Tag: Tari Eason

Season of giving: Rockets give back with holiday events around Houston

Jalen Green, Eric Gordon, Tari Eason, Boban Marjanović, Jae’Sean Tate, and Kevin Porter Jr. are among #Rockets players giving back with community events this holiday season.

The Houston Rockets, their partners at Kroger and numerous players hosted Season of Giving events this holiday season.

On Dec. 14, the team hosted a holiday shopping event for families from Target Hunger, Wounded Warrior Project and Latter Deliverance Revival Church at the Kroger’s store on Studemont Street near downtown Houston. Rockets forward Tari Eason and center Boban Marjanović were on hand to present those families with gift cards, courtesy of Kroger, and to assist them with shopping.

During the Dec. 17 game vs. Portland, the Rockets and Kroger hosted a holiday party for the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Houston. The children enjoyed the game from holiday-themed suites and were presented with gifts, in addition to Kroger gift cards for their families.

In recent days, the Rockets’ Christmas activities have included Jalen Green’s holiday bowling event for families from Julia C. Hester House on Sunday, Dec. 18; Eric Gordon’s holiday party for families at Ronald McDonald House Houston on Thursday, Dec. 22; and separate events by Kevin Porter Jr. and Jae’Sean Tate.

Scroll on for further details and highlights from each of these holiday events, along with accompanying photos and videos.

Takeaways: Jalen Green’s 3-point struggles continue as Blazers blast Rockets

#Rockets guard Jalen Green is shooting just 23.2% on 3-pointers over his last 15 games, and his slump proved costly in Portland’s win at Houston on Saturday night.

Led by Anfernee Simons (game-high 32 points, 52.4% FG) and perennial All-Star guard Damian Lillard (25 points, 10 assists), the visiting Portland Trail Blazers easily had enough to hold off the Houston Rockets on Saturday at Toyota Center, 107-95 (box score).

The Rockets connected on just 3-of-29 shots from 3-point range (10.3%) as a team, with starting guards Jalen Green (15 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists) and Kevin Porter Jr. (13 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists) each going 0-of-6 on 3-pointers versus the Blazers (17-13).

Green is now shooting just 23.2% on 3-pointers over his last 15 games. By contrast, over his first 14 games of the 2022-23 NBA season, Green had shot 37.5% on 3-pointers for the Rockets.

Houston’s lone bright spots came off the bench in young forwards KJ Martin (13 points, 5 rebounds) and Tari Eason (13 points, 6 rebounds), who combined to make 12-of-23 shots (52.2%).

Scroll on for highlights, analysis and postgame interview reaction following Saturday’s game. Houston (9-20) plays the fifth game of its longest homestand of the season (seven games in total) on Monday night versus San Antonio, with tipoff set for 7 p.m. Central.

Tari Eason, Boban Marjanovic lead holiday shopping event in Houston

“It is super dope to give back to the community of Houston that has poured so much into us,” Tari Eason said after taking pictures with families and hosting a holiday shopping spree.

HOUSTON — As customers entered Kroger off Studemont near downtown Houston to pick up a few items, they noticed a crowd near the other end of the store. It didn’t take them long to realize why all the commotion was happening.

Standing amongst the people was a 7-foot-4 gentle giant towering over everyone with a smile big enough to match his height on his face. Right next to him was a 6-foot-8 titan giving out a high-five to all the young individuals in attendance.

Houston Rockets center Boban Marjanović and forward Tari Eason teamed up with Kroger to host a holiday shopping event for families from Target Hunger, Wounded Warrior Project, and Latter Deliverance Revival Church.

“It is super dope to give back to the community of Houston that has poured so much into us,” Eason said after taking pictures with the families. “It is only right that we give back.” When I first came here, I always knew I wanted to make an impact on the city.”

“Not only through basketball but giving back through philanthropy. It is great that we get to do things like this and partner up with Kroger, and I am excited for more things to come.”

Eason and Boban presented the families with a gift card, courtesy of Kroger, and assisted them with shopping. They also helped bag the items at checkout.

“Kroger’s purpose is to feed the human spirit, and what better way to do that than to feed families,” said Teresa Dickerson, corporate affairs manager of Kroger Houston. “I think it is very cool and exciting for the Rockets players to come out and wish these families a merry Christmas. These families come from right here in the Houston area, and it is heartfelt and heartwarming to see them (Eason and Boban) and how Kroger can play a part in the ‘Season of Giving’ program.”

The Houston Rockets organization and players have been instrumental in helping provide food and other necessities to families that may have fallen on hard times throughout the city.

“People had smiles on their faces as we went to get things,” Boban said. “Together, we can do something and put smiles on their faces. We wanted to do something to give back to the community. I want to help other people be happy, and this is my job right now.”

The Rockets are back in action on Thursday and looking to extend their home winning streak to six games in a matchup against the Miami Heat at Toyota Center. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. Central.

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Rookie Power Rankings: Paolo Banchero claims the top spot again

Rookie Wire took a look at the top first-year players over the last two weeks of the 2022-23 season.

After some bumps and bruises, the top of the current rookie class looks back on track and performing at a high level over the past two weeks.

