KJ Martin, Khyri Thomas set career highs in Houston’s loss at Utah
Rookie forward KJ Martin (27 points, 10 rebounds) scored above 20 points for a third straight game, and it helped keep the Houston Rockets somewhat competitive in Saturday’s 124-116 loss at Utah (box score). Both Martin and newly signed guard Khyri Thomas (27 points, 5 steals) set new career-highs in scoring, and each hit four 3-pointers, as well.
Georges Niang led the Jazz with 24 points, including 6-of-8 (75.0%) on 3-pointers. Jordan Clarkson (21 points) and Bojan Bogdanovic (20 points) also had key roles for Utah, which had six players in double figures.
It was the second road game in 24 hours for a very short-handed Houston squad with only eight available players. Meanwhile, the Jazz (50-18) own the NBA’s best record and were playing at home. The Rockets (16-52) remain in possession of the league’s worst record, while Utah is close to securing home-court advantage throughout the 2021 playoffs.
With Saturday’s loss, Houston clinched one of the NBA’s bottom-three records in the 2020-21 regular season, which will maximize its odds of acquiring a top-four pick in the June 22 draft lottery.
Rockets fall to the Jazz, 124-116. 8 available players again – these guys are running on FUMES and still playing so hard.
KJ Martin and Khyri Thomas both with career-highs of 27 points. Houston's 3 bench players outscored Utah's bench 51-40. Also forced 18 turnovers for 26 pts.
— Cayleigh Griffin (@cayleighgriffin) May 9, 2021
The Rockets were missing 10 of their 17 players under standard contracts: Christian Wood (right ankle), John Wall (right hamstring), Kelly Olynyk (right ankle), Eric Gordon (right groin), Sterling Brown (left knee), Kevin Porter Jr. (left ankle), Avery Bradley (personal reasons), Dante Exum (left calf), David Nwaba (right wrist) and D.J. Wilson (health and safety protocols). Houston got to eight active players, which is the NBA’s minimum to play, by signing Thomas on Friday to a hardship exception.
Houston continues its four-game road trip on Monday night in Portland, with tipoff set for 9:00 p.m. Central. For now, here’s a look at highlights, analysis, and postgame interviews after Saturday’s loss at Utah.
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#Rockets fall to Jazz, 124-116, fall to 16-52. Martin 27p, 10r. Tate 13p, 10a. Thomas 27p, 5 stls. The loss ensures Houston will have a 52.1% chance of a top 4 pick in the lottery(highest odds possible).
Top 4 pick odds: 1-14%, 2-13.4%, 3-12.7%, 4-12%
Not top 4 pick odds: 47.9%— Adam Wexler (@AdamJWexler) May 9, 2021
