HOUSTON — As the Rockets went to the locker room at halftime trailing the Memphis Grizzlies by 10 points, there was a brief conversation between guards Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green. No one could hear what the conversation was about, but if I had to take an educated guess based on the body language, I would say that Green was talking to Porter about where they could get better in the second half.
That small conversation carried over into the locker room and expounded with Porter and his teammates. It must have resonated loudly with the third-year point guard, as he exploded in the third quarter for 19 points. His ability to get to control the game in the second half helped the Rockets overcome that halftime deficit on their way to a 123-112 victory over the Grizzlies. The win snapped a 12-game losing streak and a 0-5 record at home since their last win over Cleveland on Feb. 2.
“Since I’ve been back from my injury, I’ve been way more passive than I’m used to being,” said Porter, who scored a team-high 29 points. “My guys kept reminding me to be aggressive. At halftime, they chewed me out about passing up shots and not shooting my shots I usually shoot. I came out very aggressive in the third quarter, and shots were falling.”
“My guys kept reminding me to be aggressive,” said Rockets guard Kevin Porter Jr. about his 19-point third quarter explosion. #Rockets #LightTheFuse #Sarge pic.twitter.com/6M3GkpIOYR
— #SARGE (@BigSargeSportz) March 7, 2022
Porter, 21, was playing in only his third straight game after suffering an ankle injury in Orlando that forced him to miss two home games against the Los Angeles Clippers. Since his return, Porter has averaged 27 points and 6.6 assists per game and is finding ways to be more effective.
“I always felt in rhythm with my shot, especially after the month of February. When I felt I shot it really good,” Porter said from Toyota Center. “I try to keep myself mentally like I’m always in that groove so if I do make one, that’s all it takes, seeing one go in and the switch is on.”
Houston won’t have much time to celebrate their victory over Memphis, since they face the Heat in Miami on Monday night. The Heat currently leads the Eastern Conference with a 43-22 record.
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