Though sitting three veterans, the Rockets demonstrated that those still playing will...
Houston Rockets forward Kenyon Martin Jr. reacts after his 3-point attempt to tie the game bounced out of the rim, for a 123-120 San Antonio Spurs win, in an NBA basketball game Monday, March 28, 2022, in Houston.Losses could help the Rockets get a better player in the draft. Maybe. Maybe not.
It was not enough. Their last shot to force overtime, a K.J. Martin 3-pointer at the buzzer, hit the rim, started down, came out, went off the backboard and then circled the rim before spinning out, sent the Spurs toat Toyota Center. But on the night the Rockets sat veterans Eric Gordon, Christian Wood and Dennis Schröder, as they likely will throughout the season’s remaining six games, the young players getting the minutes in their place made good use of their time.
“We’re not afraid,” guard Josh Christopher said. “He took that shot with confidence. He knew it was supposed to go in. The ball goes in and out twice on the same shot. You can’t ask for a better shot.” On Monday, the first day with the season-closing, relatively veteran free lineup, Jalen Green played more minutes than he ever has and took 24 shots, more than he has in any game. Kevin Porter Jr. played 36 minutes, putting up 22 shots, his most this season. Christopher played 30 minutes, his second-most of his rookie season and produced 20 points and six assists, three from his career high scoring game and one from his best assist game.
“With the issues we’ve had with turnovers throughout the season, especially at the beginning of the season, them playing together is good.” There are six more games to experiment with lineup combinations. Few can be as interesting when looking ahead as when Green, Porter and Christopher share the floor, especially when Sengun is with them.