victory by contributing a season-high 26 points to lead Houston to its second consecutive overall win and second straight home victory. According to The Associated Press (AP), Brooks, who was acquired by the Rockets in a sign-and-trade agreement over the summer, went on an impressive 12-point run in the fourth quarter. Former Boston Celtics coach and current Rockets leader Udoka told AP that Brooks was just what they needed when struggling against Sacramento.
In addition to Brooks' noteworthy performance, newly acquired guard Fred VanVleet and second-year forward Jabari Smith Jr., contributed significantly as well, combining for 42 points as per AP reports. VanVleet provided twelve assists while Smith collected eleven rebounds helping Houston outperform Sacramento on boards. This victory followed their earlier win over Charlotte Hornets at Toyota Center.
With eyes set on their third consecutive win and another success over Sacramento scheduled for Nov. 6, Houston's hopes are high for Brooks' promising early season performance. Their aspiration is that this will hasten what has been a taxing rebuilding process since the 2020-2021 season.