Tag: Garrison Mathews

Takeaways: Jalen Green, KJ Martin lead epic Rockets rally to beat Hawks

Jalen Green (30 points) and KJ Martin (21 points, career-high 15 rebounds) helped Houston overcome a big deficit to beat Atlanta. Garrison Mathews and Jabari Smith Jr. showed out, as well.

The Rockets trailed by 16 points midway through Friday’s third quarter, but they flipped the script in a big way as Houston rallied to defeat the visiting Hawks, 128-122 (box score). With KJ Martin setting the tone, Atlanta was out-rebounded by an astonishing 68-35 margin.

Jalen Green led the Rockets with 30 points, 5 assists, and 5 rebounds on 10-of-17 shooting (58.3%), while Martin added 21 points on 10-of-13 shooting (76.9%) and a career-high 15 rebounds.

That helped the Rockets (4-14) survive an onslaught from the Hawks (11-8) and their talented All-Star backcourt of Trae Young and Dejounte Murray, who combined to score 83 points at Toyota Center on 27-of-52 shooting (52.9%) and 12-of-23 on 3-pointers (52.2%).

With Eric Gordon out for maintenance purposes on the front end of a back-to-back, Garrison Mathews stepped into a larger wing role and had his best game of the 2022-23 season to date, scoring 20 points in 23 minutes off the bench. He connected on 4-of-6 shots overall (66.7%), 3-of-5 on 3-pointers (60.0%), and 9-of-9 on free throws.

Rookie forward Jabari Smith Jr. had another strong game with 21 points and 9 rebounds on 5-of-11 shooting from 3-point range (45.5%), while Kevin Porter Jr. added 12 points and 10 assists.

Scroll on for highlights, analysis, and postgame interviews from Toyota Center. Houston’s four-game homestand concludes Saturday night versus Oklahoma City, with tipoff set for 7 p.m. Central.

Podcast: Five games in, how can Houston’s offense take the next step?

Through five games, the #Rockets have improved defensively from last season, but the offense seems to have stagnated. Friday’s @TheLagerLine explores potential areas of improvement.

Friday’s new episode of “The Lager Line” podcast features reaction from Ben DuBose and Paulo Alves to the first five games of the NBA’s 2022-23 regular season for the Houston Rockets.

Relative to 2021-22, the young and rebuilding Rockets (1-4) have improved from No. 30 in the league to No. 20 in net defensive rating (entering Thursday’s games), but they’ve stagnated at the No. 26 spot on offense. With that in mind, Friday’s show explores areas of potential improvement for head coach Stephen Silas, point guard Kevin Porter Jr. and shooting guard Jalen Green.

Other topics include the team’s dependence on Eric Gordon and Garrison Mathews as floor-spacing shooters; early impressions of Jabari Smith Jr. playing minutes at center and the impact of a five-out offense on other players; what to do with the rotation when Alperen Sengun (illness) returns; and which second-year guard — Daishen Nix or Josh Christopher — should get Houston’s final rotation spot.

Friday’s full podcast can be listened to below. Each episode of the show is also available via flagship radio station SportsTalk 790, as well as to all major podcast distributors under “The Lager Line.”

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Full Houston Rockets 17-player payroll for 2022-23 NBA season

Now that Houston’s roster is set for the 2022-23 regular season, here’s an updated look at what each #Rockets player will make financially this season.

The Houston Rockets remain one of the youngest teams in the NBA. Yet, entering what is considered by most as the third season of a franchise rebuild, clear signs of optimism are emerging.

The optimism starts with second-year guard Jalen Green, who looks to have picked up where he left off in his dynamic 2021-22 rookie season. In case you forgot, that’s when he finished with an historic scoring burst that led to a spot on the league’s All-Rookie first team.

There’s also Jabari Smith Jr., selected by Houston at No. 3 overall in the first round of the 2022 NBA draft. For Smith, this season offers an opportunity to justify that lofty draft placement and show his potential as a future franchise cornerstone alongside Green.

Combine that duo with promising young players like Alperen Sengun, Tari Eason, KJ Martin and recently extended guard Kevin Porter Jr., and it’s easy to see the reasons for optimism. That youth is also why the Rockets are a relatively inexpensive team, particularly if excluding dead money in the form of former players (i.e. John Wall).

With that in mind, here is the full Rockets roster and salaries entering the 2022-23 regular season. This version reflects all moves made to trim from Houston’s 20-man roster at training camp to the NBA’s limit of 15 standard contracts and two two-way deals for the season, such as the recent waiving of veteran big man Derrick Favors.

This list is sorted in ascending order from least to most, financially, during the 2022-23 season, according to HoopsHype salary data. Any potential future earnings for each Rockets player as part of his current contract are noted beneath each photo.

2022-2023 Houston Rockets roster

With Derrick Favors waived and Darius Days added to a two-way deal, here’s a look at the official Houston Rockets roster entering the NBA’s 2022-23 regular season.

