For Rockets, confidence is key to Kevin Porter Jr.’s on-court success

Houston Rockets point guard Kevin Porter Jr. looked like he was going through the motions against the San Antonio Spurs for three quarters on Wednesday night. He had a measly 6 points heading into the final period as the Rockets held a slim 91-90 lead over the Spurs.

His body language displayed that frustration, as Dejounte Murray regularly harassed him on the offensive and defensive ends of the court.

Yet, anyone who knows Porter will tell you that he is a fierce competitor and does not fold under pressure. He welcomes it with open arms, and he treats the praise and criticism the same.

In a road game against the Los Angeles Lakers in November, Porter had the ball in his hands in the final seconds and his team down by two points. He retrieved the ball from the backcourt, took a couple of dribbles, and shot a three-pointer over the outstretched arms of a defender. The ball hit the back of the rim and bounced out. After the game, Porter told media members that he would take that shot again, if he had to.

That opportunity arose again this month when the Rockets were tied with Washington at 111. Porter pulled up from 3-point range and successfully knocked down the shot that eventually gave Houston the victory and broke an eight-game losing streak with just 0.4 seconds left.

As the game progressed on Wednesday against the Spurs, Porter knew that he had to shake off the lousy night he was having because his team might need him down the stretch. And it turns out they did.

After replacing center Daniel Theis with under six minutes left in the final quarter, Porter scored 12 points, including a late 3-pointer before the shot clock expired to help the Rockets defeat the Spurs, 128-124.

“Fourth quarter was winning time, and I felt good,” said Porter, who finished the game with 18 points and three clutch 3-pointers.

Rockets head coach Stephen Silas also noticed that his starting point guard was heating up late in the game.

“He got hot,” Silas said of Porter in postgame comments to reporters in San Antonio. “He never lacks for confidence. That’s one of the things I love about him. He’s not afraid of the moment, at all.”

Porter said after the game that those types of big shots he made on Wednesday night are the kind he prepares for:

All my life, I’ve been wanting those shots. When the moment is hot, I just get a feeling and raise my aggression on offense and defense. I love those moments. I definitely get more confident going down the stretch when it’s a game like that, taking those shots.

The Rockets will head out to the West Coast for a two-game series against the Sacramento Kings starting on Friday.