Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka joins The Matt Thomas Show to preview the matchup against the Thunder in Oklahoma City tonight as the Rockets look to extend their win streak to 10 games and move closer to the final spot in the Play-In Tournament.
The win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday was the Rockets' ninth straight victory, their longest winning streak since 2019. "I love the consistency and effort from our guys," Udoka said.
Guard Jalen Green has led this Rockets resurgence, scoring 27 points against the Trail Blazers. "The scoring is always going to be there" for Green, but "I think he's been more well-rounded lately."
Center Jock Landale has stepped up while Alperen Şengün has been recovering from injury, recording 17 points and 9 rebounds in his first start of the season against the Trail Blazers. "It was really about opportunity" for Landale, but "he's taking full advantage of it."
Rookie Amen Thompson has served as a backup guard most of the season, but with Şengün out, Thompson has entered the starting rotation as a forward and has found himself under the basket, fighting for offensive rebounds and positioning himself in the dunker spot. Thompson has "had the ball in his hands his whole life," but he's "finding out different ways to impact the game."
The Rockets have won seven straight games without Şengün, leaving many to wonder if Jalen Green's success can be connected to Şengün's absence from the floor; however, Udoka looks to dispel that notion. "We were playing much faster coming out of the All-Star break," and "our pace was the same with Alpy," so "both [Şengün and Green] can compliment each other very well."
The Rockets are a game back from the Golden State Warriors to earn the final spot in the Play-In Tournament, and Udoka acknowledges the motivation for making the postseason. "Everybody knows what's at stake" and we look to "hold ourselves to a certain standard regardless of the opponent."