Tag: John Wall

‘It’s about damn time’: Rockets rout Raptors to end 20-game skid

“We fought together,” Christian Wood said postgame. “We stayed together. It’s about damn time, man. It’s about damn time.”

With a 117-99 victory (box score) over Toronto on Monday night at Toyota Center, the Houston Rockets finally ended a 20-game losing streak that had become one of the 10 worst in NBA history.

It was a feel-good win for the Rockets (12-30), who were coming off Sunday’s heartbreaking loss to Oklahoma City in the same building. For the Raptors (17-26), it was their ninth consecutive defeat. Fred VanVleet led the visitors with a game-high 27 points.

With Victor Oladipo out for planned maintenance on the second night of a back-to-back, Sterling Brown started in his place and collected 20 points and 10 rebounds, including 4-of-7 on 3-pointers (57.1%). Rookie forward Jae’Sean Tate had a team-high 22 points on 8-of-9 shooting (88.9%), while Christian Wood and John Wall each scored 19. With a team-high 11 rebounds and 10 assists, Wall finished with a triple-double.

“We fought together,” Wood said postgame. “We stayed together. It’s about damn time, man. It’s about damn time.”

The Rockets will finish up this seven-game homestand on Wednesday versus Charlotte. Until then, enjoy Monday’s highlights and postgame reaction from a relieved home locker room in Houston.

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‘We’re not playing together’: Rockets sad, angry after 20th straight loss

“We’re not playing together,” Christian Wood said postgame. “I would like to be more involved in the offense going down the stretch.”

On paper, Sunday’s game versus Oklahoma City was the ideal spot for the Houston Rockets to end their franchise record losing streak. They were at home, their desired starting lineup was fully available, the Thunder are several games below .500, and OKC held out three starters in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Al Horford, and Darius Bazley.

Yet, it still wasn’t enough to stop the skid, with Houston (11-30) losing its 20th straight game with a 114-112 setback (box score). The ongoing streak is now among the 10 worst in NBA history.

Christian Wood (27 points, 8 rebounds), John Wall (24 points, 7 assists), Victor Oladipo (23 points, 6 assists), and Danuel House Jr. (18 points, 8 rebounds) all played well offensively, but it wasn’t enough to overcome a 52-38 rebounding advantage by the Thunder (18-24).

Much of the frustration came down to a lack of execution late in the game. Down by two with just over a minute left, Wall drove into the paint and drew a foul — but only made one of two free throws, allowing OKC to keep the lead. From there, the Rockets never scored again. In the final minute, Oladipo missed a rushed 3-pointer in transition, Wall had a driving layup blocked by Lu Dort, and Wall missed an isolation 3-pointer in the closing seconds after apparently going away from Stephen Silas’ desired play. Each of those shots would have given Houston the lead.

Wood only took one shot in the game’s final eight minutes, and he expressed frustration postgame at his lack of involvement late. “We’re not playing together,” said Wood, adding that this loss was tougher to take. “I would like to be more involved in the offense going down the stretch.”

Here’s a sampling of the postgame reaction from a series of somber press conferences. Houston returns to action on Monday versus Toronto.

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‘We’re not playing together’: Rockets sad, angry after 20th straight loss

“We’re not playing together,” Christian Wood said postgame. “I would like to be more involved in the offense going down the stretch.”

On paper, Sunday’s game versus Oklahoma City was the ideal spot for the Houston Rockets to end their franchise record losing streak. They were at home, their desired starting lineup was fully available, the Thunder are several games below .500, and OKC held out three starters in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Al Horford, and Darius Bazley.

Yet, it still wasn’t enough to stop the skid, with Houston (11-30) losing its 20th straight game with a 114-112 setback (box score). The ongoing streak is now among the 10 worst in NBA history.

Christian Wood (27 points, 8 rebounds), John Wall (24 points, 7 assists), Victor Oladipo (23 points, 6 assists), and Danuel House Jr. (18 points, 8 rebounds) all played well offensively, but it wasn’t enough to overcome a 52-38 rebounding advantage by the Thunder (18-24).

Much of the frustration came down to a lack of execution late in the game. Down by two with just over a minute left, Wall drove into the paint and drew a foul — but only made one of two free throws, allowing OKC to keep the lead. From there, the Rockets never scored again. In the final minute, Oladipo missed a rushed 3-pointer in transition, Wall had a driving layup blocked by Lu Dort, and Wall missed an isolation 3-pointer in the closing seconds after apparently going away from Stephen Silas’ desired play. Each of those shots would have given Houston the lead.

Wood only took one shot in the game’s final eight minutes, and he expressed frustration postgame at his lack of involvement late. “We’re not playing together,” said Wood, adding that this loss was tougher to take. “I would like to be more involved in the offense going down the stretch.”

Here’s a sampling of the postgame reaction from a series of somber press conferences. Houston returns to action on Monday versus Toronto.

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https://twitter.com/AdamSpolane/status/1373736997278396427

Lu Dort makes game-saving block against John Wall for Thunder win

Lu Dort blocked John Wall to help clinch the Oklahoma City Thunder victory that handed the Houston Rockets their 20th straight loss.

The Oklahoma City Thunder put the game in the hands of Lu Dort late against the Houston Rockets.

Dort was having a marvelous game, posting a team-high 23 points. On these specific two late possessions, he made two mistakes — and then made up for them both. He blocked a John Wall layup from behind to help the Thunder clinch a 114-112 win.

Oklahoma City had got a rebound with about 40 seconds left and a one-point lead. At that point, Dort went into iso mode. He dribbled between the halfcourt and 3-point lines until there were five seconds left on the shot clock, at which point he made a little move and pulled up for 3. Clank. No good, and the Rockets got the ball with the chance to take the lead.

He and the Thunder got back on defense with 16 seconds to play as John Wall took the ball with Dort defending him.

Wall managed to drive by Dort and get to the rim. It looked like he had a layup that would have given the Rockets the lead with nine seconds to play, but Dort flew in from behind and swatted it.

“He got me, you know, he drove by me, and I had to come back in the play,” Dort said in the on-court interview with FOX Sports Oklahoma immediately after the game.

In the postgame press conference, head coach Mark Daigneault said:

“That was a heck of a play, obviously, and a great second effort. He was out of the play a little bit and came back and made an unbelievable play on the ball, which we kind of expect at this point from him, but it doesn’t make it any worse off.”

Dort was quick-thinking enough to call a timeout as the Thunder got the rebound, allowing them to inbound from halfcourt.

Aleksej Pokusevski hit a free throw to give the Thunder a two-point lead and Houston called a timeout.

Wall took matters into his own hands once again with five seconds to play. He pulled up from behind the 3-point line with Dort defending him.

The ball bounced off the rim and the Thunder held on for the victory.

With the win, Oklahoma City handed the Rockets their 20th loss in a row.

This post originally appeared on OKCThunderWire. Follow us on Facebook!

John Wall returns from knee injury, giving Rockets their desired lineup

After missing five games coming out of the All-Star break, John Wall returned to Houston’s starting lineup on Friday versus Detroit.

Veteran point guard John Wall returned to his usual role of starting point guard for the Rockets during Friday night’s home game against the Detroit Pistons. Wall had missed the first five games out of the recent All-Star break after bruising his left knee during a Houston practice.

Wall started next to Victor Oladipo, Danuel House Jr., Jae’Sean Tate, and Christian Wood, representing the first time in more than six weeks that Houston has had its desired starting lineup, in full.

Not coincidentally, the Rockets (11-28) lost 18 straight games over that stretch, which set a new franchise record among losing streaks.

It’s unclear if Wall’s return is permanent, since multiple media reports have suggested that Wall might have that knee scoped later in the year. If that’s the case, it could end Wall’s 2020-21 season prematurely.

But after missing most of the last two seasons due to an Achilles injury, Wall clearly wants to play some more basketball before going down that road — and potentially help his team turn things around. As a result, head coach Stephen Silas is thrilled to have the five-time All-Star back.

“It’s really great to have the whole roster,” Silas said before Friday’s game. “We haven’t had this group together, on the floor, basically all season. I’m definitely looking forward to it. I’m sure it’ll be a little disjointed, at times, but we’re going to have our best group on the floor, tonight. That’s good for us, and it’s good for Rockets’ fans, for sure.”

Now 30 years old, Wall entered Friday averaging 21.0 points and 6.0 assists in 31.7 minutes per game. For the No. 1 overall pick from the NBA’s 2010 draft, it’s his first season in Houston after spending the first decade of his professional career with the Washington Wizards.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADmeCyCiyf4

Pistons at Rockets: Lineups, injury reports and broadcast info for Friday

Detroit is one of only two NBA teams with a worse record than Houston, which also could benefit from the potential return of John Wall.

At 18 consecutive losses, the Houston Rockets already have the longest losing streak in franchise history. If at all possible, they’d like to avoid making broader history, and Friday’s home game versus the struggling Detroit Pistons could offer an opportunity to do that.

The 2020-21 Rockets are currently just two losses away from hitting 20, which would put them among the 10 worst skids in NBA history. But the Pistons happen to be one of only two teams with a worse record this season, which should make it a friendlier matchup than most.

As head coach Stephen Silas sees it, the most encouraging sign is health. Christian Wood and Danuel House Jr. returned to Houston’s lineup on Wednesday, while John Wall (left knee contusion) was upgraded to questionable for Friday’s game and appears likely to play in his first game since the All-Star break. If Wall starts, it will be the first game for the Rockets with their desired starting lineup in over six weeks.

The Rockets will also benefit from the availability of backcourt mate Victor Oladipo, who missed Wednesday’s loss to Golden State due to planned maintenance on the second game of a back-to-back.

Here’s when you should tune in to see Friday’s game:

  • Date: Friday, March 19
  • Time: 7 p.m. Central
  • TV Channel: AT&T SportsNet Southwest
  • Live stream: fuboTV (watch for free in Houston markets)

Probable starting lineups

Houston Rockets (11-28)

  • Guard: John Wall
  • Guard: Victor Oladipo
  • Forward: Danuel House Jr.
  • Forward: Jae’Sean Tate
  • Center: Christian Wood

Detroit Pistons (11-29)

  • Guard: Frank Jackson
  • Guard: Delon Wright
  • Forward: Jerami Grant
  • Forward: Saddiq Bey
  • Center: Mason Plumlee

Beyond Wall, the Rockets do still have a handful of impactful injuries. Eric Gordon (right groin strain), David Nwaba (right wrist sprain) and Dante Exum (right calf strain) are all out, while Ben McLemore (left ankle sprain) is questionable. But for a team that hasn’t had its expected starting lineup in over six weeks while being reduced to the minimum of eight active players on some nights, that list is much more reasonable.

Detroit is dealing with its own wave of injuries, with Hamidou Diallo, Wayne Ellington, Killian Hayes, Rodney McGruder, and Jahlil Okafor all listed as out due to various conditions. The Pistons do enter with some momentum, having secured a surprising 116-112 victory (box score) over Toronto on Wednesday night. Rookie Saddiq Bey led the way with 28 points and 12 rebounds, while Jerami Grant added 23 points.

In January, the Rockets defeated the Pistons by just a point in Detroit (recap), with Grant drawing what would have been a foul (and potential game-winning free throws) only a split-second after time had run out.

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Christian Wood missed that earlier Rockets-Pistons clash due to injury. Thus, Friday will be Wood’s first chance to play his former team since leaving Detroit for Houston in the 2020 offseason.

Though Wood had his minutes limited in his return Wednesday, he was still extremely effective with 21 points (66.7% FG) and 9 rebounds in 26 minutes. The big man is expected to be on a similar minutes restriction Friday before potentially having it lifted for next week’s games.

Note: This post first appeared on Rockets Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

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Rockets injury updates: Christian Wood doubtful; John Wall out for Tuesday

When Wood sprained his right ankle on Feb. 4 in Memphis, the Rockets were wrapping up a 7-1 stretch. Without him, they are 0-16 since.

When the Houston Rockets (11-26) host Atlanta on Tuesday night, they will attempt to avoid tying a franchise record with 17 straight losses, which was set by the expansion San Diego Rockets in the 1967-68 season. Unfortunately for the short-handed group, the Rockets may not be as healthy for the game as they had hoped a few days ago.

For the first time in nearly six weeks, star center Christian Wood (left ankle sprain) is not listed as out in the team’s official injury report. That’s the good news. While his status upgrade was only from out to doubtful, it shows progress as Wood works to regain his conditioning. The news is even better for forward Danuel House Jr. (right knee contusion), who was upgraded to questionable after missing the last four games.

John Wall (left knee contusion) is still listed as out, and David Nwaba (right wrist strain) was downgraded from questionable to out. Ben McLemore (left ankle sprain) was added to the injury list with a left ankle sprain. Eric Gordon (right groin strain) and PJ Tucker (not with team, awaiting a trade) also remain sidelined with longer-term issues.

When Wood sprained his right ankle on Feb. 4 in Memphis, the Rockets were 11-10 and wrapping up a stretch in which they had won seven of eight games. Since his departure, they are 0-16, which is the longest losing streak since the franchise moved to Houston in 1971.

Among current players, Wood leads the Rockets on a per-game basis in points (22.0), rebounds (10.2), field-goal percentage (55.8%) and 3-point percentage (42.1%). Meanwhile, Wall ranks second in scoring (21.0) and first in assists (6.0). Wall is a five-time All-Star over his distinguished NBA career, while Wood was a strong candidate to earn his first All-Star nod this season before suffering the ankle injury.

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Christian Wood, John Wall, Danuel House Jr. could return to Rockets by Tuesday

The severely short-handed Rockets could be much closer to full strength by Tuesday’s home game versus Atlanta.

The reeling and short-handed Houston Rockets, who entered Friday with just eight healthy players and 14 consecutive losses, could be much closer to full strength within just a few days.

