Despite being down three starters and facing a perennial playoff team, the young Houston Rockets pulled off a very impressive preseason victory in Friday’s 116-100 win (box score) at Toyota Center over the visiting Raptors. Toronto, a perennial contender in the Eastern Conference, played the vast majority of its rotation players.
Second-year guard Jalen Green (23 points in 25 minutes) and rookie forward Tari Eason (24 points, 8 rebounds, 2 steals in 25 minutes) were the clear standouts as Houston led comfortably for the vast majority of the game. Green shot 7-of-16 overall (43.8%) and made 4-of-9 from 3-point range (44.4%) on Friday, while Eason hit 8-of-15 shots (53.3%) and 2-of-4 on 3-pointers (50.0%).
The Raptors were led in defeat by former All-Star Pascal Siakam, who had 18 points and 6 rebounds in 27 minutes. Reigning Rookie of the Year Scottie Barnes, who beat out Green for the honor in the 2021-22 season, was held to just 2 points on 0-of-5 shooting.
The Rockets were quite short-handed for Friday’s exhibition, as expected, with Jabari Smith Jr. (left ankle sprain), Alperen Sengun (dental procedure), Eric Gordon (rest), and head coach Stephen Silas (health and safety protocols) all out. Smith, Sengun, and Gordon were replaced in the lineup by Jae’Sean Tate, Bruno Fernando, and KJ Martin, while assistant John Lucas took over as acting head coach.
Martin, in particular, was impressive for the Rockets with 13 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists in 27 minutes, shooting 4-of-9 from the field (44.4%) and 2-of-4 on 3-pointers (50.0%).
Scroll on for postgame interviews and analysis. The Rockets (2-0) will resume their preseason schedule on Monday night at Miami, while the Raptors (2-1) will host Chicago on Sunday.
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