Kevin Porter Jr. battles Kyrie Irving as Rockets fade late versus Nets
Promising second-year guard Kevin Porter Jr. had a team-high 20 points (56.3% FG) and 6 assists, but the Houston Rockets lost Wednesday’s game to Kyrie Irving and host Brooklyn, 120-108 (box score). The star-studded Nets (33-15) have now won 19 of their last 22 games.
Houston raced out to a 24-6 lead in the game’s opening minutes and scored 42 points in the first quarter, but the Nets seized control as the game moved forward. Irving led the way with a game-high 32 points and 12 assists, while former Houston star James Harden added 17 points before leaving early with right hamstring tightness. Brooklyn sharpshooter Joe Harris scored 28, with seven made 3-pointers (58.3%).
Star center Christian Wood had 14 points and 8 rebounds for the Rockets, but he shot a disappointing 4-of-12 (33.3%) and had three turnovers. Danuel House Jr. scored 18 and hit 4-of-8 from 3-point range (50.0%), while veteran reserves Kelly Olynyk and DJ Augustin added 14 and 11 points, respectively. Usual starting point guard John Wall did not play due to a left knee injury, and his return timetable is unclear.
Houston’s offense increasingly struggled throughout the game as Brooklyn transitioned to more switching on defense, which head coach Stephen Silas made clear in his postgame comments (see below).
The Rockets (13-34) return to action on Friday night in Boston. For now, here’s a look at highlights and postgame reaction from Brooklyn.
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FINAL: Nets 120, Rockets 108. If you're pro-tank/draft, you get the best of both worlds tonight. Rockets lose but were incredibly competitive against a top team. There were a lot of promising highlights from Kevin Porter Jr. (20 points).
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) April 1, 2021
Stephen Silas on how the Rockets' offense can become more consistent: "Having the same group on the floor for more than one game at a time."
— Coty M. Davis (@CotyDavis_24) April 1, 2021
Stephen Silas: "We were moving the ball, it was easy offense for us early in the game. I don't know what our assist total was first half compared to second half, but I assume it was a lot better in the first half than it was in the second half…" pic.twitter.com/FQCmggbh5x
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) April 1, 2021
Silas: "We were tied together for 40 minutes of the game and that last eight minutes or so we just, I wouldn't necessarily say let go of the rope but we weren't as tight and in the fourth quarter that's when you become even closer and more tied together…" pic.twitter.com/jSJ7aleDXD
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) April 1, 2021
Silas on Kevin Porter Jr: "I thought he was really good. Controlled the game, made plays for others. He's so big, he has an interesting knack for, of when he gets to the hoop, hanging and finishing and getting in there and making plays. He was definitely good." pic.twitter.com/a9fUlfPlOG
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) April 1, 2021
Christian Wood: "I feel like I played terrible in the fourth quarter. This loss is on me." Wood says he will be better than this.
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) April 1, 2021
Christian Wood says the loss is on him and he should have commanded the ball more in the fourth, especially when Brooklyn switched.
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIkoNBA) April 1, 2021
Christian Wood: "If I want to be that franchise guy I know I can be. I have to be better in the fourth quarter…This loss is on me."
— Coty M. Davis (@CotyDavis_24) April 1, 2021
