Tag: dillon brooks

In 2024-25 and beyond, Dillon Brooks plans return to Memphis-era defense

Dillon Brooks on his defense this season: “I didn’t want to stir the pot, too much. I feel like the NBA restrained me from playing that type of game.”

The competitive juices were flowing for Houston forward Dillon Brooks during Sunday’s agonizing overtime loss at Dallas, which eliminated the Rockets from 2024 postseason contention.

Brooks spent much of the day locked in defensive battles against the Mavericks’ All-Star duo of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.

In postgame comments to reporters, Brooks confirmed the apparent increase in intensity, and he acknowledged there were times this season in which he didn’t defend with his preferred style.

Before signing with the Rockets in the 2023 offseason, Brooks incurred a series of fines and ejections for infractions that occurred during his final months with the Memphis Grizzlies.

As Brooks sees it, that played a role in him being a bit more conservative than he would like during the 2023-24 season.

Here’s what Brooks, who finished with a team-high three steals in Sunday’s game, said postgame to Brian Barefield of Rockets Wire:

I didn’t want to stir the pot too much. I feel like the NBA restrained me from playing that type of game. But I’ve just got to have an “I don’t care” mentality, and just deal with whatever comes with it.

Complete video of Brooks’ comments can be viewed below.

The competitive edge Brooks played with defensively in Dallas may also have fueled a breakout performance on the offensive end. Brooks finished with a season-high 29 points while making 9-of-14 shots (64.3%) and 5-of-6 from 3-point range (83.3%).

The Rockets (38-40) have four games left to play in the 2023-24 season and have an opportunity for a .500 record and a winning season. As part of that last-week push, Brooks is insisting he’ll bring the type of aggressive defense and competitive intensity that will be seen much more frequently in 2024-25 and beyond.

Next for Brooks and the Rockets is Tuesday’s home finale versus Orlando (46-32) with a 7 p.m. Central tipoff from Houston.

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DeMar DeRozan calls out Dillon Brooks after altercation

DeMar DeRozan spoke about his altercation with Dillon Brooks after the Chicago Bulls’ loss to the Houston Rockets.

The Chicago Bulls dropped their game against the Houston Rockets on Thursday night. They were riding a two-game win streak during which they took down some bottom-feeding squads and were looking to keep it going against one of the hottest teams in the NBA. Unfortunately, the Rockets got the best of them.

In the third quarter, Jalen Green blocked DeMar DeRozan, and then on the other end, the Bulls star hit the Rockets youngster with a hard foul. DeRozan got called for a Flagrant 2 for the foul, and immediately afterward, Dillon Brooks walked up to him and created an altercation. He was backing up his teammate.

After the game, DeRozan called out Brooks for walking up on him from behind. (H/t Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times)

“Just walking up on me in any type of way,” DeRozan said. “I don’t play the walking up on somebody when their back is turned. Nah, that’s just not a thing we do. I walked away from the situation after the foul. I just felt like it’s an issue walking up on any man from behind.”

Both DeRozan and Brooks were ejected from the game.

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‘Not backing down’: Ime Udoka proud of Rockets’ physical play, support of teammates

Ime Udoka on Thursday’s Rockets-Bulls scuffle: “They are not backing down. A guy takes a hit, and teammates are going to stand up for each other.”

HOUSTON — Houston Rockets forward Dillon Brooks sent a message to the rest of the NBA before stepping on the Toyota Center court.

“When you come to play Houston, you know it’s going to be a physical battle,” Brooks said in October 2023 as part of his first press conference after signing with the Rockets. “It’s going to be a challenge. When you come play Houston, you know it’s going to be a physical battle. It’s going to be a challenge. It’s not just a walk in the park no more, when you come to Houston.”

With the 2023-24 season in its final month, those words ring as strongly as the day he spoke them. Throughout the season, Brooks and his teammates have put them into action.

Toughness is a character trait that Brooks displayed when he was with the Grizzlies, as he took on Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James in the 2023 NBA playoffs. Though Memphis lost that series, Brooks did not flinch.

In Houston, the unwavering mindset starts with head coach Ime Udoka, who believes his team must fight fire with fire when opponents try to bully them with on-court physicality. That’s what the Bulls tried to do on Thursday in Houston’s 127-117 victory.

With 6:02 remaining in the third quarter, Chicago forward DeMar DeRozan committed an egregious foul against Rockets guard Jalen Green, sending him to the floor grimacing in pain.

As the medical staff rushed to check on him, DeRozan and Brooks got into an altercation, which subsequently led to DeRozan swinging an elbow to Brooks’ chin. That led to an on-court encounter between both teams, with teammates and coaches separating them.

