HOUSTON — The Houston Rockets have ground the Milwaukee Bucks’ offense to a halt, taking a 42-33 lead into halftime on Thursday night at Toyota Center. The home side leveraged a strong defensive effort and efficient early scoring to build an advantage that Milwaukee could not crack before the break.
The Rockets seized control from the opening tip, racing to a 27-20 lead after the first quarter behind a balanced attack. Rookie guard Reed Sheppard was the catalyst, scoring 10 of his team-high 12 points in the period on sharp shooting. While the pace slowed considerably in a sloppy second quarter, Houston’s defense maintained its grip. The Bucks managed just 13 points in the frame as the Rockets extended their lead, winning the quarter 15-13.
Sheppard leads all scorers at the half with 12 points, adding three assists. Kevin Durant facilitated with seven points and three assists, while Amen Thompson provided energy with six points and four rebounds. For Milwaukee, only two players found consistent offense. Ousmane Dieng paced the Bucks with 12 points, five rebounds, and three assists, while Pete Nance added 10 points. The rest of the roster combined for just 11 points on 5-of-25 shooting, a primary reason for the nine-point deficit.
The Bucks must solve Houston's defensive schemes and find supplementary scoring to mount a comeback. The Rockets will aim to maintain their defensive intensity and find more offensive rhythm after a stagnant second quarter.
