With Friday’s loss in Utah, the Rockets tied their longest losing streak (15 games) since moving to Houston in 1971. If they lose Sunday when Boston visits Toyota Center, a new Houston mark for futility would be set — and they’d be within one game of tying the all-time franchise record of 17 straight losses, set in 1967-68 by the expansion San Diego Rockets.
And yet, for the first time in weeks, there’s a sense of at least guarded optimism. Second-year guard Kevin Porter Jr. (27 points, 8 assists) and rookie forward KJ Martin (15 points, 10 rebounds), who were recalled last week from G League, showed flashes of brilliance Friday — even against a Utah team with the NBA’s best record (28-9). Houston cut Utah’s lead to four in the fourth quarter before running out of steam late.
“He’s played two games with us here and we’re not going to overstate anything, but I think we’ve got something here,” head coach Stephen Silas said of Porter, a first-round pick from the NBA’s 2019 draft. “The way these guys went out there and fought is something we can build on.”
Got the start and put on a show!
🏀 27PTS
🏀 8AST
💯 @Kevinporterjr pic.twitter.com/kAxCiC0kW4— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) March 13, 2021
On paper, the Celtics aren’t nearly as good as the Jazz, and Sunday’s game is in Houston. Those advantages are in strong contrast to Friday’s setting, when the Rockets were on the road and on night two of a back-to-back. Victor Oladipo, who is Houston’s leading scorer among active players, returns after resting Friday for planned maintenance.
The Rockets are hopeful of having even more reinforcements in the very near future, though those won’t arrive in time for Sunday’s game. While Christian Wood (right ankle), John Wall (left knee), and Danuel House Jr. (right knee) are all listed as out for Sunday, Silas believes they could return as early as Tuesday versus Atlanta. The Rockets are 0-14 since Wood’s Feb. 4 injury, all after going 7-1 in the prior eight games.
Those looming returns won’t directly help against the Celtics, but it does provide a sense of light at the end of the tunnel. When that trio returns, the only rotation players who will remain out are Eric Gordon (right groin strain) and PJ Tucker, who isn’t with the team as he awaits a trade.
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Here’s when you should tune in to see Sunday’s game:
- Date: Sunday, March 14
- Time: 7:00 p.m. Central
- TV Channel: AT&T SportsNet Southwest
- Live stream: fuboTV (watch for free in Houston markets)
Probable starting lineups
Houston Rockets (11-25)
- Guard: Kevin Porter Jr.
- Guard: Victor Oladipo
- Forward: Sterling Brown
- Forward: Jae’Sean Tate
- Center: Justin Patton
Boston Celtics (19-18)
- Guard: Kemba Walker
- Guard: Jaylen Brown (All-Star)
- Forward: Jayson Tatum (All-Star)
- Forward: Daniel Theis
- Center: Tristan Thompson
The Celtics are much healthier than the Rockets, listing only reserve guard Romeo Langford (health and safety protocols) on their injury report. Boston also enters with momentum, having won four of their last five games — including impressive wins versus the Los Angeles Clippers and Toronto Raptors. That makes struggling Houston a clear underdog in the first meeting between the teams of the 2020-21 season.
But with Porter and Martin showing flashes, the Rockets at least have hope, as well as a developmental storyline for fans to monitor.
Note: This post first appeared on Rockets Wire. Follow us on Facebook!
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