Once the officials reviewed the video footage, they determined that DeRozan’s foul on Green was a flagrant two, and he was ejected from the game. Brooks was given a technical foul and ejected; it was determined by referees that he escalated the situation.

“I didn’t love it being that (Brooks) got elbowed, and he walked over and didn’t say anything crazy,” Udoka said regarding the scuffle. “What they say the rules are is the guy that kind of instigates it, that gets it to that step after DeRozan did what he did … he got (ejected) because of that. Don’t love that he got hit, but if you walk over, that’s basically the rule, and that is how they explained it to me.”

Even though the Rockets lost one of their hottest offensive weapons in Brooks, who scored 23 points in 25 minutes played while playing excellent defense against DeRozan, Houston did not succumb to the Bulls’ rough play. Instead, the Rockets used it as motivation to finish the game and secure their seventh straight win.

“It has been good,” Udoka said when asked about his team playing more physically in recent weeks. “I think we talked about from the start of the season about effort and competitiveness. Not a bad thing to have these types of chippy games. … I don’t mind that part at all.”

“It is good that guys are battling and getting competitive,” Udoka said of his improving team. “We are all playing for something, and they are not backing down. A guy takes a hit, and teammates are going to stand up for each other. You have seen about three or four of those (on-court scuffles), and it is a good thing, in my opinion.”

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Victor Wembanyama: Rockets, Dillon Brooks are the hardest defense

“This is a very aggressive team defensively, so this is the most hard,” Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama said after another loss to the improving Rockets.

The San Antonio Spurs are 0-2 against the Houston Rockets over the past eight days, and it’s been a relative struggle for prized rookie Victor Wembanyama, the French phenom.

While still providing defensive value with his length and versatility, the 7-foot-4 big man has averaged 11.5 points per game while shooting 40.9% from the field. That’s well below his season-long averages of 20.8 points per game on 46.8% shooting.

In postgame comments after Tuesday’s home loss, “Wemby” was asked about the challenges of being defended by Houston and physical defenders such as Dillon Brooks. Per Tom Orsborn of the San Antonio Express-News, Wembanyama responded:

The physicality, the energy. Every night it’s a challenge, but this is a very aggressive team defensively, so this is the most hard.

For Rockets head coach Ime Udoka, who is known for his defensive principles and an emphasis on tough, hard-nosed play, those comments should be music to his ears. Houston (30-35), which ranks seventh in the NBA in defensive rating, has won five of its last six games and four straight on the road.

The Rockets are 5-1 in the month of March, and Brooks’ self-described physical presence versus Wembanyama made a clear difference in two of those five victories.

For the 2023-24 season, Houston finished with three wins in four games against the Spurs. The lone loss came in overtime in October.

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Takeaways: Jalen Green drops 34 points, but Rockets lack support in Phoenix

Jalen Green led the way with 34 points and a season-high seven 3-pointers, but it wasn’t enough to win on the road versus Devin Booker (35 points) and the Suns.

In the first of two straight games in the same building between the same teams, the Rockets couldn’t recapture their home form in Thursday’s 110-105 loss (box score) to the Phoenix Suns. With the loss, Houston (25-34) drops to a woeful 5-24 on the road this season.

Tari Eason remained sidelined with a lower left leg injury, and it appears quite possible that it could end his 2023-24 season. Bradley Beal and Eric Gordon were out with minor injuries for Phoenix.

The Suns lost in Houston last Friday, but led by Devin Booker, it was a very different story in Phoenix (35-24). The All-Star guard finished with a game-high 35 points on Thursday while shooting 13-of-27 from the field (48.1%), including 6-of-11 on 3-pointers (54.5%).

Jalen Green led the way for the Rockets, finishing with a team-high 34 points and 5 rebounds. Green’s shot faded as the game progressed and he shot just 10-of-27 (37.0%), though he did make 7-of-17 from 3-point range (41.2%) and all seven of his free-throw attempts.

But on the offensive end of the court, Green didn’t have enough help, and particularly not from distance. Other notable lines included:

  • Fred VanVleet: 21 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists; 6-of-16 shooting (37.5%), 2-of-8 on 3-pointers (25.0%), 7-of-7 on free throws
  • Jabari Smith Jr.: 11 points, 16 rebounds; 3-of-11 shooting (27.3%), 1-of-6 on 3-pointers (16.7%)
  • Dillon Brooks: 6 points, 8 rebounds; 3-of-11 shooting (27.3%), 0-of-6 on 3-pointers
  • Alperen Sengun: 8 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, 6 fouls, ejected; 3-of-7 shooting (42.9%)
  • Cam Whitmore: 14 points, 8 rebounds; 5-of-14 shooting (35.7%), 0-of-5 on 3-pointers

As a team, the Rockets connected on just 33-of-99 shots (33.3%) and 11-of-45 from 3-point range (24.4%) on Thursday night.

