Quick Recap: Houston Rockets 98, New Jersey Nets 93

The Nets lost another heartbreaker at home tonight, falling to the Houston Rockets 98-93.

  • This was a fun game, and the Nets were able to to use a great defensive third quarter where they held the Rockets to 13 points to get themselves back into this game headed into the home stretch. They exchanged the lead a few times in the fourth, but Yi Jianlian and Keyon Dooling both missed threes in the closing minute, while Aaron Brooks made a clutch layup and four three throws to ice the game for Houston.
  • In his first start since early November, Yi didn’t have the touch he had on Wednesday night against Minnesota, but was aggressive to the hoop all game, and finished with 17 points and 6 rebounds on 6-13 shooting. However, Yi’s last two points may have been the turning point for the Nets, as he hung on the rim after the dunk, earning an ill-timed technical from the refs.
  • The biggest flaw for the Nets all evening was their rebounding. They allowed a team without a legit center to grab 16 offensive rebounds, and 51 for the game.
  • Brook Lopez have another double-double, 17 points, 11 rebounds (and 3 blocks), but only scored 4 points in the second half.
  • Keyon Dooling provided another boost off the bench with 11 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists. He nailed a three down the stretch to tie the game at 91, but the Nets were never able to get over the hump.
  • Carly Landry went for 26 points and 9 rebounds off the bench for Houston, to lead all scorers.
  • Devin Harris had 19 points, but needed 22 shots to do it.
  • Tracy McGrady was not with the Rockets tonight.