The Houston Rockets remain one of the NBA’s youngest teams. Yet, entering what is considered by most as the third season of a franchise rebuild, there are clear signs of optimism beginning to emerge.

It starts with second-year guard Jalen Green and rookie forward Jabari Smith Jr., who each excelled in the recently completed preseason while helping lead the Rockets to a 3-1 record as a team.

For Green, he looks to have picked up where he left off in his dynamic 2021-22 rookie season, which finished with a historic scoring burst that led to his spot on the league’s All-Rookie First Team.

For Smith, selected by Houston at No. 3 overall in the first round of the 2022 NBA draft, this season offers an opportunity to justify that lofty draft placement and show his potential as a future cornerstone.

Combine that duo with other promising young players like Alperen Sengun, Tari Eason, KJ Martin, and recently extended guard Kevin Porter Jr., and it’s easy to see some of the reasons for optimism.

With that in mind, here’s a look at the full Rockets roster entering the 2022-23 regular season. This version includes all moves made to trim from Houston’s 20-man roster at training camp to the NBA’s limit of 15 standard contracts and two two-way deals for the season, such as the recent waiving of veteran big man Derrick Favors.

2022-23 Houston Rockets statistics, player grades for preseason play

The Rockets went 3-1 in preseason play, and electric numbers by second-year guard Jalen Green (22.0 points, 43.3% on 3-pointers, 3.3 assists in 26.3 minutes) were a big reason why.

The young Houston Rockets went 3-1 in preseason play leading up to the NBA’s 2022-23 regular season, and electric numbers by second-year guard Jalen Green were a big reason why.

Green averaged 22.0 points (43.3% on 3-pointers) and 3.3 assists in 26.3 minutes, and his performance has clearly played a large role in the rebuilding Rockets overachieving expectations to this point.

Granted, the competition will get much steeper once the regular season begins on Wednesday, Oct. 19 in Atlanta. Opponents will be playing their rotation regulars much more frequently, and there is likely to be a greater attention to detail across the board.

Nonetheless, for a young group like the Rockets that finished with the NBA’s worst record in 2021-22, any success is potentially something to build on. That’s especially the case if it starts with Green, the No. 2 overall pick from the first round of the 2021 NBA draft and a clear building block for the future of the organization.

Scroll on for statistics and grades for all Rockets players averaging at least 10 minutes per game in exhibition play. Grades are relative to realistic expectations for each player prior to the preseason, meaning that the bar for a starter is higher than for a deep reserve.

Takeaways: Jalen Green scores 33 as Rockets blast Pacers in preseason finale

Jalen Green dropped 33 points in 29 minutes on efficient shooting as the Rockets (3-1) won at Indiana (2-2) in the preseason finale. Here’s our look at key takeaways and postgame reaction.

In the final preseason game for both teams, second-year Jalen Green dropped 33 points in 29 minutes on efficient shooting as the Houston Rockets won at Indiana, 122-114 (box score). Green connected on 10-of-15 shots in Friday’s game (66.7%), including 4-of-7 on 3-pointers (57.1%). He also made all nine of his free throws.

Backcourt mate Kevin Porter Jr. added 22 points and 7 rebounds on 8-of-14 shooting (57.1%) for Houston (3-1), including 5-of-6 on 3-pointers (83.3%). Veteran guard Eric Gordon, who missed the previous two games for rest purposes, added 14 points in just 17 minutes on 4-of-8 shooting (50.0%) and 2-of-5 on 3-pointers (40.0%).

Second-year center Alperen Sengun recovered from a sluggish game Monday to record 12 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds, and 2 blocked shots in 22 minutes, including 2-of-2 from 3-point range.

Veteran guard Buddy Hield led the Pacers (2-2) with 19 points in 20 minutes on 6-of-9 shooting and 4-of-6 on 3-pointers (66.7%).

Jabari Smith Jr. (left ankle sprain), Jae’Sean Tate (right ankle soreness), Garrison Mathews (illness), and Daishen Nix (lower back soreness) did not play for Houston, though all of those issues are considered minor and none are expected to miss time in the 2022-23 regular season, according to Friday’s update by head coach Stephen Silas.

Scroll on for postgame interviews, clips, and analysis. The Rockets will open regular-season play next Wednesday, Oct. 19 in Atlanta.

Oct. 6 Rockets practice interviews: John Lucas, Jae’Sean Tate, Garrison Mathews

John Lucas, Jae’Sean Tate, and Garrison Mathews met with #Rockets media members after Thursday’s practice, with discussion topics including Jabari Smith Jr.’s left ankle sprain.

The Rockets practiced on Thursday, Oct. 6 at Toyota Center as they gear up for Friday’s home preseason game versus Toronto. Houston (1-0) has yet to lose in 2022-23 exhibition play after a dominating performance in Sunday’s preseason opener against San Antonio.

