Rockets End 2022-23 Season In Win vs. Wizards
The Houston Rockets closed their 2022-23 campaign in a 114-109 road win over the Washington Wizards, Sunday afternoon, inside Capital One Arena.
Jabari Smith Jr. led the way for the Rockets with 20 points 6-for-11 shooting and three rebounds and a block. Jalen Green scored 14 points on 50.0 percent shooting from the field.
Tari Eason finished with 16 points and eight rebounds in the win.
Behind the play of Josh Christopher, the Rockets jumped out to a 7-2 lead to begin their final game of the season. But it wasn't long before the Wizards took control of the game.
Washington held a 39-31 lead after the first quarter, which led to a 12-point lead by the end of the first half.
The Wizards extended their lead to 16 points early in the third quarter, but the Rockets used a 21-6 run to get back into the game. And following a dunk attempt by Alperen Sengun, Houston took a 78-76 lead with 4 minutes and 44 seconds left in the third.
Christopher started in place of Kevin Porter Jr. due to a knee injury. He finished the game with 13 points and four assists. Sengun added his 30th double-double of the season with 12 points and a dozen rebounds.
The Rockets held an 87-85 lead entering the fourth quarter. And despite a hard-fought battle from Washington, the Rockets were able to hold off the Wizards.
Season recap vs. Wizards:
With the win, the Rockets ended their two-game regular-season series in a 1-1 tie against the Wizards.
Iron men:
In a season full of several injuries to several key players, Tari Eason and K.J. Martin appeared in all 82 games.
Eason became the first rookie to achieve the feat since Mikal Bridges, Collin Sexton and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in 2019. Martin's 82-game season resulted in a career-year, where he averaged 14.5 points on 58 percent shooting from the field and 6.3 rebounds.
The 2022-23 season is over:
The Rockets have completed their 71st season as a franchise with a 22-60 record. Houston's subpar season marked the third consecutive year the Rockets failed to make the playoffs since the 2019-20 season.
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