Back and forth. Over and over. After a lead then having to come back from a deficit, the final six minutes of the Rockets-Celtics game had a playoff atmosphere, but it was the Rockets that came out on top in Boston 114-112 thanks to a floater by Amen Thompson with 0.7 seconds left.
It was yet another example of how the Rockets, at 31-14 and second best in the Western Conference, are one of the best and most surprising teams in the entire NBA.
Dillon Brooks, as was pointed out in the postgame show, likes to say, “Sometimes you. Sometimes me. Always us.” It is a perfect encapsulation of Coach Ime Udoka’s approach to basketball. While Thompson is an emerging do-everything talent, Jalen Green is a hot streak waiting to happen, and Alperen Sengun is one of the league’s best big men, there are no real stars and that is just fine with them.
On Monday, Brooks pitched in with a franchise-tying 10 three pointers made to go with Thompson’s career high 33 points on a night when Green, Sengun and Fred VanVleet combined for just 30 between them.
This win against the defending champions comes against the backdrop of a pair of wins against the Eastern Conference’s best team, Cleveland. The Rockets are the only team this season to hand losses to both the Cavs and the Thunder, teams with 17 losses between them.
The two wins against Cleveland and one at Boston mark one of the best stretches for the Rockets in the last half decade. And it has come without starting forward Jabari Smith, Jr., who remains out with a broken hand for at least another month.
Sometimes you. Sometimes me. Always us.
This is how the Rockets are winning and it has led to the third best record in the NBA. Stars or no stars, this is one of the best teams in basketball.
