Rockets Storm Past Thunder, 102-89, for Third Straight Win
Career Night. Franklin’s Finest. Finding Rhythm.
How rapidly a scenario can evolve with a quick return home. The Rockets put on a stellar show during their return to Houston. The squad closed their three-game home stand with a perfect 3-0 record after their victory over the Thunder, 102-89, on Monday night. It was one of the more comfortable wins of the season, as Houston controlled the game from the opening tip.
Christian Wood continued to play at all All-Star caliber level, and recorded yet another monstrous double-double. Wood scored 24 points, grabbed a career-high 21 boards, and also blocked 3 shots for good measure. It was also a career night for Kevin Porter Jr., who has transformed into a more patient and consistent player since returning from injury. Scoot, with the help of some teammates late in the game, recorded his first career triple-double. KPJ finished with 11 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 dimes on the night. On a night when the Rockets’ leading distributor couldn’t find his shooting rhythm, Porter Jr. still found ways to make a huge impact on the game. Jae’ Sean Tate remains Houston’s rock of efficiency. Tate registered 15 points, 6 boards, and 8 assists, and the usual level of hustle he brings to every matchup. And Aleperen Sengun, who seems to have the “Wow” moment of the night every game for the Rockets, once again flourished in limited minutes. Sengun only played 17 minutes of action, but the Turkish rookie still made his impact felt on the opposition. Sengun suppled 4 points, 3 boards, 4 dimes, and 1 steal. He also had arguably the play of the game, a monstrous posterizing dunk, showcasing his athletic ability. And then there’s Garrison Matthews, suddenly, and seeming out of nowhere, is making a name for himself and carving out a permanent role on this team. Matthews scored 19 points in another efficient shooting night as he’s proving to be one of Houston’s most lethal shooters from deep.
A few weeks ago, Matthews didn’t have an NBA job. Most people had never heard of the guy. Matthews was born in Franklin, Tennessee, and attended Lipscomb University in Nashville. Now, he’s shown he deserves to be a permanent part of the Rockets’ rotation. In each of the last three games, Matthews has seen more than 20 minutes of court action. And Franklin’s Finest has made the most of that playing time. Matthews has scored 51 points on 57% shooting from the floor, including a scoring 50% from beyond the arc. Houston always needs reliable three-point shooters, and Matthews has become one their most reliable. His defense can’t be overlooked either. Mathews is one of the best in the NBA at taking charges, and his hustle and effort rivals that of the Rockets Energizer Bunny himself, Jae’Sean Tate. Houston’s found a real gem in Matthews, who played on the squad’s G-League team earlier this season before coming up to the professional level. It will be interesting to see the effect Jalen Green’s return will have on Matthews. Hopefully, it won’t affect the performance from Franklin’s Finest. Matthews has been one of the main reasons the Rockets are riding a three-game winning streak.
After losing 15 straight games, Houston has now won 3 consecutive matches. The Rockets hope their momentum travels with them, as they make a quick pit-stop on the road in Oklahoma City in their next game. It’ll be the final game against the Thunder this season for Houston. And then the Rockets return home for four more games. The squad is now 4-5 at home, but have yet to win on the road, where they’re a dismal 0-11. Houston is finding rhythm at the right time, and have now beaten this Thunder team twice by double-digits. A road game in the NBA’s a completely different beast than a home contest, but the Rockets have a solid chance to finally end their losing skid on the road. Up next, these two teams will close out their season series Wednesday night in Oklahoma City… where the Rockets will look to continue evolving on the right path.