On the positive side, Houston went +12 in 10 minutes with backup center Jock Landale, who tallied 8 points (50% FG) and 6 rebounds.

Here’s our look at Thursday’s highlights and postgame interviews, along with reaction by media members and fans. Saturday’s rematch from Footprint Center is up next, with the tip at 8 p.m. Central.

Takeaways: Jabari Smith Jr. excels, but Chet Holmgren rallies Thunder past Rockets

In a battle of top 2022 draft picks, Jabari Smith Jr. had another 20-15 game, but Chet Holmgren scored 19 points in the fourth quarter and rallied the Thunder to a win.

HOUSTON — In a frontcourt duel between top picks from the 2022 NBA draft, Chet Holmgren of the Thunder and Jabari Smith Jr. of the Rockets put on quite a show Sunday at Toyota Center. But thanks in large part to Holmgren’s fourth-quarter flurry, Oklahoma City (40-17) maintained its position at the top of the Western Conference and rallied to a 123-110 road victory (box score).

Holmgren finished with 29 points, 8 assists, 7 rebounds, and 3 blocks, shooting 11-of-16 from the field (68.8%) and 5-of-8 on 3-pointers (62.5%). For the No. 2 overall pick of the 2022 first round, his 19 fourth-quarter points set a Thunder rookie record (Holmgren is considered a rookie because he sat out last season due to injury).

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, an emerging MVP candidate, led the Thunder in scoring with 36 points while making 13-of-23 shots (56.5%), 2-of-3 on 3-pointers (66.7%), and 8-of-9 on free throws (88.9%).

Yet, the Rockets (25-32) were competitive most of the way thanks to a strong night from Smith, drafted one slot behind Holmgren at No. 3 in 2022. After sparking Houston’s victory Friday over Phoenix, Smith finished with 20 points, 17 rebounds, and 4 assists on Sunday, shooting 6-of-14 overall (42.9%) and 4-of-9 on 3-pointers (44.4%).

Smith has now had consecutive games with 20+ points and 15+ rebounds after not having any in his career before this stretch.

It was a fine statistical game for Smith’s frontcourt mate, Alperen Sengun, who finished with 19 points and 12 rebounds while shooting 6-of-12 (50.0%). However, he also had a game-high 6 turnovers, and many of Sengun’s points and rebounds came late in the fourth quarter — after the game had largely been decided.

Other individual stat lines of note for the Rockets, who raced out to a 16-point lead midway through the second quarter, included:

  • Fred VanVleet: 20 points, 3 assists; 7-of-16 shooting (43.8%), 4-of-10 on 3-pointers (40.0%)
  • Jalen Green: 11 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists; 5-of-13 shooting (38.5%), 1-of-5 on 3-pointers
  • Dillon Brooks: 13 points, 2 assists; 4-of-5 on 3-pointers (80.0%)

It was a mixed bag for Houston’s rookie duo of Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore. Thompson had 6 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 2 steals in 21 minutes while making some spectacular defensive plays. However, he shot just 2-of-10 (20.0%) and scored 6 points in 21 minutes.

Whitmore had 12 points and 3 rebounds while shooting 4-of-9 (44.4%) — but in contrast to Thompson, he struggled on defense.

Here’s our look at Sunday’s highlights and postgame interviews, along with reaction by media members and fans. Next up is Tuesday’s rematch in Oklahoma City, with tipoff at 9:00 p.m. Central.

Takeaways: In loss to Pelicans, Rockets bullied inside by Zion Williamson, Jonas Valanciunas

Zion Williamson and Jonas Valanciunas combined for 47 points, 17 rebounds, and 13 assists on 64% shooting as New Orleans bullied Houston in Thursday’s blowout loss.

In their first game coming out of the NBA’s 2024 All-Star break, the Rockets (24-31) continued their road misery with Thursday’s 127-105 loss (box score) in New Orleans. Houston is 5-22 away from home this season and has lost six of its last seven, overall, while the Pelicans (34-22) won for the eighth time in nine games.

Houston’s frontcourt of Alperen Sengun, Dillon Brooks and Jabari Smith Jr. struggled to offer much resistance against the bruising, physical front line of Jonas Valanciunas and Zion Williamson.