Several high draft picks recently experienced some minor setbacks with injury or on-court struggles, but appear to have gotten back on track and are impressing once again. Elsewhere, others selected later in the draft are also putting up strong performances.

To make sense of it all, we took a look at the best recent performances of these first-year players and ranked them in the latest edition of the Rookie Wire Power Rankings. The rankings are not for Rookie of the Year purposes but, rather, to illustrate the best players week to week.

Takeaways: Jalen Green outduels James Harden as Rockets outlast 76ers

Jalen Green had a team-high 27 points and 7 assists to lead his #Rockets to a dramatic win over James Harden and the 76ers. Houston is 2-1 in its last three games and 4-3 in its last seven.

In a battle of Rockets’ past versus future, second-year guard Jalen Green had a team-high 27 points and 7 assists as Houston outlasted former star James Harden and visiting Philadelphia, 132-123 (box score). Despite going 0-of-7 on 3-pointers, Green shot a respectable 45% from the field thanks to a 9-of-13 showing (69.2%) from inside the arc, and he also drew 10 free-throw attempts, making nine.

Perennial All-Star center and MVP candidate Joel Embiid led the Sixers with 39 points on 12-of-21 shooting (57.1%), but he fouled out at the end of Monday’s first overtime on a Kevin Porter Jr. drive. From that point, Houston outscored Philadelphia (12-12) by 10 points and won the game in a second overtime with relative ease.

Harden had 21 points and a team-high 7 assists for the 76ers, but he struggled in his first game back after missing a month with a right foot tendon strain, shooting just 4-of-19 (21.1%) from the field.

Porter added 24 points and 6 for the Rockets, making 4-of-8 on 3-pointers (50.0%) and blocking a key shot by Harden late in regulation. Rookie forward Jabari Smith Jr. had another double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds on 3-of-6 shooting from 3-point range (50.0%), including two big 3-pointers in the overtime sessions.

Fellow rookie Tari Eason tallied 18 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals in 21 minutes off the bench, making 7-of-11 shots (63.6%) and 2-of-3 on 3-pointers (66.7%). On the whole, it was another encouraging showing for many of the young and developing Rockets (7-17), who have won four of their last seven games.

Scroll on for highlights, analysis, and postgame interviews at Toyota Center. Houston returns to action Thursday in San Antonio for its final road game before Christmas, with tipoff at 7:30 p.m. Central.

Takeaways: Steph Curry, Andrew Wiggins blast road-weary Rockets

Warriors veterans Steph Curry and Andrew Wiggins each hit eight 3-pointers on Saturday, whereas the #Rockets made just three as an entire team. That made for a difficult formula.

On night two of a back-to-back, the young Houston Rockets were no match for Steph Curry, Andrew Wiggins, and the defending NBA champion Warriors in San Francisco. With Curry and Wiggins hitting eight 3-pointers apiece, Golden State won, 120-101 (box score).

Kevin Porter Jr. led the Rockets with 20 points and 4 assists, though he made just 6-of-16 shots (37.5%) and 1-of-9 on 3-pointers (11.1%). As a team, the Rockets hit just 3-of-28 (10.7%) from behind the 3-point arc on Saturday, making for a tough formula versus the sharpshooting Warriors, who made 25-of-52 from 3-point range (48.1%).

Rookie forward Tari Eason added 13 points and a team-high 10 rebounds off the bench in 29 minutes, making 6-of-10 shots (60.0%). One night after surprisingly winning in Phoenix, the Rockets fell to 6-17 on the 2022-23 season, while Golden State improved to 13-11.

Scroll on for highlights, analysis and postgame interviews. With the team’s tough four-game Western Conference road trip complete, Houston finally returns home for Monday’s matchup versus Philadelphia. Tipoff at Toyota Center is set for 7:00 p.m. Central.

Rockets at Warriors: Saturday’s lineups, injury reports, broadcast and stream info

Led by rookies Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason, the #Rockets gave Golden State a tough game two weeks ago in Houston. They’d love to do it again in Saturday’s return visit to San Francisco.

In the finale of a tough four-game Western Conference road trip and the second night of a back-to-back, the young Houston Rockets travel to San Francisco to face the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors on Saturday night at Chase Center.

Led by career games from rookie forwards Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason, the Rockets came very close to winning when the two sides met in Houston two weeks ago. In fact, it took historic games by both Steph Curry and Klay Thompson to narrowly hold off Houston.

To say the least, the Rockets wouldn’t mind taking their chances with a comparable effort in the return visit to San Francisco. They do enter with momentum after a feel-good victory in Phoenix on Friday, headlined by 30 points from a very aggressive Jalen Green.

The Warriors are on the second night of a back-to-back, as well, and they played all of their veterans like Curry, Thompson, Draymond Green, and Andrew Wiggins on Friday. Thus, it’s at least possible that head coach Steve Kerr might opt to rest some players on Saturday.

Then again, with both games at home and no travel in between, that could make Kerr more likely to be aggressive and chase the win.

