The Rockets took on the Hornets on the road today, their penultimate game of the season. The Hornets have given up and rotated all the main players, but the Rockets are still fully playing.
Despite missing a number of key players, the Hornets performed quite well at home in the first quarter. The starters quickly took the lead, but the shooting percentage on the Rockets' side was not low, and the two sides played inextricably, and the score alternately rose. The Hornets led by just one point at 26-25 at the end of the first quarter.
The two sides rotated lineups early in the second quarter, with the Rockets playing better and the Hornets being overtaken by their opponents when they were muted offense. Porter Jr. played quite well in the quarter, so Sellars was in no hurry to replace other workhorses, and Jabari Smith and Jaylen Green were back on the court with just over 3 minutes left respectively. The Rockets went on a 30-23 win in the single quarter by seven points, leading by six points at halftime, 55-49.
In the second half, the Rockets continued to push for their lead, extending their lead to 11 points at one point, and the Hornets called a timeout. After this timeout they started chasing points, and after a wave of 6-0, the gap narrowed to only 5 points, and Sellars also called out a timeout. After that, the two sides fell into a grue-of-war battle, and the Rockets opened the gap little by little, and Jaylen Green hit a three-pointer before the end of the third quarter, then hit two free throws and two free throws to score five consecutive points, and the Rockets led by 12 points at 85-73 at the end of the third quarter.
At the beginning of the fourth quarter, the court changed abruptly, and the Hornets outside made three arrows raining down, shooting four consecutive shots to play a wave of 14-7 mini-climax, chasing only 5 points, and the Rockets could only call a timeout. After this timeout, Sellars did not replace all the main players and continued to play on the court mixed in the lineup, the Hornets shot down from the field and made turnovers, and the Rockets extended the gap to double digits. However, the good times did not last long, once the lead would not play, after the Hornets chased five points, Smith hit a shot to stop the blood, and the game went into a timeout. In the final moment, the Hornets trailed by only 3 points, and after missing the three-point shot, they fouled Martin Jr., but Martin Jr. missed two free throws, and the Hornets missed a three-point shot again, unfortunately losing.
In the end, the Rockets defeated the Hornets 112-109 to win two straight games. Let's take a look at the specific performance of the players!
Suddenly, Rockets head coach Sellars left class
Before the game, Rockets coach Silas had already confirmed the end of class.
Sellars' three-year contract with the Rockets expires at the end of the season, and according to Yahoo Sports Jake Fischer, sources revealed that the Rockets are not expected to renew Sellars' contract, and that Nass and Scott Brooks are potential candidates for the Rockets' successors.
He coached the Rockets for three seasons and had a 57-177 record.
This season, the Rockets are still in the race for the top spot, firmly occupying the bottom spot in the West. Next season, the Rockets have clear requirements for records, and Sellars is not good enough to allow the team to win as much as possible, so the next lesson is also an inevitable result.
Three things are important for the Rockets this offseason:
1. Re-elect a head coach.
2. Draw the champion and choose the text banyama.
3. Sign back Harden on free agency.
Combined to cut 79+29+15, Rocket Four less to burst the Wasp
In the away win, Porter Jr., Jaylen Green, Smith and Shenjing all played brilliant performances, combining 79 points, 29 rebounds and 15 assists.
21 rebounds hit a new high
Shin Kyung was average on the offensive end, but he was crazy to reap rebounds.
He scored just two points in the first half, grabbing 10 rebounds plus two steals. He played 31 minutes in the game, shooting 4-of-9 from the field, 1-of-1 from three-point range, and had 14 points, 21 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and 1 block.
21 rebounds set a new career high in a single game and was the first time since Capela that a player had at least 14 points, 21 rebounds and 2 steals in a single game.
17 points in the first half, Porter Jr. 26+3+5
Porter Jr. was the Rockets' best player in the first half, shooting 5-of-9 from the field, 6-of-7 from the free-throw line, and scored 17 points plus 2 assists and 1 steal, with a plus-minus of +4.
In the game, he played 38 minutes, shooting 7-of-13 from the field, 2-of-5 from three-point range, 10-of-12 from the free throw line, and recorded 26 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals.
With 18 points in the second half, Jaylen Green continued his firepower
Porter Jr. was powerful in the first half, and Jaylen Green continued his firepower in the second half, scoring 18 points alone.
In this game, he played 39 minutes, shooting 9-of-22 from the field, 3-of-8 from three-point range, 5-of-7 from the free throw line, and recorded 26 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists and 1 steal.
Key defense, Smith is both offensive and defensive
Rockets scout Jabari Smith scored eight points on 4-of-5 shooting in the first quarter.
His two crucial defenses in the final quarter, especially Mikhailyuk's three-point attempt, allowed the Rockets to win.
He played 33 minutes, shooting 6 of 11, 1 of 2 from three-point range, contributing 13 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 3 blocks, with a plus/minus of +6 tied for the highest in the game.