Rockets vs. Pacers Post-Game 12/23/21

Rockets Collapse In Indy, Fall to Pacers, 118-106, For Third Straight Loss

Failing to Finish.    Rookie Returns.    Recollection Time.

Jalen Green returned to action for the first time in nearly a month. Houston’s start rookie was so excited to play he lost his shoe in the opening minutes of Thursday’s 118-106 defeat in Indiana. Green scored 20 points in his return, including shooting 6-for-9 from beyond the arc. The Rockets as a team weren’t as stellar. Despite  trailing by 8 points after the first quarter, Houston slowly climbed back in the game,  even managing to hold a 3-point edge entering the final frame. But fatigue came back to haunt the Rockets in the fourth quarter, as the squad managed only 12 points, and were outscored 27-12 by the Pacers. This was the third game in four nights for Houston, and the back-half of a back-to-back. Christian Wood led the way for Houston with 22 points. Jae’Sean Tate supplied 18, and Eric Gordon added 15 in his Indiana return. Alperen Sengun flourished in limited time. Sengun registered 10 points, 8 rebound, 3 assists, 2 steals, and a block in only 20 minutes.

Myles Turner and Caris LeVert fueled Indiana’s comeback. Turned had 32 points and 10 boards for the Pacers, while LeVert supplied 24 points and 11 assists. The short-handed horses had enough in the tank to power past the Rockets in the final quarter, dealing Houston their third straight loss. Garrison Matthews had a quiet night, scoring only 3 points. But Green’s return was enough promise for a Rocket team that’s been screwed by the schedule gods in this first half of the NBA season.

After seemingly playing 15 games over the past 20 days, the Rockets now get three days off to rest over the Christmas break. It’s a much deserved break, as this team has truly had a jammed schedule in the month of December. They’ll return with two more back-to-backs to close the calendar year: Monday and Tuesday, and then New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Green looked very promising in his return. As if he’s finally letting the game slow down and come to him instead of trying to do too much. Houston now is only awaiting the return of Kevin Porter Jr. to be at full strength. Scoot is expected to return sometime soon, maybe even in the Rockets next game, on Monday in Charlotte. If not against the Bee’s, his return should come within the next few games. Porter showed he was much better then first time he came back from his injury, and learned so much from his time on the bench. Hopefully, this will be a Deja Vu experiment for the Rockets, only this time with Scoot remaining healthy. The last thing Houston wants is one of their best players developing an injury history. And if Green’s return showed fans anything, maybe a little time off to recollect oneself is the best thing for some of these young Rocket stars. Houston hopes Scoot returns to action when the team returns from their break on Monday in Charlotte.