Rookie Power Rankings: Jabari Smith Jr. breaking out of early slump

Rookie Wire took a look at the top first-year players over the last two weeks of the 2022-23 season.

The rookie class has had impressive moments during the first quarter of the 2022-23 season. Several players have begun to separate themselves from the draft class pack.

The group has dealt with its fair share of injuries; several first-rounders have missed time. However, the players have shown why they were high picks and have had several noteworthy performances.

To make sense of it all, we took a look at the best recent performances of these first-year players and ranked them in the latest edition of the Rookie Wire Power Rankings. The rankings are not for Rookie of the Year purposes but, rather, to illustrate the best players week to week.

Rockets rookies Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason learning to adapt quickly

After struggling Friday versus Indiana, #Rockets rookies Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason showed the value of having a short memory with career nights Sunday versus Golden State.

HOUSTON — Most NBA veterans will tell you they make mistakes throughout a game, no matter how long they have been playing.

They will also explain how they do not let missteps from one game carry over into the next, given a brutal NBA schedule filled with back-to-back games in multiple cities or perhaps with one rest day. Harping on gaffes or inefficient play could cause some players to slip into a slump leading to DNP-CDs (did not play, coaches decision).

Removing bad games from their memories is what rookie forwards Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason have had to learn very quickly. Both played an NCAA men’s basketball schedule last year that gave them time between games to focus on troublesome areas; they played only twice per week. Fast-forward to this year, and they’re lucky to have 24 hours to recover from a poor performance.

Smith and Eason shot a combined 5-for-23 (21.7%) from the field and finished with 16 points in an ugly 99-91 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Friday night. At times, they looked uncomfortable on the court and never found any rhythm.

“It is teaching; I am not being critical at all,” Rockets head coach Stephen Silas said regarding how he helps the rookies turn the page and prepare for the next game. “Turning the page, learning from the night before and helping them get ready for a big-time challenge ahead of us, you can’t help but be ready for tomorrow’s game.”

Trying to erase a lousy game from your memory is not easy to do when your next opponent is the 2021-22 NBA champions Golden State Warriors, led by veterans Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. That trio can cause some very sleepless nights for rookies who have never had to play against them.

Yet, as Silas alluded to, young players must learn to put the previous game behind them and focus on the task.

“I kind of like it better that way,” Smith said when asked about playing an NBA schedule with games played in a short amount of time. “You don’t have to sit on (bad games) for those few days, but at the same time you have to play the game, watch the film, and throw it away. It is not a lot of time to worry about the past, you have to move on.”

Removing the previous outing from their memories is exactly what Smith and Eason did in the 127-120 loss to the Warriors. Each player looked more comfortable on the court, finding their spots to help the Rockets stay competitive. Both players finished with career-highs in points as Smith scored 22 points, and Eason ended the game with 19 points. After a terrible shooting night against the Pacers, the rookies combined to shoot 53% (16-of-30) from the field.

Although the Rockets did not win, Silas was happy to see his first-round draft picks put the previous game behind them and compete against the defending NBA champions.

“Flushing that last game and having the mental fortitude to come out and play well tonight,” Silas said of the rookies’ showings.

Houston resumes its 2022-23 schedule on Friday when it takes on the Atlanta Hawks at Toyota Center. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. Central.

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Takeaways: Rockets rookies Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason set career highs in close loss to Warriors

#Rockets rookies Jabari Smith Jr. (22/7) and Tari Eason (19/8) each scored career highs, but it wasn’t quite enough to offset an incredible game by Golden State’s Klay Thompson.

The effort was much improved for the young Houston Rockets relative to Friday’s ugly home loss to Indiana, but the defending NBA champion Warriors had too much offense from future Hall of Fame guards Steph Curry and Klay Thompson in Golden State’s 127-120 victory (box score) on Sunday night at Toyota Center.

Thompson scored a season-high 41 points on an astounding 10-of-13 from 3-point range (76.9%), while Curry made 7-of-14 on 3-pointers (50%) while dropping 33 points and a season-high 15 assists. The Warriors (8-9) won on the road for the first time this season.

Rookie forwards Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason each had career highs in scoring for the Rockets (3-14), with Smith posting 22 points and 7 rebounds on 8-of-14 shooting (57.1%) in 32 minutes and Tari Eason adding 19 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 steals in 23 minutes off the bench. Eason made 8-of-14 shots (57.1%) from the field.

“He was incredible,” Warriors defensive ace Draymond Green said postgame when asked about Eason. “I like Tari. Those are the type of guys that stick and become somebody in this league.”

Kevin Porter Jr. returned after missing one game with a sore back and scored a team-high 30 points for Houston on 10-of-19 shooting (52.6%) and 5-of-11 on 3-pointers (45.5). Porter also dished a team-high 6 assists to only 2 turnovers. Unfortunately, Porter’s strong backcourt game was offset by a dud from Jalen Green, who scored 16 points on 4-of-15 shooting (26.7%) and 1-of-8 on 3-pointers (12.5%).

Scroll on for highlights, analysis, and postgame interviews at Toyota Center. Houston’s four-game homestand continues with a third matchup Friday versus Atlanta, with tipoff set for 7 p.m. Central.