The Houston Rockets raced out to a 24-6 lead in Wednesday’s road game versus Brooklyn before eventually falling, 120-108 (recap). They led by six points with under eight minutes remaining before going more than four minutes without scoring, seemingly confounded by the switching defense utilized by head coach Steve Nash with the Nets.
Star center Christian Wood had 14 points and 8 rebounds for the Rockets, but he shot just 4-of-12 from the field (33.3%) and turned the ball over three times. In postgame comments, Wood took the blame for what went wrong, and he vowed to get better from the experience.
“The first three quarters, if you look, we played great,” Wood said postgame. “We moved the ball, we attacked switches, we get the post up on the switches. And then, in the fourth quarter we kind of get stagnant and if I want to be that franchise guy, that leader that I know I can be, I have to lead my team in the fourth quarter. I have to be better.”
“Whether it’s commanding the ball or being better on the defensive end, I feel like I played terrible in the fourth quarter,” Wood said. “I feel like this loss is on me. So, I take that one, and I’ll be better next game.”
Christian Wood Jr (@Chriswood_5): “If I want to be that franchise guy, that leader that I know I can be, I have to lead my team in the 4th. I have to be better..Whether it’s commanding the ball, being better on the defensive end, I feel like I played terrible..This loss is on me” pic.twitter.com/meGJbX9Qut
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) April 1, 2021
Wood didn’t play in Houston’s previous two games, missing one with right ankle soreness and the most recent due to illness.
With Wednesday’s result, the Rockets fell to 13-34, while the Nets improved to 33-15. Brooklyn has won 19 of its last 22 games, overall.
“I felt like I only shot the ball three times, I should’ve commanded the ball down the stretch,” Wood said in his postgame interview. “Whether it was when I was setting screens and rolling, and getting Joe Harris or Kyrie [Irving] on me, or whatever that switched little guy was, and passing out of that post-up when they double-teamed, like I did in the first three quarters. I think I have to just do a better job of that.”
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Christian Wood: "Whether it's commanding the ball or being better on the defensive end, I feel like I played terrible in the fourth quarter. I feel like this loss is on me, so I'll take that one and I'll be better next game." pic.twitter.com/DxsuDgs7Ze
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) April 1, 2021
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxmfqJooyXE