HOUSTON — With 20 points in 35 minutes, including a team-high 9 assists and five 3-pointers (in 11 attempts, at 45.5%), Kevin Porter Jr. continued his strong run in Tuesday’s upset victory in the young Rockets home finale against first-place Denver.
But for the fourth-year guard, who turns 23 years old next month, perhaps his biggest assist came while not in the game.
Porter was at the scorer’s table midway through the fourth quarter, ready to replace second-year guard Josh Christopher, who had 10 points and 3 steals on 4-of-8 shooting (50.0%) in 18 minutes.
But Christopher’s energy was infectious for the Rockets, who were starting to pull away. Porter went to head coach Stephen Silas and offered to stay on the sidelines to milk the hot hand. In postgame comments, here’s how Silas says it all went down:
Josh was playing well, and he had been in for eight or nine straight minutes, and I was going to take him out. Scoot was like, ‘You want to let him ride?’ I was like, ‘Yeah, if you’re good, I’m good.’ He was like, ‘Let him ride.’ I was going to take him out, again, and Scoot was like, ‘Nah, leave him in.’
That shows maturity, from Scoot. That is big-time maturity, growth, caring about his brother, caring about his team, helping his coach. … All of those things, he showed in that moment. It’s game 80, and we haven’t won as many games [20-60] as I’d like. But moments like that are a coach’s dream.
As Houston’s 2022-23 season enters its final days, it was an encouraging display of leadership by the team’s starting point guard.
Scroll on for highlights, reaction and video interviews.
Silas on KPJ’s gesture to Christopher: “Moments like that are a coach’s dream.” #Rockets pic.twitter.com/awywJjxNwo
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) April 5, 2023
Happy exit off the Toyota Center floor for Kevin Porter Jr. and the Rockets.
Houston wins the home finale 124-103. pic.twitter.com/1Hy1lJG7dW
— Michael Shapiro (@mshap2) April 5, 2023
Josh Christopher with a massive fourth quarter, and Silas is letting him stay in after previously having KPJ at the scorer's table. KPJ standing and cheering him on from the bench.
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) April 5, 2023
Kevin Porter Jr.: “Our record doesn’t show the growth that we’ve made as a team. This team has been making strides. If you watch, the eye test will tell you that we definitely are one of those fun, entertaining, young, high-flying teams that you’ll have fun watching.” https://t.co/Ys7Xlv2gR3
— Alykhan Bijani (@Rockets_Insider) March 31, 2023
Kevin Porter Jr. in his last 5 games:
20 PTS | 5/11 3PT
20 PTS | 6/10 3PT
33 PTS | 7/13 3PT
31 PTS | 4/10 3PT
26 PTS | 3/7 3PT26 PPG | 25/51 3PT 🔥🔥🔥
That’s the most threes he’s ever made in a 5 game span in his career. pic.twitter.com/60BOvSUrbh
— Bradeaux (@BradeauxNBA) April 5, 2023
Kevin Porter Jr. with back to back to back threes! 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/0ZxUyJ4zhF
— V̷a̷t̷o̷r̷ (@Vator_H_Town) April 5, 2023
Stephen Silas said Kevin Porter Jr told him to not sub him in for Josh Christopher because he was playing well. In his words, “Let him ride.”
Love this KPJ.
— 𝓝𝔂𝔁 (@NyxRockets) April 5, 2023
It was super cool to see. The team called a timeout and Josh was starting to wander and stand over Silas who was sitting and drawing a play for the players and KPJ went, grabbed Gup, and sat him down in front of coach to see the play that was being drawn up. KPJ rocks.
— Pat LN (@Patrickln) April 5, 2023
