Tag: Nikola Jokić

D’Antoni names Isaiah Hartenstein as Rockets’ new backup center

Isaiah Hartenstein had 16 points and 12 rebounds in just 18 minutes Tuesday, and Mike D’Antoni said postgame that he earned a promotion.

One week ago, 21-year-old Isaiah Hartenstein wasn’t a part of the Houston Rockets rotation and had been seen much more frequently with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers — Houston’s G League affiliate.

But the recent heel injury prompting a two-game absence from starting center Clint Capela gave the young seven-footer an opportunity, and he continues to take full advantage.

In the two games Capela missed, Hartenstein averaged 14 points on 72.2% shooting and 11 rebounds in 29.3 minutes per game.

With Capela back in Tuesday’s home win versus Denver, Hartenstein’s minutes were understandably more limited. But even in just 18 minutes, Hartenstein still made major contributions with 16 points (75% shooting), 12 rebounds, and a team-leading plus/minus figure of +21.

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The win moved the Rockets (23-11) to within a half-game of the Nuggets (23-10) for the No. 2 spot in the Western Conference.

After the game, head coach Mike D’Antoni confirmed what was becoming obvious: Hartenstein has earned the regular backup center role behind Capela. Previously, that role had been filled by some combination of either 37-year-old veteran Tyson Chandler or smaller lineups with a forward such as P.J. Tucker or Gary Clark in the middle.

Hartenstein, however, offers much more size and athleticism in the paint. And that was on full display against the Nuggets, led by star big man Nikola Jokic. Between Capela and Hartenstein, the two Houston centers outrebounded Jokic by a commanding 22-8 margin.

Speaking postgame, Hartenstein — who usually plays in Houston’s second unit alongside Russell Westbrook — said he had watched film of Oklahoma City center Steven Adams to try and decipher how to best fit in alongside the former Thunder MVP.

The competition will remain steep for Hartenstein, with the Philadelphia 76ers (23-13) and Joel Embiid coming to town Friday. But with Capela healthy and Hartenstein surging, the Rockets may have more size and athleticism than anticipated to counter the Sixers’ All-Star big man.

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Harden, Westbrook lead efficient Rockets in blowout of Denver

Led by 63 points and 13 assists from James Harden and Russell Westbrook, the host Rockets (23-11) crushed Denver (23-10) on New Year’s Eve.

James Harden and Russell Westbrook combined for 63 points and 13 assists as the Rockets (23-11) crushed the visiting Denver Nuggets (23-10) on New Year’s Eve in Houston, 130-104 (box score).

The win brings the Rockets to within a half-game of Denver for the No. 2 spot in the Western Conference. The Nuggets cut Houston’s 17-point halftime lead to just three points after the third quarter, but the Rockets put them away with a dominant 38-15 closing period.

Both Harden and Westbrook shot 50% or better from the field, headlined by Harden’s 6-of-9 showing (66.7%) from 3-point range. Harden had 35 points, while Westbrook poured in 28 on 11-of-22 shooting.

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Counting Tuesday’s totals, Harden finished the 2010s decade as the NBA’s leading scorer with 19,578 total points. Next on the list were LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Westbrook.

Overall, the Rockets shot 52.9% from the field and 16-of-34 (47.1%) on 3-pointers as Houston closed out 2019 in style.

In addition to the exploits of Harden and Westbrook, reserve guard Eric Gordon maintained his hot shooting since returning from injury by making three of five 3-point attempts (60%).

On the front line, Clint Capela returned from his own multi-game injury absence (heel) with 16 points and 10 rebounds in 30 minutes. Meanwhile young seven-footer Isaiah Hartenstein continued his recent surge with 16 points and 12 rebounds in just 18 minutes off the bench.

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After the game, head coach Mike D’Antoni confirmed that Hartenstein — who led the Rockets with a plus/minus figure of +21 in just 18 minutes — had effectively replaced veteran Tyson Chandler as the backup center behind Capela moving forward.

The Nuggets were led by star big man Nikola Jokic with 21 points and eight rebounds, but both Capela and Hartenstein had more rebounds.