According to head coach Stephen Silas, star center Christian Wood (right ankle sprain), five-time All-Star guard John Wall (left knee contusion), and reserve forward Danuel House Jr. (right knee contusion) could all return from injury in time for Tuesday’s home game versus Atlanta.

“Christian is coming along,” Silas said Friday. “Hopefully he’ll be playing… maybe not next game, but the game after that. John Wall, kind of the same. … I anticipate a similar lineup to what we have tonight, adding Victor [Oladipo] for Sunday. Then for Tuesday and Wednesday, hopefully we’ll be pretty close with Christian, John, and House.”

Oladipo does not have an injury, but he sat out Friday’s game for planned maintenance on the second night of a back-to-back.

The Rockets (11-24) were 7-1 in the eight games prior to Wood’s Feb. 4 ankle sprain, and they haven’t won in the 14 games since. Thus, the return of Houston’s 6-foot-10 big man appears to be the most significant.

Now 25 years old, Wood is averaging 22.0 points and 10.2 rebounds in 31.2 minutes per game in the 2020-21 season. In a breakout year that has earned the 6-foot-10 big man consideration for both the All-Star Game and Olympics, he’s shooting 55.8% overall and 42.1% on 3-pointers.

Wall is Houston’s second-leading scorer (21.0 points per game) and assists leader (6.0), while House would provide athleticism, defensive versatility, and some needed depth and stability to Silas’ rotation.

Whenever that trio returns, the only absences for the Rockets among top-tier players would be Eric Gordon (right groin strain) and veteran forward PJ Tucker, who is away from the team as he seeks a trade.

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https://twitter.com/AdamJWexler/status/1370550600262377476

John Wall out for Rockets after suffering knee injury in practice

Wall was kneed in the side of his knee during Wednesday’s practice, and he woke up Thursday with soreness and stiffness.

Veteran guard John Wall was an unexpected late scratch for the Houston Rockets prior to Thursday night’s game at Sacramento after suffering a contusion to his left knee during the previous day’s practice. His status for Friday’s game in Salt Lake City is not yet clear.

The Rockets didn’t know the severity of the issue when it happened. In comments after Wednesday’s practice, head coach Stephen Silas indicated that the plan was for Wall to play in both ends of the road back-to-back on Thursday in Sacramento and Friday in Utah.

Wall has only played in both games of one back-to-back this season, so the team’s plan to use him on consecutive nights indicated that there was no concern with his health, at that time. But the Rockets added him to their injury report on Thursday afternoon as “questionable.”

In pregame comments, Silas said Wall was kneed in the side of his knee during one of the last plays of Houston’s scrimmage at Wednesday’s practice. Wall then woke up Thursday with soreness and stiffness.

A five-time All-Star, Wall is averaging 21.0 points and 6.0 assists in 31.7 minutes per game this season. He was replaced in Thursday’s lineup by veteran guard Eric Gordon, who played despite being listed as questionable with left knee soreness. Houston (11-23) entered on a 13-game losing streak, which is the longest by the franchise in over 20 years.

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Wall, Gordon, Oladipo, Wood among finalists for U.S. Olympic team

John Wall, Eric Gordon, and Christian Wood are newcomers to a list that already included Victor Oladipo. In all, there are 57 finalists.

Houston Rockets guards John Wall and Eric Gordon, as well as center Christian Wood, were officially added Thursday to the 2021 USA National Team roster. Within months, the 12-member U.S. Olympic Men’s Basketball Team will be selected from among those 57 finalists.

Veteran guard Victor Oladipo was already on the list of finalists from 2020, which was named prior to the Olympics’ postponement. All finalists will be invited to a summer training camp, at which USA Basketball coaches and executives will begin making their roster judgments.

One benefit to the chances of the Houston group could be the struggles of their NBA team. The Rockets entered Thursday with the NBA’s third-worst record (11-23), which makes it very unlikely for them to play in the 2021 playoffs. Because of the league’s delayed start to the 2020-21 season, largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, players on teams that play deep into the playoffs — which will run well into July — likely won’t be available for the Tokyo Olympics, which will also start in July.

Here’s a look at average per-game statistics in the 2020-21 NBA season for the four Rockets on the list of finalists:

John Wall: 21.0 points, 6.0 assists
Christian Wood: 22.0 points (55.8% FG, 42.1% on 3-pointers), 10.2 rebounds, 1.5 blocks
Eric Gordon: 17.8 points, 2.7 assists
Victor Oladipo: 19.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.4 steals

Only the Brooklyn Nets, with six players listed on the U.S. announcement, have more players among finalists than the Rockets (four).

The complete list of finalists can be viewed below.

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https://twitter.com/usabasketball/status/1370044967423332356