Prized rookie Jalen Green entered Friday in a massive slump for the Houston Rockets, averaging just 5.7 points and 1.3 assists in his last three games on 15.0% shooting and 11.8% on 3-pointers.
The good news is that he showed some signs of improvement versus Portland, tallying 17 points and 5 assists while getting to the free-throw line a team-high nine times. The bad news is that it was still not enough to win, with Houston losing to Portland, 125-110 (box score). The Rockets have now lost 10 straight home games at Toyota Center.
Christian Wood led the Rockets with 21 points (52.9% FG), 15 rebounds, and 2 blocks on Friday, while Garrison Mathews matched him for the team’s scoring lead with 21 points on 4-of-8 from 3-point range (50.0%). But outside of Mathews, the Rockets made just 6-of-33 on 3-pointers (18.2%), which was not nearly good enough versus a Trail Blazers squad that hit 17-of-39 from behind the 3-point arc (43.6%).
Portland’s starting backcourt of Anfernee Simons and CJ McCollum combined to score 53 points, including 9-of-18 on 3-pointers (50.0%). That nearly matched Houston’s total of 10 treys as a team. Veteran big man Jusuf Nurkic added 25 points and 13 rebounds on the interior.
KJ Martin scored a season-high 17 points off Houston’s bench on 8-of-11 shooting (72.7%), and the second unit’s energy — sparked by Martin and rookie guard Josh Christopher (11 points, 55.6% FG, 3 assists in 20 minutes) — helped the Rockets close the deficit to as little as four points in the fourth quarter. But they were unable to get over the hump.
Stephen Silas credits the bench unit, led by Josh Christopher and KJ Martin, for giving Houston the boost to get back in this game.
— Salman Ali (@SalmanAliNBA) January 29, 2022
The Rockets were short-handed for the game, with starting point guard Kevin Porter Jr. unavailable due to health and safety protocols.
Houston continues its four-game homestand with a visit from Golden State on Monday night. Until then, scroll on for highlights and postgame reaction following Friday’s busy night at Toyota Center.
