In their final road game of the 2021-22 season, the Houston Rockets will make their first and only international trip when they visit the Toronto Raptors at Canada’s Scotiabank Arena on Friday night.
The young and rebuilding Rockets haven’t won since shifting to a rest plan for veterans Christian Wood, Eric Gordon, and Dennis Schroder, and they now have the league’s worst record — and the No. 1 positioning slot entering the 2022 NBA draft lottery — all to themselves.
But there’s still plenty to watch for, from a development perspective. Young guards Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green combined for 66 points on efficient shooting in Tuesday’s loss at Brooklyn, and Green is on a historic rookie streak with five straight games of 30+ points. If the 20-year-old, drafted at No. 2 overall in the 2021 first round, does it again Friday, he would tie Allen Iverson (1997) for the modern rookie record.
Meanwhile, Pascal Siakam and the host Raptors are working to secure the No. 5 seed in the tightly bunched Eastern Conference standings. Toronto also starts its own highly touted rookie in Scottie Barnes, who will likely join Green on a loaded All-Rookie First Team for the 2021 draft class.
Set aside the Rookie of the Year debate for a moment to appreciate the 2021 class.
“There’s a really good chance this goes down as one of the great rookie classes ever.”@johnhollinger has more: https://t.co/20jQTa5rgx pic.twitter.com/2n8K9AR3Sp
— The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) April 5, 2022