After holding a small lead at halftime, the Rockets faded in the second half in Monday’s 113-91 loss (box score) at Miami. Coming off Sunday’s win at Orlando, it was Houston’s second game of a road back-to-back.
Christian Wood (18 points, 7 rebounds) and Kevin Porter Jr. (18 points) led the weary Rockets in scoring, while veteran guard John Wall returned but shot just 4-of-14 from the field (28.6%). Wall sat out Sunday’s game for planned maintenance during the split back-to-back.
Second-year guard Kendrick Nunn led the Heat (30-27) with 30 points, 8 assists, and 7 rebounds, including 6-of-12 (50%) on 3-pointers. Veteran swingman Andre Iguodala (16 points, 7 assists) hit 4-of-7 shots (57.1%) from 3-point range, and Miami was +38 in his 28 minutes.
As usual, the Rockets were short-handed with six players out, and they were also reeling from the shocking news of Sterling Brown being assaulted. While Brown is expected to fully recover from his facial lacerations, he was with the team in Miami when the attack occurred.
See below for a compilation of highlights and postgame reaction. Houston (15-43) returns to action at home on Wednesday night for a game against the Utah Jazz, with tipoff scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Central.
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Stephen Silas asked if the situation involving Sterling Brown affected the team tonight: “Maybe at the beginning, probably at the beginning, but we snapped out of it…Maybe the emotion of the day caught up to us toward the end. I think we looked tired toward the end of the game” pic.twitter.com/U1kTS3KIZF
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) April 20, 2021
Down 12 early, the Rockets then led by 1 at halftime, but it was all downhill from there. The Heat won the second half 59-36 and ultimately the game 113-91.
— Craig Ackerman (@ca_rockets) April 20, 2021
Stephen Silas says he isn't sure if Sterling Brown will travel back to Houston with the team tonight
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) April 20, 2021
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpeV3hyH_PA