Cavs vs Rockets:
When: 8:00pm et Wednesday, January 22, 2025
Where: Toyota Center, Houston, Texas
The Detroit Pistons clamped down on the Houston Rockets’ offense Monday night, making the NBA’s announcement of Jalen Green as the Western Conference Player of the Week during the game feel like rough timing. Green struggled mightily, hitting just 8-of-21 from the field, finishing with 19 points, five turnovers, and little impact in a 107-96 loss that snapped Houston’s six-of-seven-game winning streak.
Now, the Rockets will try to rebound on Wednesday when they host a scrappy Cleveland Cavaliers squad.
Green earned the Player of the Week nod thanks to a blistering four-game stretch where he averaged 32.5 points on 60.6% shooting, knocked down 25-of-26 free throws, and joined Damian Lillard as the only players in history with five consecutive games of 25+ points, four threes, and 50%+ shooting from the field and deep. But Detroit wasn’t impressed, blitzing him relentlessly and forcing Houston out of sync offensively.
“That was part of their scheme,” Rockets coach Ime Udoka admitted. “Teams are targeting him, and we’ve got to be stronger against the blitz. Normally, we make teams pay, but we didn’t do that this time.”
Meanwhile, Cleveland is riding high after dismantling the Phoenix Suns 118-92 on Monday, despite being without Evan Mobley (calf) and Caris LeVert (wrist). The Cavs dominated the possession game, grabbing 15 offensive rebounds and forcing 17 turnovers, leading to a massive 18-shot advantage.
Donovan Mitchell poured in 33 points and continues to lead the Cavs with 23.3 PPG. Head coach Kenny Atkinson emphasized the team’s recent focus on winning the possession battle, a strategy that’s paying dividends even with key players sidelined.
“When we face elite teams, we can’t afford to give them extra possessions,” Atkinson said. “We’re drilling that into the guys’ heads, and it’s becoming a big part of our identity.”
Betting Outlook:
Rockets: Will they regroup at home? Houston has been solid recently but looked disjointed against Detroit’s defensive schemes.
Cavaliers: Even without Mobley, Cleveland’s depth and defensive intensity make them a tough out. Their ability to win on the glass and force turnovers could be a difference-maker here.
Keep an eye on Jalen Green’s bounce-back performance and whether the Rockets can adjust to defensive pressure. On the other side, Cleveland’s ability to dominate possessions could swing this matchup.
