Christian Wood (illness) didn’t play in Miami, but the Rockets kept Monday’s game competitive versus the top team in the Eastern Conference thanks to young guards Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green.
Ultimately, the short-handed Rockets didn’t have enough to win versus the East-leading Heat, as evidenced by the 123-106 final (box score). But there were some promising signs as Houston’s young and rebuilding squad looked to build on Sunday’s stunning home win versus Memphis.
The Rockets trailed by only four points at halftime, but with Houston (16-49) on the second night of a back-to-back in two different cities, the Heat (44-22) gradually pulled away as Monday’s game moved along.
Porter scored a team-high 22 points while making 5-of-11 3-pointers (45.5), while Green added 20 points on 8-of-16 shooting (50.0%) and 4-of-10 on treys (40.0%). For Green, the No. 2 overall pick from a strong 2021 NBA draft, it was his sixth time to score 20+ points in eight games.
Meanwhile, rookie guard Josh Christopher added 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting (54.5%), including 3-of-6 on 3-pointers (50.0%). Fellow first-round rookie Alperen Sengun started in place of Wood (whose illness was not related to COVID-19) and had 13 points and 8 rebounds.
The Heat were led by young guard Tyler Herro, who scored 31 points off the bench on blistering 12-of-18 shooting efficiency (66.7%), including 6-of-9 on 3-pointers (66.7%). Veteran forward Jimmy Butler added 21 points and 7 rebounds for Miami on 7-of-11 shooting (63.6%).
Scroll on for highlights and postgame reaction.
