Convenience Big Store: Eight is enough: Rockets finally notch first road win of season

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Eight straight road losses to start the season were enough for the Rockets. They finally broke through away from home Friday night by knocking off the defending NBA champion Nuggets in Denver. The winning formula? It very much resembled what has worked so well at home for Houston this season.

Picked back-to-back in the 2022 draft, cornerbacks Derek Stingley Jr. of the Texans and Sauce Gardner of the Jets bring different paths, personaltities and playing styles as they share a field for the first time Sunday. The Texans will be without tight end Dalton Schultz again Sunday while Will Anderson Jr.'s status is up in the air after missing practice Friday.

Why the Astros saw veteran Victor Caratini as the right complement to new starting catcher Yainer Diaz.

Two more Texas A&M players, seniors Ainias Smith and McKinnley Jackson, are leaving early to declare for the NFL draft. Texas defensive tackle T'VonDre Sweat and coach Steve Sarkisian are among the award winners on the AP All-Big Team.

One Houston-area team is on to the state championship round. Bellville will play for a title for the first time since 1977 after knocking off Wimberley on Friday night. North Shore and Summer Creek will also try to make it to Arlington in their regional finals today.

Stat of the day: 1,851. Days between Rockets victories in Denver. The last one before Friday was a 109-99 win on Nov. 13, 2018. Houston had lost 10 in a row in the Mile High City entering Friday.

Greg Rajan, Texas Sports Nation editor

greg.rajan@houstonchronicle.com

Rockets / NBA

Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet, right, drives against Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 8, 2023, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Photo by: David Zalubowski/Associated Press

Winning formula travels ... for once

The way the Rockets notched their first road win of the season Friday night resembled what has worked so well for them at home so far.

Eight is enough: After eight road losses to start the season, the Rockets picked up their first win away from home by beating the defending NBA champion Nuggets in Denver.
Something foul: Trouble with personal fouls early in road games is a reason the Rockets started 0-8 away from Toyota Center.

Texans / NFL

Cornerbacks Derek Stingley Jr. (left) of the Texans and Sauce Gardner of the Jets, who were picked third and fourth, respectively, in the 2022 draft, will share an NFL field for the first time Sunday.

Photo by: Brett Coomer / Staff Photographer And Adam Hunger / Associated Press

They've got it covered

As their teams prepare to meet this week, the Texans' Derek Stingley Jr. and the Jets' Sauce Gardner, the respective third and fourth overall picks of the 2022 draft, are making life awfully difficult for NFL receivers.

Injury report: Will Anderson Jr.'s status is unclear after missing practice Friday while Dalton Schultz is declared out for the Jets game.
One last time: Next May will bring the seventh and likely final J.J. Watt charity softball game pitting former Texans players against current players.

Astros / MLB

Catcher Victor Caratini (7) as seen during a MLB game between the Milwaukee Brewers and the St. Louis Cardinals on September 21, 2023, at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Mo. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Photo by: Icon Sportswire/Icon Sportswire Via Getty Images

Inside the decision

Why the Astros opted for Victor Caratini as a complement to new starting catcher Yainer Diaz instead of bringing in a mentor type.

College Football

Texas A&M wide receiver Ainias Smith (0) breaks free from a Mississippi State defender for a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)

Photo by: Sam Craft, Associated Press

Two more gone

Texas A&M seniors Ainias Smith and McKinnley Jackson declare for the NFL draft despite having an extra year of eligility if they chose to stasy.

Accolades for Horns: Texas tackle T'Vondre Sweat and coach Steve Sarkisian are among the award winners on the AP All-Big 12 team.

High School Football

Bellville running back DD Murray (5) runs for a 73-yard touchdown during the second half of the Region III-4A Division II championship at Woodforest Bank Stadium, Friday, Dec. 1, 2023, in Shenandoah.

Photo by: Jason Fochtman, Staff Photographer

One win away

Bellville outlasts Wimberley to advance to the Class 4A Division II championship game, the Brahmas' first state final in 46 years.

Changes coming: The University Interscholastic League announced the conference cutoff numbers for 2024-25 and 2025-26, meaning changes for some Houston-area schools next year.

High School Basketball

Clements' Keshav Vijaykumar (10) tries to put up a shot against Fort Bend Travis in the first half of a high school boys basketball game Friday, Dec. 8, 2023 at Fort Bend Travis High School.

Photo by: Kirk Sides/Staff Photographer

Close shave

Divine Ugochukwu's free throws with three seconds left help Clements edge Travis in District 20-6A play and improve to 12-0.

Dickinson girls 77, Dawson 46: Dickinson never trailed in a lopsided non-district win over Dawson.
Boys roundup: A look at Friday's boys basketball highlights and scores from around the Houston area.
Girls roundup: Check out scores and top performers from Friday's girls basketball action.