In Wednesday’s matchup between the Rockets and Jazz, it initially looked as if it would be a repeat performance of the last time the two teams met back in February — when the Jazz blew Houston out by 34 points. Utah led by as much as 18 points on Wednesday and was cruising with a comfortable 14-point lead with 8:35 left in the fourth quarter.
Houston was playing on the second night of a back-to-back without veteran guards Dennis Schröder and Eric Gordon, and they lost durable forward Jae’Sean Tate midway through the game with an ankle injury. At some points, the Rockets looked as if they were sleepwalking.
Houston needed a spark, and they found it in backup forward Kenyon Martin Jr., who is known for his leaping ability and electrifying dunks. Yet, it wasn’t a fantastic put-back slam over a seven-footer or a lob pass from a point guard that brought the crowd of 13,583 at Toyota Center to its feet. It was Martin’s long-range shooting that helped the Rockets eliminate their fourth-quarter deficit and send the game into overtime.
“I give credit to my teammates for getting downhill and looking for me,” said Rockets forward KJ Martin who went 4 for 8 from three-point range against the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night. #Rockets #LightTheFuse #Sarge pic.twitter.com/z7NjLYNco2
— #SARGE (@BigSargeSportz) March 3, 2022
Martin, 21, scored eight of his season-high 20 points in the fourth quarter of the 132-127 overtime loss. His 3-pointer from the left corner helped the Rockets pull within 108-102 with 4:45 left on the clock.
“My teammates were getting downhill, and (Rudy) Gobert was helping a lot, and they found me, and I just knocked the shots down,” said Martin, who shot 4-of-8 on 3-pointers. “I give credit to my teammates for getting downhill and looking for me, and me being able to knock them down.”
Having teammates like Kevin Porter Jr., Jalen Green, and Josh Christopher, who can get into the lane consistently, opens the floor for players like Martin to get open looks from 3-point range. Knowing that he can benefit from those drive-and-kick plays, Martin has made it part of his after-practice routine to work with assistant coaches on perfecting it.
Over his last eight games, Martin is shooting 14-for-24 from behind the 3-point arc (58.3%), and the second-year forward is now up to a respectable 35.0% for the 2021-22 season as a whole. That is much more in line with the 36.5% clip he shot as a rookie, and it would seem to offer hope that his shooting accuracy from long range is sustainable.
“Just repetition,” Martin when asked about his recent success from 3-point range. “Coming in every day and getting up shots. Just keep staying at it and hanging in the gym, and believing in myself.”
Houston (15-47) will have a day off before heading to Denver for Friday’s game versus the Nuggets, who are 8-2 over their last 10 games.
