Jalen Green continues scoring binge as short-handed Rockets fall in Miami
Christian Wood (illness) didn’t play in Miami, but the Rockets kept Monday’s game competitive versus the top team in the Eastern Conference thanks to young guards Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green.
Ultimately, the short-handed Rockets didn’t have enough to win versus the East-leading Heat, as evidenced by the 123-106 final (box score). But there were some promising signs as Houston’s young and rebuilding squad looked to build on Sunday’s stunning home win versus Memphis.
The Rockets trailed by only four points at halftime, but with Houston (16-49) on the second night of a back-to-back in two different cities, the Heat (44-22) gradually pulled away as Monday’s game moved along.
Porter scored a team-high 22 points while making 5-of-11 3-pointers (45.5), while Green added 20 points on 8-of-16 shooting (50.0%) and 4-of-10 on treys (40.0%). For Green, the No. 2 overall pick from a strong 2021 NBA draft, it was his sixth time to score 20+ points in eight games.
Meanwhile, rookie guard Josh Christopher added 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting (54.5%), including 3-of-6 on 3-pointers (50.0%). Fellow first-round rookie Alperen Sengun started in place of Wood (whose illness was not related to COVID-19) and had 13 points and 8 rebounds.
The Heat were led by young guard Tyler Herro, who scored 31 points off the bench on blistering 12-of-18 shooting efficiency (66.7%), including 6-of-9 on 3-pointers (66.7%). Veteran forward Jimmy Butler added 21 points and 7 rebounds for Miami on 7-of-11 shooting (63.6%).
Scroll on for highlights and postgame reaction.
Highlights
FINAL: Rockets 106, Heat 123.
A 13-point first-half lead for the Rockets melted away into a deficit as large as 22 points.
— Danielle Lerner (@danielle_lerner) March 8, 2022
Silas feels like the Rockets ran out of gas in the second half, coming off of last night's game and being so shorthanded.
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) March 8, 2022
Stephen Silas on Christian Wood being a late scratch: “Christian was just sick before the game. He was in the locker room. He had a towel over his head. He was a last-minute scratch. So hopefully it’s nothing big. It’s not COVID-related at all. We’re hoping he gets back soon.”
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) March 8, 2022
Stephen Silas:”We had a really good approach n that 1st quarter,2nd quarter as well.The momentum changed n the game-but as far as the fight,we fought the whole game.I felt like we ran out of gas b/c we were so shorthanded & b/c we had lineups out there we haven’t seen all season”
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) March 8, 2022
Alperen Sengun said he found out right before the game that he was goign to start over Christian Wood, but "nothing changed." Said he was ready.
— Danielle Lerner (@danielle_lerner) March 8, 2022
What’s next
Houston hosts the Los Angeles Lakers (28-36) on Wednesday, which is also when Miami hosts Phoenix (51-13) in a potential 2022 NBA Finals preview. The Suns, however, are missing All-Star guards Chris Paul and Devin Booker for the immediate future due to health issues.
As for the Rockets, it will be LeBron James’ second and final visit to Toyota Center in the 2021-22 season. The Lakers are looking to retain one of the final spots in the West’s play-in tournament for the playoffs.
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