Despite leading by double digits throughout the majority of their opening night contest against the Milwaukee Bucks, the Houston Rockets would manage to falter late down the stretch.
On a glorious evening where the last three NBA MVPs sought to share center stage in opening week action, the Houston Rockets appeared to be on the verge of capturing their first win of the 2019-20 regular season after working to build a solid advantage through three quarters of play.
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Houston, which led by as many as 16 points after the opening half of action, would successfully ignite multiple rallies on offense and govern the pace with the help of Russell Westbrook in his Rockets debut.
Houston also kept a tight rein on the Milwaukee Bucks dynamic attack for most of the affair, as the team that managed to finish with the league’s best record last season appeared to be stuck in the mud for most of the night, while the Rockets remained in total control among their home crowd.
Until the fourth quarter.
In a star-studded affair with his team’s back against the wall, Giannis Antetokounmpo would show why he is regarded as the game’s official top-line act, helping Milwaukee rally back from a double-digit deficit and steal one behind enemy lines.
The reigning MVP posted a game-high 30 points on 11-for-17 shooting from the field en route to recording a triple-double to guide the Bucks to a stunning 117-111 victory over Houston at the Toyota Center.
"“You got to make shots to beat teams like that,” Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni said to reporters shortly after the loss. “They made the big ones, we didn’t.”"
Brook Lopez would knock down a pair of free throws in the latter minutes of regulation prior to a Westbrook layup. Lopez then converted a tough fadeaway shot that would prove to be the official dagger for Milwaukee in the inaugural outing.
Westbrook — who was acquired by Houston in an epic offseason trade with Oklahoma City — led the way for the Rockets with a team-high 24 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists, while James Harden added 19 points and 14 assists in a losing effort.
With that said, here are the three major takeaways from Clutch City’s season opener.