BUCKS DEFEAT ROCKETS
Rockets fall to Bucks as Lillard snaps Houston's win streak
Nov 19, 2024, 1:58 pm
Bucks defeat the Rockets, 101-100. Photo by Alex Bierens de Haan/Getty Images.
Damian Lillard hit a driving layup with 3.9 seconds left to give the Milwaukee Bucks a 101-100 victory over Houston that snapped the Rockets’ five-game winning streak Monday night.
Lillard scored 18 points after missing the previous three games while in the concussion protocol.
The Rockets rallied from a 14-point, third-quarter deficit to take the lead early in the fourth quarter and stayed ahead until Lillard’s decisive basket. Giannis Antetokounmpo blocked a shot by Houston's Alperen Sengun with 20 seconds left.
Houston called timeout after Lillard's layup. After the Bucks fouled with 2 seconds left, Houston’s Fred VanVleet tried inbounding the ball to Sengun, who couldn’t catch it cleanly under the basket. VanVleet unsuccessfully tried passing to Jabari Smith Jr. as the horn sounded.
Brook Lopez had 27 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks for Milwaukee. Antetokounmpo had 20 points and 14 rebounds.
VanVleet scored 26 points, Jalen Green 21 and Sengun 18 for Houston.
Takeaways
Rockets: One night after a 143-107 victory at Chicago in which they were one point shy of the NBA’s highest scoring total this season, the Rockets were held to their fewest points of the season.
Bucks: Since a 2-8 start, Milwaukee has won three of four. Lopez briefly went in the locker room after taking a hard fall early in the second quarter, but he returned later that period and delivered one of his best games of the season.
Key moment
The Bucks trailed 100-96 when A.J. Green buried a 3-pointer to cut the margin to one with 1:17 left.
Key stat
Houston shot just 9 of 32 on 3-pointers and had its lowest field-goal percentage (.400) of the season.
Up next
Both teams play Wednesday, with the Rockets hosting Indiana and the Bucks hosting Chicago.
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Even with Nico Collins back, Joe Mixon remained the star of Houston’s offense in a win over the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night.
Mixon had another big game to lead Houston to the 34-10 victory, running for 109 yards and three touchdowns with 44 yards receiving as the Texans (7-4) ended a two-game skid.
Collins helped the Texans to the win with four receptions for 54 yards in his return after missing five games with a hamstring injury.
It was the sixth straight game with at least one touchdown run for Mixon, who is in his first season in Houston after a trade from Cincinnati, which ties a franchise record. He’s had at least 100 yards rushing in six of his eight games this season and his nine rushing touchdowns in the past six games are a franchise record for a six-game span.
“Joe has been amazing,” quarterback C.J. Stroud said. “He’s been somebody who came in, taught guys how to win more … he taught guys what it takes to get to that goal. We are not there yet, but we are taking strides.”
Mixon gave Houston an early lead with a 45-yard touchdown run on the first drive and he made it 14-0 with a 1-yard scamper later in the first quarter. His third score on another 1-yard run extended the lead to 34-10 in the fourth.
“Joe, when he’s on, he’s a force for us,” coach DeMeco Ryans said. “Over 100 yards, three touchdowns, I just really liked the way we just kept churning it in the run game.”
Mixon's performance helped the Texans solve the second-half woes that had plagued them in the past four games. They scored 17 points after halftime Monday after managing just 15 points combined in the second half of the previous four games.
What's working
Mixon has completely transformed Houston’s running game this season. The Texans surpassed the 100-yard rushing mark as a team just seven times last season. Houston averaged just 96.88 yards rushing a game last season and has averaged 137.75 yards rushing in the eight games Mixon has played in this season.
What needs help
Stroud threw for 257 yards Monday night, but did not have a touchdown pass. He has just one touchdown pass with three interceptions in the past three games combined after throwing four with just one interception in the previous three games.
Collins was open on a long pass in the first quarter Monday night, but Stroud overthrew him and it was intercepted on the Dallas 12.
Stock up
DE Derek Barnett had a strip-sack of Cooper Rush in the fourth quarter Monday night. The ball was recovered by Dallas offensive lineman Tyler Guyton, but Jalen Pitre knocked the ball out of his hands and Barnett picked it up and dashed 28 yards for a touchdown.
“Derek Barnett, the play he made really changed the game for us,” Ryans said. “They flipped the momentum and got everybody juiced up on the sideline. It was just a huge play.”
Barnett is the sixth defensive lineman in franchise history to score on a fumble return and the second in the NFL this season after Travon Walker had one for the Jaguars on Nov. 3.
Stock down
LT Laremy Tunsil negated a 77-yard touchdown reception by Collins on the first play of the game Monday after being flagged for being an ineligible man downfield. It was the 14th penalty of the season for Tunsil, which leads the NFL.
Injuries
DE Will Anderson Jr. missed a second straight game with an ankle injury. … T Blake Fisher could return Sunday after missing Monday’s game with a concussion.
Key number
11 — Derek Stingley had an interception Monday night to give Houston 11 interceptions in its past six games.
Next steps
The AFC South-leading Texans return to division play Sunday with a visit from Tennessee (2-8) before a trip to Jacksonville (2-9) on Dec. 1. Houston needs to take care of business against these struggling teams before its bye with a stretch of three games in 10 days against Miami, Kansas City and Baltimore coming after the off week.