SCOUTING THE ROCKETS
The Rockets’ loss in Madison Square Garden last season snapped a nine-game winning streak against the Knicks in New York. … The Rockets have ranked last in the NBA in offensive rating in their four-game losing streak, averaging 100.3 points per 100 possessions, and in scoring, averaging 98.8 points per game. They have made just 41.1 percent of their shots and 29.8 percent of their 3-pointers in the past four games. … Guard John Wall has made 59.3 percent of his free throws in his past four games. He had made 81 percent in his first 12 games played. … Forward Jae’Sean Tate has scored in double figures in six of the past eight games after scoring at least 10 points just five times in his first 17 games. … Guard Eric Gordon has made 40.7 percent of his 3-pointers in his past 10 games. … Center DeMarcus Cousins is average 13.1 points and 11.9 rebounds in his eight games as a starter.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Denny Hamlin, considered perhaps the best NASCAR driver without a Cup Series championship, can look past that hole on his record. He instead points to a pair of Southern 500 trophies, a Bristol night race victory, three road course wins, six at Pocono and the big daddy of them all, the Daytona 500.
Hamlin has won NASCAR’s crown jewel, the one race that can define a driver’s career, three different times and the last two years. On Sunday, he will attempt to become the first to win three consecutive Daytona 500s, a feat that would forever dull the disappointment of his championship failures.
“This is something that no one’s ever done before,” Hamlin said. “Other guys have won championships, obviously. I would want to do something no one else has done.”
Hamlin is the 8-1 betting favorite but the Daytona 500 can be a crapshoot, particularly in NASCAR’s condensed new schedule forced by the pandemic. Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway for decades spanned nearly two weeks but this year was cut to just six days.
With only three practice sessions and a pair of 150mile qualifying races, there is no clear indication who has cars capable of winning the Daytona 500.
Hendrick Motorsports swept the front row in qualifying with Alex Bowman and William Byron, but Byron crashed in the qualifying race and will fall to the back in a backup car at the start of the 500. Bowman had an engine problem that will cost him the pole if the motor needs to be replaced.
Chase Elliott is the reigning series champion but hasn’t had enough time to show if he’s a contender for his first Daytona 500 victory.
Kevin Harvick is looking to rebound after falling short of the series title in last year’s nine-win season. He tweeted “She’s bad fast” about his Ford, though it was Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Aric Almirola who won the first qualifying race and said his car is strong for Sunday.
Austin Dillon won the second duel, setting him up for a possible second Daytona 500 victory on the 20th anniversary of Dale Earnhardt’s death. Dillon drives Earnhardt’s famed No. 3 on grandfather Richard Childress’ team and understands how emotional a victory would be in that Chevrolet.
“It would be amazing and huge for the company, RCR and all the 3 fans out there,” Dillon said.
Dillon beat Bubba Wallace to win his qualifying race in a dramatic finish that showed Wallace might finally have the equipment he needs to be competitive. Wallace is the only Black racer at NASCAR’s top level and gained a national platform last season for his outspokenness on social justice issues.
He landed multiple sponsors through his activism and Wallace brought that funding to Michael Jordan and Hamlin for the launch of 23XI Racing.
Wallace expects Jordan to demand results.
“He wants winning race cars, he wants a winning race driver and he took an opportunity to invest in me and he has seen something that sparked his interest,” Wallace said. “We’re just going to go out and do what I know how to do, not change up anything, not try too hard because of MJ or because of Denny or because of the opportunity.”