The young and improving Rockets (18-16) continue to stay slightly above .500, and the biggest reason is a lofty record at Toyota Center. Houston is 15-5 in home games and 3-10 on the road in the 2023-24 season.
The bad news, with the longest homestand of the season (seven games) just completed, is the Rockets are setting out on the longest road trip of season: six games against Eastern Conference opponents. It starts Monday in Miami versus Bam Adebayo and the Heat (20-11).
If there’s any consolation, it’s that the home-road trend might finally be evening out. The Rockets went 3-4 on that homestand from late December through early January, but they are actually 3-2 in their last five road games, dating to early December. They’ll look to build on that starting Monday night in Miami.
The Rockets will not have Dillon Brooks (right oblique strain) and Tari Eason (left lower leg soreness) to help defend the Heat, though Miami has a significant absence of its own: Jimmy Butler.
Both Brooks and Eason are traveling with the team on the road trip as they continue being evaluated on a daily basis.
The Rockets (18-16) just capped a stretch where they played 9 of 10 at home and hold a 15-6 record at Toyota Center. They now head east on a 6-game road swing — they're currently 3-10 on the road. On deck:
• Miami
• Chicago
• Detroit
• Boston
• Philadelphia
• New York— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) January 7, 2024