Rockets reaction: Career night by Jae’Sean Tate in OKC sparks fourth straight win
The young Houston Rockets lost two of their best players (Christian Wood and Kevin Porter Jr.) to injury early in Wednesday’s game at Oklahoma City and trailed by double digits with under 8:00 left to play.
Led by a career game from second-year forward Jae’Sean Tate, the Rockets (5-16) somehow found a way to win, anyway, extending their winning streak to four games and counting. The gritty left-hander known best for his defensive contributions finished with an astonishing 32 points (11-of-15 shooting, 73.3%), 10 rebounds, 7 assists, and 5 blocked shots, sparking Houston to a 114-110 come-from-behind victory (box score).
Other statistical standouts from Wednesday’s game included Garrison Mathews (14 points, 4-of-7 on 3-pointers); Armoni Brooks (18 points, 4-of-7 on 3-pointers); and KJ Martin (12 points, 6-of-8 shooting). Veteran big man Daniel Theis, who hadn’t played at all in the previous three games after Houston’s shift to a smaller lineup with Wood at center, came in after Wood’s injury and was ready for the opportunity, grabbing 9 rebounds in 21 minutes. The Rockets were +12 with Theis on the floor.
Houston scored 41 in the fourth quarter to blow past the Thunder (6-15), who were led by 39 points from rising star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Rockets head coach Stephen Silas said postgame that he did not yet have an update on the status of Wood (right ankle sprain) or Kevin Porter Jr. (left thigh contusion), though he noted that Wood was in a walking boot. The Rockets return to action on Friday at Toyota Center, where they will kick off a four-game homestand versus Orlando (5-18). For now, enjoy highlights and postgame reaction from Wednesday’s rally.
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Stephen Silas
Stephen Silas says Christian Wood (right ankle sprain) had a walking boot on after the game, but he doesn't have an update yet.
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) December 2, 2021
Coach Silas says the switch to zone late in the third quarter and throughout the fourth quarter was due to necessity of the players on the court. #Rockets #LightTheFuse
— BIG SARGE MEDIA LLC (@BigSargeSportz) December 2, 2021
Stephen Silas: “We were trying to piece lineups together and started off so poorly and didn’t have the requisite energy to do much and then we just kept fighting and kept battling and at halftime we were like ‘Hey it’s only 7, we’re right here!’.." pic.twitter.com/qeubzWo34e
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) December 2, 2021
Stephen Silas asked about leaning on Jae'Sean Tate in this game:
"I trust him as much as anybody else. He's earned that trust and he deserves it."
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) December 2, 2021
Stephen Silas: "JT was awesome. He was so good."
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) December 2, 2021
Stephen Silas on Jae’Sean Tate: “He was the guy who was playing the hardest from start to finish, and down the stretch we ran that elbow iso for him and he just went through his defender and finished and he really made some huge plays in the 4th quarter, which is what you need.." pic.twitter.com/lWjvWLvkhV
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) December 2, 2021
Jae’Sean Tate
WHAT A NIGHT FOR JAE'SEAN TATE !!!!
TONIGHT VS OKC
🚀 32 PTS
🚀 11-15 FG
🚀 9-10 FG
🚀 10 REB
🚀 7 AST
🚀 5 BLK
🚀 2 STL@cayleighgriffin talked with @o_tate_ after the WIN@HoustonRockets #LightTheFuse #Rockets pic.twitter.com/oH9RY4ZIsx— AT&T SportsNet SW (@ATTSportsNetSW) December 2, 2021
In the four-game winning streak, Jae'Sean Tate has averaged 17.8 points on 60.9 percent shooting with 5.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.3 blocked shots.
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) December 2, 2021
Jae’Sean Tate had a @Stathead search kind of night in the Rockets’ fourth straight W: 32 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists, 5 blocks, 2 steals
List of guys to put up those numbers: pic.twitter.com/JaRmfVAw9g
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) December 2, 2021
Jae’Sean Tate on his career night: “It was just one of those nights I had it going and my teammates kept feeding me the ball.”
— Coty M. Davis (@CotyDavis_24) December 2, 2021
Jae’Sean Tate: “It’s just something we gotta keep building on. We are going to enjoy this tonight, and then get ready for Orlando.”
— Coty M. Davis (@CotyDavis_24) December 2, 2021
Somebody asked Jae'Sean Tate about the numbers on the box score sheet he was handed right as he sat down (presumably because of his huge night) and the first thing he looks at is the total assists for the TEAM and started talking about that.
Amazing mentality.
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) December 2, 2021
Jae’Sean Tate: “Tonight, we just showed fight. It was just one of those nights where I had it going, and my teammates and coach kept feeding me the ball in my spots and just our will and our fight to fight back in it. We were down pretty much the whole game.." pic.twitter.com/TE9bygiOk1
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) December 2, 2021
Armoni Brooks
CASH! 🤑 pic.twitter.com/QTEzYnDzxE
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) December 2, 2021
Armoni Brooks said getting the first road win of the season was a big point of emphasis for the Rockets tonight.
— Coty M. Davis (@CotyDavis_24) December 2, 2021
🏀 @snipabrooks_ bringing the effort in a big W!
📊 18PTS@creditkarma | #MoneyMoveoftheGame pic.twitter.com/UIDrZQXlos— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) December 2, 2021
KJ Martin
KJ MARTIN‼️ pic.twitter.com/yegUXMfVN0
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) December 2, 2021
sheeeeeesh KJ 😯 pic.twitter.com/W0Gtb1tCkr
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) December 2, 2021
Garrison Mathews
Garrison Mathews started the game 0-3 from deep and then made his next 4 in a row to finish 4-7.
He’s now shooting 41.5% (22-53) on the season for the #Rockets
— Roosh (@RooshWilliams) December 2, 2021
𝒍𝒆𝒕 '𝒆𝒎 𝑭𝑳𝒀! pic.twitter.com/M2kWQsSvGM
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) December 2, 2021
Mathews knocks it down from the corner 👌@Toyota | #Rockets pic.twitter.com/A0qK2zrZ9M
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) December 2, 2021
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