Key statistics for the Pelicans included:

  • Valanciunas: 20 points, 14 rebounds in 27 minutes; 9-of-12 shooting (75%), 2-of-2 on 3-pointers
  • Williamson: 27 points, 10 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals in 35 minutes; 12-of-21 shooting (57.1%)
  • C.J. McCollum: 28 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists in 31 minutes; 11-of-22 shooting (50%), 4-of-10 on 3-pointers (40%)

Alperen Sengun led the Rockets with 20 points and 9 rebounds while shooting 6-of-9 from the field (66.7%). However, many of those statistics were tallied in the second half of a blowout, and his defense against Valanciunas left much to be desired.

On the perimeter, it was another subpar shooting night for Jalen Green, who finished with 10 points in 24 minutes while shooting 3-of-14 from the field (21.4%) and 2-of-8 on 3-pointers (25%).

Rookie guard Amen Thompson was the bright spot for Houston, finishing with a career-high 22 points on 9-of-13 shooting (69.2%) and 1-of-3 from 3-point range (33.3%). The athletic 6-foot-7 reserve also stuffed the stat sheet with 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 blocks.

Tari Eason (left lower leg injury management) remained sidelined for the Rockets, who have not seen their versatile second-year forward play since Jan. 1. Houston is 12-10 with Eason this season and 12-21 without him. Brandon Ingram (illness) was out for the Pelicans.

Here’s our look at Thursday’s highlights and postgame interviews, along with reaction by media members and fans. Fortunately for the Rockets, next up is Friday’s game versus Phoenix at Toyota Center, where Houston is 19-9 this season. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. Central.

Amen Thompson electric, but Rockets continue road misery in Memphis

Rookie guard Amen Thompson (19 points, 12 rebounds, 53% FG) was outstanding, but Houston’s road misery continued versus lowly Memphis.

In their final game before the NBA’s 2024 All-Star break, the Rockets (24-30) continued their road misery with Wednesday’s 121-113 loss (box score) to the Grizzlies (19-36). Houston is 5-21 away from home this season, with the latest humiliation coming versus a lowly Memphis squad that had lost nine straight games going in.

Houston enters the break 12th in the Western Conference standings, 3 games behind Golden State in 10th, what would be the final berth of the 2024 play-in tournament.

Both teams were short-handed on Wednesday, with Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Marcus Smart and Brandon Clarke among the rotation players absent for Memphis. Those unavailable for the Rockets included Fred VanVleet, Tari Eason and Cam Whitmore.

Starting for VanVleet, rookie guard Amen Thompson was a bright spot for the Rockets, finishing with 19 points and 12 rebounds while shooting 9-of-17 from the field (52.9%). But backcourt mate Jalen Green was a disaster, finishing with just 4 points and 3 assists in 23 minutes while shooting 2-of-7 overall (28.6%), 0-of-4 from 3-point range, and not earning a single fourth-quarter minute.

Granted, Green was far from alone in his shooting struggles. Starting forwards Dillon Brooks and Jabari Smith Jr. combined to shoot just 8-of-30 overall (26.7%) and 2-of-16 on 3-pointers (12.5%).

Alperen Sengun tallied 19 points (50% FG), 6 assists and 5 rebounds. Aaron Holiday added 19 points off the bench while making 5-of-8 from 3-point range (62.5%). Houston connected on 11-of-36 from beyond the 3-point arc as a team (30.6%), and without Holiday, that dipped to a woeful 6-of-28 from distance (21.4%).

Memphis raced to a 23-point lead midway through the first half before a furious Houston rally in the middle portions of the game gave the Rockets a two-point lead early in the fourth. But Houston couldn’t sustain that momentum, and in a familiar theme from recent weeks, the frantic rally wasn’t enough to get over the final hump.

Rookie forward GG Jackson led the Grizzlies with 20 points and 9 rebounds in only 24 minutes off the bench, making 8-of-15 shots (53.3%) and 3-of-5 from 3-point range (60%). Jaren Jackson Jr. added 18 points in 27 minutes on 3-of-6 shooting from 3-point range (50%), including a pair of big triples in the fourth to stem the tide.

Here’s our look at Wednesday’s highlights and postgame interviews, along with reaction by media members and fans. After the All-Star break, the Rockets return to action on Feb. 22 in New Orleans. Tipoff versus the Pelicans is at 7 p.m. Central.

Reaction: Rockets beat Knicks before buzzer as Aaron Holiday erupts late

Aaron Holiday scored 11 clutch fourth-quarter points versus the Knicks, including the winning free throws with 0.3 seconds left, as Houston ended its losing streak.

HOUSTON — In their penultimate game before the NBA’s 2024 All-Star break, the Rockets (24-29) snapped a four-game losing streak with Monday’s dramatic 105-103 home win (box score) over the Knicks (33-21). Aaron Holiday, who scored 11 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter, hit two tiebreaking free throws with 0.3 seconds left after a controversial foul was called on New York’s Jalen Brunson.

