Rockets take off
Rockets started off with high energy with Clint Capella dunks. He finished with 21 points.
John Wall would knock down the first Wizards bucket, a beautiful jumpshot. He also had two assists with Otto Porter and Bradley Beal each knocking down a three in the first quarter.
Off a Markieff Morris assist, Porter would have a catch-and-release three.
The Wizards almost matched the Rockets with 3-pointers, 3-for-7 in the first quarter.
While the Rockets went 4-for-8. However, Washington had zero points in the paint in the first quarter, while the Rockets had 18.
The Wizards tried to keep up with Houston throughout the game, but James Harden‘s step back three was out of this world. He was 5-for-8 from three-point line.
He would lead all scorers with 38 points, and was just one assist shy of a triple-double.
The Rockets knocked down 16 three-pointers to the Wizards 12.
Beal was very efficient with 27 points in 29 minutes. While Wall had 9 points and 10 assists.
Wizards turned the ball over 17 points which Houston converted for 21 points.
Washington was unable to stop the Rockets on the perimeter in the first half. However, the Wizards didn’t attack the basket to go inside, and tried to play Houston’s game by taking outside shots.
The three-guard lineup of Wall, Tomas Satoransky and Beal has got to go. Sato deserves meaningful minutes because he’s a huge reason why the Wizards are where they are.
But that’s a weak combination. Especially against a team that was launching threes. The Wizards needed more wings.
Also, Ramon Sessions should have been brought into the game earlier. Just to draw some fouls. However, tonight there was nothing to stop Houston’s offensive flow.