NBA has a big game tomorrow, with the Nuggets facing off against the Rockets. This will be the second game of a back-to-back for the Nuggets, who just defeated the Mavericks effortlessly today. Their star player, Jokic, only attempted 7 shots, clearly conserving energy, possibly considering another back-to-back game tomorrow. Besides Jokic, only Murray from the Nuggets shot frequently, while Westbrook took 11 shots, Gordon 9, and Porter Jr. 9, indicating they are saving their strength for the decisive battle against the second-ranked Rockets in the West.
The Rockets have been in great form recently, securing a four-game winning streak that has solidified their position as second in the West. Although they are currently unable to catch up with the first-placed Thunder, they are not worried about being overtaken by the Grizzlies, who are two games behind them. During this four-game winning streak, the combination of Jalen Green and Amen Thompson has given fans hope for the Rockets' future backcourt. Jalen Green scored 33, 29, 27, and 42 points respectively, with a shooting percentage of 56.3%. Amen Thompson also had impressive performances, scoring 23 points with 16 rebounds, 20 points with 15 rebounds, 10 points with 7 rebounds and 5 assists, and 19 points with 13 rebounds and 5 blocks!
During the four-game winning streak, Amen Thompson averaged 13 rebounds per game, which is remarkable for a player who started as a guard. He was primarily a guard during his rookie season but has now become a rebounding machine. Since being promoted to the starting lineup, the Rockets have an 8-1 record, demonstrating that Amen can truly activate Jalen Green. Looking at it now, the left-hand fracture suffered by Jabari Smith in training might not necessarily be a bad thing for the Rockets' record and lineup experimentation. It has provided more opportunities for Amen Thompson, who has thrived in the starting lineup. His explosiveness, competitiveness, physical attributes, defensive intensity, and fast-break capabilities are what opponents fear and what Jabari cannot provide.
With the Rockets performing so strongly, is victory assured when they face the Nuggets? Not necessarily, because the Nuggets also have a record that makes the Rockets uneasy: they have played eight back-to-back games this season, winning all eight in the second game! Tomorrow is another second game of a back-to-back, and the Nuggets are well-rested, so it will undoubtedly be a tough battle. The Rockets are not without weaknesses; during their four-game winning streak, their main player Dillon's performance has been average, scoring 5, 11, 5, and 9 points respectively.
The big enemy of the Rockets is here! With the opponent having an 8-0 record in back-to-back games and Amen averaging 13 rebounds, Dillon becomes the X-factor! In these four games, Dillon shot 2 out of 8 against the Lakers, 2 out of 15 against the Grizzlies, and 3 out of 11 in the second game against the Grizzlies, showing inconsistent form. Therefore, as the leader and defensive ace of the Rockets, Dillon will be the X-factor in tomorrow's game. Only if he regains his form and intensifies the game against his Canadian national teammate Murray, who scored 45 points today, will the Rockets have a chance to end the Nuggets' record and continue their winning streak.
