The Rockets (17-53) blew a 12-point lead in the fourth quarter as the visiting Indiana Pacers (24-47) rallied to a 121-118 victory (box score) on Friday night at Toyota Center. For Houston, it was a fourth straight loss, and it maintains their spot with the NBA’s worst record.
Christian Wood led the way with a game-high 32 points on 11-of-14 shooting (78.6%), including 4-of-6 on 3-pointers (66.7%). Houston’s big man also collected a team-high 13 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks in his 34 minutes. Nonetheless, the Rockets were outscored in the fourth quarter, 38-23, as Indiana sent Houston to a dispiriting home loss.
Veteran guard Malcolm Brogdon led the Pacers with 25 points on 11-of-19 shooting (57.9%), while starting center Goga Bitadze had 23 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 steals on perfect 9-of-9 shooting.
Rookie guard Jalen Green had 20 points and 6 assists for the Rockets, including several key plays late in the fourth quarter to give Houston a chance to win. But with the Rockets down two in the closing seconds, it was Kevin Porter Jr. (19 points, 4 assists) who took the final shot on an isolation play. Neither Wood nor Green, who led the Rockets in scoring and had the playmaking burden for much of Friday’s game, touched the basketball on the decisive possession at Toyota Center.
Rookie big man Alperen Sengun had 15 points and 4 rebounds in 21 minutes off Houston’s bench on Friday night.
Scroll on for highlights and postgame reaction.
Or, don’t let your franchise player touch the basketball in a 2-point game in the closing seconds. 🤷♂️ https://t.co/cRXlnE9ocQ
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) March 19, 2022
