Houston Rockets end 20-game losing streak

Jae'Sean Tate (Twitter)

The Houston Rockets ended their 20-game losing streak on Monday. Jae’Sean Tate of Toledo, Ohio scored a team-high 22 points as the Rockets defeated the Toronto Raptors 117-99.

Prior to Monday, the last time the Rockets won was February 4, when they beat the Memphis Grizzlies 115-103. At the time of the loss, the Rockets had a winning record of 11 wins and 10 losses. According to ESPN, the Rockets set the record for the longest losing streak by a team above .500 at the time of the start of the losing streak, in NBA history.

In every sense of the term, it has been a disastrous season for the Rockets. They are currently at 12 wins and 30 losses. But despite the 20-game losing streak, Houston still does not have the worst record in the NBA. The Minnesota Timberwolves are worse at 10 wins and 33 losses. Like the Rockets, the Detroit Pistons are also at 12 wins and 30 losses.

The Raptors meanwhile have been ice cold themselves lately, as they now have a nine-game losing streak. Toronto has been hit hard by coronavirus as five players, including three starters, missed time because they were on the COVID-19 protocol list. The starters were Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam, and OG Anunoby. In the last two games, the Raptors were outscored by two teams (the Rockets and Cleveland Cavaliers) that are a combined 29 games below .500 by a total of 29 points. The Raptors also lost 116-105 to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday.

The fact that the Rockets are struggling this season is not a huge surprise. Things started to spiral downward for Houston when James Harden requested to be traded, and the Rockets fulfilled his request and moved him to the Brooklyn Nets.

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