Veteran guard Victor Oladipo (34) and rookie forward Jae’Sean Tate (25) each scored season-high point totals, but it wasn’t enough to stop the Houston Rockets from tying a franchise record with 17 consecutive losses in Tuesday’s 119-107 home loss (box score) to Atlanta. For Tate, it represents the most points of his young NBA career.
Yet again, the Rockets (11-27) were severely short-handed, with only the league minimum of eight active players available to play. Among presumed rotation players, the Rockets are without Christian Wood (right ankle sprain), Danuel House Jr. (right knee contusion), John Wall (left knee contusion), Eric Gordon (right groin strain), David Nwaba (right wrist strain), and PJ Tucker (not with team, awaiting a trade).
The Rockets are now 0-17 since Wood’s Feb. 4 injury, which ties the expansion San Diego Rockets from the 1967-68 season for the all-time franchise record. They were 7-1 in the eight previous games.
Nonetheless, as far as losses go, Tuesday’s defeat was of the more positive variety. The Rockets battled back from down 23 to briefly tie the game in the fourth quarter, and Oladipo and Tate each played extremely well. Second-year guard Kevin Porter Jr. had 22 points and 8 assists, and rookie forward KJ Martin added an epic dunk off the bench.
KJ CHOSE VIOLENCE pic.twitter.com/8bKVqkfkRz
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) March 17, 2021
The Hawks (20-20), who won their sixth straight game, were led by Danilo Gallinari’s 29 points. Gallinari hit 10-of-14 shots (71.4%) from the field, including five 3-pointers. Frontcourt mate John Collins added 20 points and 10 rebounds, while Tony Snell scored 15 points and made 5-of-7 (71.4%) from 3-point range. Trae Young had a game-high 14 assists.
The Rockets could have Wood and House back on Wednesday, when they host Golden State on night two of a Toyota Center back-to-back. However, they probably will not have Oladipo, who has yet to play in both ends of a back-to-back this year. In Wednesday’s game, the Rockets are hoping to avoid setting a new franchise mark for consecutive losses.
For now, here’s a sampling of highlights and postgame reaction after Tuesday’s improved showing versus Atlanta.
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