The Houston Rockets are making an early statement in the Western Conference, accomplishing something the franchise hasn't done in more than a decade. Houston improved to 5-0 on Wednesday night with a dominant 132-100 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks, becoming the first NBA team to reach five wins this season. The undefeated start is Houston's best since the 2014-15 season and marks just the sixth time in franchise history that the Rockets have opened a season with five consecutive victories.
Fred VanVleet led Houston with 24 points, while Amen Thompson added 23. Kevin Durant contributed 18 points as the Rockets cruised to their largest margin of victory this season. Houston took control in the second quarter, outscoring Milwaukee 34-14 to build a commanding 57-35 halftime advantage.
The Rockets continued their strong offensive performance after halftime, shooting 54.8% from the field and maintaining a comfortable lead throughout the second half. Perhaps most impressive was Houston's ability to dominate without several important contributors. Alperen Sengun, who entered the matchup leading the team with 24.5 points per game, was sidelined with lower back soreness.
Steven Adams also missed the contest with a right calf strain, while Marcus Smart remained out with a left forearm injury. Despite those absences, Houston demonstrated the depth that could make it a serious contender in the Western Conference. VanVleet, who missed the entire previous season recovering from a torn ACL, delivered his strongest performance of the young campaign and continues to look more and more like his old self.
The veteran guard scored 15 consecutive points during the third quarter, helping the Rockets extend their advantage and put the game out of reach. Durant's presence has also added another dimension to Houston's offense, giving the team an established scoring threat alongside its emerging young talent. The combination of veteran leadership, offensive versatility and defensive intensity has helped Houston establish itself as one of the NBA's early standouts.
The Rockets will look to extend their winning streak Friday when they visit the Dallas Mavericks for NBA Cup action. Although five games represent only a small portion of the regular season, Houston has already accomplished something the franchise hasn't achieved in 12 years. Now, the challenge is turning that historic start into sustained success as the Rockets pursue a return to the top of the Western Conference.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