Both teams were short-handed, with the Knicks missing Julius Randle, OG Anunoby, and Isaiah Hartenstein due to injury while Houston was without Fred VanVleet, Tari Eason, and Cam Whitmore.

Brunson led the Knicks with 27 points and 7 assists, though his tying jumper with 8.3 seconds left was offset by his foul of Holiday.

It was a balanced effort for the Rockets, who were led by the best 3-point shooting night of the season from Dillon Brooks.

Key stat lines included:

  • Dillon Brooks: 23 points, 5 rebounds; 8-of-15 shooting (53.3%), 6-of-7 on 3-pointers (85.7%)
  • Jabari Smith Jr.: 20 points, 7 rebounds; 6-of-13 shooting (46.2%), 2-of-6 on 3-pointers (33.3%)
  • Alperen Sengun: 18 points, 6 assists, 3 blocks, 3 reboundsl 6-of-10 shooting (60.0%)
  • Jalen Green: 16 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists; 4-of-15 shooting (26.7%), 0-of-6 on 3-pointers, 8-of-9 on free throws (88.9%)
  • Amen Thompson: 8 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 steals; 4-of-5 shooting (80.0%)
  • Aaron Holiday: 18 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds; 7-of-14 shooting (50.0%), 2-of-6 on 3-pointers (33.3%)

In a game where the Rockets were out-rebounded by the larger Knicks, 51-39, the gritty defensive contributions by the likes of Holiday, Thompson, and Brooks were critical to Houston holding on.

Here’s our look at Monday’s highlights and postgame interviews, along with reaction by media members and fans. Next up for the Rockets is Wednesday’s game at Memphis (18-35), where tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. Central. That will be the final game before a hiatus of more than a week for the NBA’s 2024 All-Star Weekend.

Jalen Green soars to first career triple-double as Hawks clip short-handed Rockets

Jalen Green (26 points, 14 rebounds, 10 assists) had his first career triple-double, but Houston’s short-handed squad couldn’t complete a rally in Atlanta.

In the finale of a frustrating four-game road trip, the short-handed Rockets led by 12 after the first quarter before running out of steam in Saturday’s 122-113 loss (box score) at Atlanta. Dejounte Murray returned from a two-game injury absence and led the Hawks (24-29) with an efficient 34 points, including 12-of-15 on free throws (80%).

As their Western Conference play-in tournament odds continue to fade, the Rockets (23-29) suffered their first four-game losing streak and are 5-20 away from home all season. In a familiar development, Houston’s late comeback bid couldn’t get over the hump despite closing the gap to five points with just over a minute left.

The Rockets, who were on the second night of a road back-to-back after losing Friday in Toronto, were down four key players due to injury: Alperen Sengun (lower back pain), Fred VanVleet (left adductor strain), Tari Eason (left lower leg injury management) and Cam Whitmore (right ankle sprain). The status of those players for the next game, Monday at home versus New York, is not clear.

Given those absences, several of the remaining Rockets stepped into larger roles and fared well offensively. Standouts included:

  • Jalen Green: 26 points, 14 rebounds, 10 assists, 5 turnovers; 10-of-22 shooting (45.5%), 2-of-9 on 3-pointers (22.2%)
  • Jeff Green: 19 points, 6 rebounds, 5 turnovers; 6-of-10 shooting (60.0%), 4-of-7 on 3-pointers (57.1%)
  • Amen Thompson: 12 points, 11 rebounds, 2 steals; 6-of-10 shooting (60%)
  • Dillon Brooks: 14 points; 5-of-19 shooting (26.3%), 2-of-10 on 3-pointers (20%)
  • Jabari Smith Jr.: 9 points, 11 rebounds, 5 blocks, 4 steals; 4-of-15 shooting (26.7%), 1-of-7 on 3-pointers (14.3%)
  • Aaron Holiday: 18 points, 2 assists in 22 minutes; 7-of-10 shooting, 3-of-5 on 3-pointers (60%)
  • Jock Landale: Season-high 9 rebounds in 13 minutes

However, Houston often struggled to get defensive stops versus Murray and Trae Young’s high-octane Hawks. After holding Atlanta to 19 points in the first quarter, the Rockets lost intensity as the game progressed, allowing 38 points in each of the next two quarters.

Here’s our look at Saturday’s highlights and postgame interviews from Atlanta, along with reaction by media members and fans. With the road trip complete, next up for the Rockets is Monday’s game versus the Knicks (33-19), with the tip set for 7 p.m. Central.