Assistant coach John Lucas is leading the young team for the time being, since head coach Stephen Silas remains out due to a stint in the NBA’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols. Lucas said Thursday that the team is hopeful of having Silas return by Friday.

In worse news, top rookie Jabari Smith Jr. will miss Friday’s game due to a left ankle sprain, which he suffered late in practice the previous day. Lucas elaborated on Smith’s situation in his latest interview.

After Thursday’s practice at Toyota Center, the Rockets made Lucas, forward Jae’Sean Tate, and guard Garrison Mathews available to the media for interviews. Courtesy of the YouTube channel of Jackson Gatlin, host of “Locked on Rockets,” here’s a look at their complete interviews and how they responded to questions from reporters.

Friday’s tipoff between the Rockets and Raptors (2-0) is at 7:00 p.m. Central, and the game will be aired on AT&T SportsNet Southwest.

PHOTOS: Rockets pose for portraits at 2022-23 media day

Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun, and Kevin Porter Jr. are among many #Rockets who took part in official media day photo shoots at the opening of training camp.

The first game, albeit an exhibition, of the 2022-23 Houston Rockets season took place Sunday, Oct. 2 versus San Antonio.

But for potential rising stars like Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., Kevin Porter Jr., and beyond, activities actually got started a few days before that. It all began with the Sept. 26 media day at Toyota Center, where the main event consisted of players throughout the roster responding to questions about the new season.

Media day, however, also consists of various other photography and video shoots. Some are taken by internal team sources and are used by the team in promotions throughout the season, while others are from professional photographers who can license them for use across all sorts of potential media content related to the Rockets.

From 2022-23 media day, here’s a look at images of various Rockets players captured by professional photographers from USA TODAY Sports, Getty Images, and the Associated Press.

VIDEOS: 2022-23 Houston Rockets media day interviews

If you missed any of Monday’s media day sessions from #Rockets players and executives at Toyota Center, here’s a video roundup courtesy of the @JTGatlin YouTube channel.

With training camp opening Tuesday morning in Lake Charles, Louisiana, the Rockets held their annual media day with players and coaches on Monday at Toyota Center in downtown Houston.

Interview guests included general manager Rafael Stone, head coach Stephen Silas, and players such as Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, Eric Gordon, Jae’Sean Tate, KJ Martin, Boban Marjanovic, Jabari Smith Jr., Kevin Porter Jr., Tari Eason, and Josh Christopher.

We’ve had news stories throughout the day here at Rockets Wire, and our Brian Barefield will be on the scene in Lake Charles for training camp coverage over the following two days.

But for those who want to listen to the individual interviews, themselves, here’s a video compilation (via Jackson Gatlin’s exclusive YouTube channel) of Monday’s sessions from media day. More players will be made available during training camp.

Camp takes place in Lake Charles through Thursday. The Rockets will transition back to Houston on Friday and practice Saturday before opening exhibition play at home Sunday versus San Antonio.

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Rockets issue updated height, weight measurements for 2022-23 roster

In updated #Rockets measurements, Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun have put on weight, while Sengun, Kevin Porter Jr., and Jabari Smith Jr. are taller than their past figures.

In updated measurements ahead of Houston Rockets training camp, which opens Tuesday, Jalen Green has put on weight. Meanwhile, Kevin Porter Jr., Alperen Sengun, and Jabari Smith Jr. are among several players listed as taller than their previous measurements.

Green, a second-year guard, is listed at 183 pounds for the 2022-23 season, up from 178 in 2021-22. That meshes with his statements about adding bulk and strength during the 2022 offseason. Sengun, now Houston’s starting center, is listed at 255 pounds — up by 20 from his rookie listing of 235 pounds.

Sengun is also listed as being 6-foot-11, which is two inches taller than his 6-foot-9 height as a rookie. Since he only recently turned 20 years old, a growth spurt is at least conceivable. The same could be said of the 19-year-old Smith, who is listed at 6-foot-11 after being measured at 6-foot-10 prior to the 2022 NBA draft in June.

Porter, now 22 years old, also grew two inches in the past year — from 6-foot-4 to 6-foot-6, according to the Rockets.

Here are a handful of other changes relative to prior measurements, which were last issued prior to Monday’s media day:

  • Jae’Sean Tate is 6-foot-5, up from 6-foot-4
  • Eric Gordon is 6-foot-4, 238 pounds, up from 6-foot-3, 215 pounds
  • Usman Garuba is 253 pounds, up from 220 pounds
  • Garrison Mathews is 202 pounds, down from 215 pounds
  • Bruno Fernando is 6-foot-10, 246 pounds, up from 6-foot-9, 240 pounds
  • Daishen Nix is 239 pounds, up from 224 pounds

With Monday’s media day in the books, training camp begins Tuesday in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Stick with Rockets Wire for complete coverage, as our Brian Barefield will be live on the scene.

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