The Rockets return to action Friday night with a home game against the Philadelphia 76ers. With the Sixers (23-13) led by All-Star center Joel Embiid, it would seem to benefit the Rockets that both Capela and Hartenstein enter that matchup playing well.

Danuel House Jr. could miss time for Rockets with shoulder injury

Houston forward Danuel House Jr. (shoulder injury) could miss Friday’s showdown between the Rockets and Clippers in Los Angeles.

The Houston Rockets might not have forward Danuel House Jr. available for Friday’s nationally televised game at the Los Angeles Clippers after the 26-year-old injured his left shoulder in Denver.

Houston Chronicle beat writer Jonathan Feigen initially reported Thursday afternoon that House was doubtful to play in Los Angeles. In postgame comments late Wednesday, head coach Mike D’Antoni had said House would be re-evaluated Thursday.

The Rockets would likely start Ben McLemore at small forward in House’s absence, just as they did last week when House missed three games with a bruised back. At 6-foot-3, McLemore is considerably smaller than the 6-foot-6 House and offers less defensive versatility.

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However, a later update from the team identified House as “questionable” rather than doubtful, which could offer more hope.

Feigen said D’Antoni referred to House as “doubtful” prior to Thursday’s practice in Los Angeles, but the subsequent upgrade in status could indicate that he responded well to treatment.

Either way, the native Houstonian appears to again have a short-term injury without too much long-term concern.

House’s latest issue occurred during Wednesday’s second half in Denver, when he ran into a screen set by 284-pound Nikola Jokic.

House flexed his arm for several minutes on Houston’s bench, hoping he would be able to return to the game. However, he eventually left the court, and the team announced that he would not return.

Over an hour later in the postgame locker room, reporters said House still appeared to be in considerable discomfort.

In 12 games this year, House is averaging 11.2 points and 4.8 rebounds in 28.9 minutes per game, and he’s been one of Houston’s top three-point shooters at 44.6%. His defensive rating of 104.0 is among the best of any player in the current Rockets rotation.

House’s potential absence could be critical against the Clippers, who are led by a pair of very long forwards in All-Stars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. If available, House would likely cover one of those players, with the other going to P.J. Tucker.

The Rockets did defeat the Clippers last week in Houston, even with House out. However, George did not play in that game.

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Denver defense grinds out Rockets as winning streak ends at eight

James Harden and Russell Westbrook had 52 combined points, but Houston missed 26 threes and had its 8-game winning streak snapped in Denver.

James Harden and Russell Westbrook combined for 52, but the Houston Rockets failed to score 100 points as a team for the first time in the 2019-20 season and had their eight-game winning streak snapped in Wednesday’s 105-95 loss (box score) in Denver.

Led by 27 points and 12 rebounds from big man Nikola Jokic and 60 paint points by the team as a whole, the Nuggets improved to 10-3 with the victory. The Rockets fell to 11-4 with the loss.

Harden led the Rockets with 27 points on 8-of-16 shooting and 4-of-8 on three-pointers, and he also had seven rebounds and seven assists. However, his eight turnovers led the team’s uncharacteristic 20 giveaways, with the Rockets struggling to counter a unique series of traps and hedges by the Nuggets against Houston ball-handlers.

Westbrook had 25 points and five assists, but his 2-of-9 (22.2%) showing from three-point range felt appropriate on a night that Houston made just 12-of-38 (31.6%) from behind the arc overall.

Clint Capela (12 points, 21 rebounds) extended his streak of consecutive games with at least 20 rebounds to five, tying Elvin Hayes for the longest such streak in Rockets franchise history.

The Detroit Pistons’ Ben Wallace was the last NBA player to record five straight 20-rebound games, having done so in 2003.

Outside of Harden, Westbrook, and Capela, no Houston player in Mike D’Antoni‘s rotation scored more than six points for the game. Starting small forward Danuel House Jr. left early with left shoulder soreness after running into the 284-pound Jokic on a screen.

The Rockets return to action Friday night in Los Angeles against Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and the rest of the star-studded Clippers. The Rockets defeated the Clippers last week in Houston.

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