The NBA’s longest losing streak of the 2022-23 season is now at 13 games after Houston’s 113-104 loss (box score) on Saturday night at Minnesota. The young and rebuilding Rockets (10-36) have now lost 18 of their last 19 games, dating back to early December.
Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves (24-24) with 44 points on 17-of-29 shooting (58.6%), and 8-of-16 on 3-pointers (50.0%). That was more than enough on a night where his counterpart, Houston’s Jalen Green, had 10 points and 6 turnovers on 3-of-13 shooting (23.1%).
Rookie forward Tari Eason made his first start and played well for the Rockets, who were without a pair of starters in Kevin Porter Jr. (left foot soreness) and Jabari Smith Jr. (right ankle sprain).
Alperen Sengun led the way in scoring and rebounding, but it wasn’t enough to win. Key offensive statistics for Houston included:
- Sengun: 19 points, 16 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 blocks; 7-of-9 shooting (77.8%), 1-of-1 on 3-pointers
- Tari Eason: 14 points, 9 rebounds, 5-of-11 shooting (45.5%), 1-of-2 on 3-pointers (50.0%)
- Eric Gordon: 16 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 7-of-12 shooting (58.3%), 2-of-5 on 3-pointers (40.0%)
- KJ Martin: 10 points, 8 rebounds, 5-of-11 shooting (45.5%), 0-of-3 on 3-pointers
Scroll on for Saturday’s highlights, analysis and postgame interview reaction from Target Center. In the second of two straight games between the clubs, Minnesota pays a return visit to Houston on Monday night. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. Central from Toyota Center.
Green is super, super talented. Has every shot still to be an all-star. But the rest of this season should be all about building good habits and good processes. And that seems to just not be happening.
— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) January 22, 2023
19 points, 16 boards and 7 assists for Alperen Şengün, but Anthony Edwards scorches Houston for 44. It’s the 13th straight loss for the #Rockets — and they play these same Timberwolves at Toyota Center on Monday, possibly with Rudy Gobert back.
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) January 22, 2023
I have said it before, and I will say it again. The Rockets do not do a good job of recognizing when an opposing player gets it going and dont know how to get the ball to a player on their team when they have it going
— Lachard Binkley (@BinkleyHoops) January 22, 2023
Ryan Hollins just said the Rockets take too long to adjust defensively when an individual opponent has it rolling offensively.
— Kris M Gardner (@TheHRReview) January 22, 2023
I am not the type to overreact and throw out a bunch of hot takes, but this is embarrassing. No way around it no excuses this is just horrible. Another lackluster fourth quarter. Over 20 turnovers again and 14 missed fts
— Lachard Binkley (@BinkleyHoops) January 22, 2023
Minnesota has 30 points off the 23 Rockets’ turnovers. Minnesota only scored 3 points off 8 Rockets’ turnovers in the first quarter.
— Kris M Gardner (@TheHRReview) January 22, 2023
Jalen Green gets picked in the backcourt by Austin Rivers, leading to a fast break basket. It’s his 6th turnover. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” says Ryan Hollins. “This is just absurd,” says Craig Ackerman. #Rockets have 23 turnovers.
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) January 22, 2023
Sengun’s a touch late and there’s only so much he can do with how limited his verticality is (really needs to work on getting his chest in front of drivers), but this one is on Green. That closeout is pretty indicative of his season on defense. Been really rough. https://t.co/PsoznYXlzV
— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) January 22, 2023
And if you don’t think that KPJ is important to this team then you don’t know basketball #Sarge
— #SARGE (@BigSargeSportz) January 22, 2023
Jalen Green is getting clamped by Austin Rivers
Bruh
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) January 22, 2023
3 games against the Timberwolves this season and 3 games with 20+ turnovers
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) January 22, 2023
Jalen Green was coming off a career-high 41 points. He is 3 of 13, 1 of 4 from the line, with five turnovers.
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) January 22, 2023
Nathan Knight’s season average:
3.1 points per game
Tonight against the #Rockets:
19 points and counting
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) January 22, 2023
Well, the nice defense the Rockets played in the second quarter went out the window in the 3rd. They gave up 37 points in the 3rd
— Lachard Binkley (@BinkleyHoops) January 22, 2023
Alperen Sengun just secured the rebound, ran the length of the court and got an amazing seal on his man under the bucket for Garry Bird to shoot a contested three instead of make the entry pass down low.
I can’t.
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) January 22, 2023
Garrison is having a terrible time out there…He looks lost…#Sarge
— #SARGE (@BigSargeSportz) January 22, 2023
Edwards is where Jalen has to get to next in his progression. Edwards just completely takes a game over and changes momentum
— Lachard Binkley (@BinkleyHoops) January 22, 2023
Man, the Rockets just let go of the rope the second things get rough
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) January 22, 2023
I’m sure Green will get picked for the Rising Stars game again, but the Rockets gotta have him skip it and just get away from basketball for a week https://t.co/9V14C3m0mW
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) January 22, 2023
Alperen Sengun just played the entire second quarter and leads the #Rockets with 21 minutes played at halftime.
I don’t ever want to hear anything about his stamina or conditioning being an issue ever again.
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) January 22, 2023
Sengun is so far and away Houston’s best player it’s not even funny. Everything they do going forward needs to revolve around that fact. And the best thing about this is Jabari Smith can fully get to this level, meaning Houston could have a hell of a frontcourt
— Tony Jones (@Tjonesonthenba) January 22, 2023
Sengun with a first half double-double, has had at least 10 rebounds and points in five of eight games.
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) January 22, 2023
Sengun. Sometimes, you just gotta do it yourself. 18 points, 13 rebounds, 6 assists for the 20-year-old in Minnesota. 6 minutes left in the third.
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) January 22, 2023
The Rockets missed 14 free throws and allowed 30 points off turnovers in a game they lost by 9
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) January 22, 2023
Lionel Hollins…We have questions we need answered about the defensive scheme of the Rockets…We just want to know where does the break down come from…#Sarge
— #SARGE (@BigSargeSportz) January 22, 2023
This is probably Jalen’s worst game of his career so far
I’m not going to sugar coat it, its bad. He should probably be benched for this effort, especially defensively. #Rockets
— Paulo Alves (@PauloAlvesNBA) January 22, 2023
The Rockets lost this game by themselves. 21 Turnovers, 14 missed free throws, and a loss by 9.
Alperen Sengun was terrific, and I’m sure his statline is floating all over the timeline. All starters scored double digits
— Itamar (@Itamar_17_10) January 22, 2023
At some point they have to do something about Jalen Green. The lack of effort isn’t fair to everyone else. At least Josh Christopher plays hard when he gets a chance https://t.co/5DBC8cuYOx
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) January 22, 2023
I don’t have words to describe what I’m seeing right now from Jalen Green but it felt like he couldn’t even be bothered to put in his full shot form on that brick ft and then Tate immediately had to push him in front of the man he was supposed to be guarding on D
— Nathan Fogg (@NathanFogg1) January 22, 2023
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