After Kings guard Malik Monk took exception to a loose-ball foul committed by Rockets guard Garrison Mathews in the fourth quarter of Friday night’s contest in Sacramento, a brief on-court fracas broke out between the two teams (Twitter video link via Bleacher Report).
Following an official review, referees ejected both Monk and Mathews, along with Kings big man Chimezie Metu, who was deemed an “escalator,” and Rockets forward Tari Eason, dubbed an “instigator,” according to Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee.
Fines or suspensions could follow for the four players ejected from Friday’s game, and two more Rockets players could be in danger of one-game bans, according to Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle (Twitter link). Jalen Green and Jae’Sean Tate both left the bench area during the altercation, which typically results in an automatic one-game suspension from the NBA. Orlando recently had eight players receive one-game suspensions for similar violations.
Here’s more on the Rockets:
- With Eric Gordon once again on the trade block in Houston, Kelly Iko of The Athletic tries to find a deal that would make sense for both the Rockets and a potential trade partner. Iko cautions that expectations about Gordon’s value should be tempered — three of his four suggestions don’t involve Houston acquiring a first-round pick, and the one scenario that does include a first-rounder sees the Rockets taking on Richaun Holmes‘ multiyear contract from Sacramento.
- The 10-32 Rockets are in danger of finishing with the NBA’s worst record for the third straight year, and Stephen Silas, who now has a 47-149 (.240) since becoming the club’s head coach, is no lock to coach the team beyond this season — or even for the rest of this season. Exploring that possibility, Jerome Solomon of The Houston Chronicle argues that Silas deserves better and has been dealt a terrible hand since getting his first head coaching job.
- After making 33 starts and averaging a career-high 26.3 minutes per game last season, Garrison Mathews has come exclusively off the bench in 2022/23 and is playing just 12.7 MPG. However, he’s taking the demotion in stride and trying to make an impact in his limited role, writes Danielle Lerner of The Houston Chronicle. “It’s my role, and I’ve got to try to do it the best I can,” Mathews said. “I gotta go out there and hit shots. And if I don’t, then that’s my role. So I gotta be able to do that.”
- The Rockets’ defense has been bad during their current slide (nine straight losses, 14 in their last 15 games), and those issues go beyond the team’s talent on that side of the ball, Lerner writes in another Chronicle story. According to Lerner, it often appears that Houston’s defensive effort is lacking, with basic assignments missed, especially in transition. The Rockets are allowing an NBA-worst 26.2 transition points per game this season, per NBA.com.
The Rockets suck plain and simple. Talk has been adding a veteran to this team. What good will that do. I feel bad for Eric and really think he would do some good elsewhere. I know the team is frustrated, coaches are frustrated and more. Silas did not deserve this for his first experience. 3 years of being worst team in league. I have seen nothing but disaster with this team lately. I can see tempers flaring with players on the rockets and with Sacramento. I really wonder if the Rockets can beat a G League team. Bad enough the Texans suck. We need someone that will smack some heads together with these players. But cannot keep this going with this team.
smack some heads together?
Calm down. They’re staying with a lot of quality teams but haven’t been able to keep up down the stretch in the 4th. But is that so bad with draft position being affected?
Rockets might not be getting Ws but they’re heading in the right direction. KPJ & Jalen are gonna be a dynamic backcourt once they get into their prime. Lockin up KPJ to a longterm deal before the season was a smart move… As I said numerous times before the draft, they should’ve taken Bennedict Mathurin at #3 overall. But Jabari is eventually gonna be a big time 2way forward. He just needs more exp & more strength. Wembo would fit them about as perfect as any team that has a shot at him. If they don’t get him they’re gonna have to look to free agency to add some muscle/rebounding down low… link to m.youtube.com
Mathews been acting like a want a be tough guy since he got the tattoos.
The Ceiling of Jabari Smith is 27th pick Kyle Kuzma?
The Ceiling of Jalen Green is 30th pick Desmond Bane?
Head Coach is not the main problem
They are not able to draft someone like Tatum, Brown, Doncic or Morant
Rockets fans say Sengun is their best player
Green ceiling is damn near exactly the level he’s playing now?
Bane and Greens numbers are almost the same with Green playing slightly less efficient and with Bane being an amazing 3 shooter whereas green being poor from 3 with no star spacing the floor for him.
C’mon you can’t do that to the top scorer from his draft(arguably best performing too, depending on how you rate Franz who I also think deserves more noise), Greens only behind Zion, Edwards & Lamelo on players under 23 in scoring.
while also playing in by far the worst system in the league that compliments Porter Jr ISO’ing thinking he Luka. Green will be AS and up, he’s on the same trajectory as Edwards who should already be an AS this year. Both are 2 young guys that don’t get the credit they deserve, they’ll both be top players in the league.
I like your reply
How are Rockets on the pace to be 3-peat as the worst team in the league
No efficiency
No defense
If you don’t play defense, you need efficiency
No argument, my point is your comparison of Green to Bane or Smith to Kuzma. Both are doing their jobs well and look much better than that. You said they don’t have a Tatum or Brown who had each other or Another star and didn’t put up the numbers this early. I agree with Luka and Ja but even Ja has Bane and JJJ.
Under playing Smith & Sengun is a big factor, coupled with terrible offensive plays copied and pasted from Houston Harden days or current Luka designed for KPJ is the offensive issues. It’s all Silas Knows how to write up.
Defensive it’s painfully obvious, they don’t defend the 3 or the fast break. Watch any Rockets game this year and if it isn’t the opposing star having season highs it’s team highs in 3s or fast break points. No one tracks runners and no one is willing to get out and guard, it’s all hustle which the starting 5 lack.
But I do want to point out, take out Gordon & Boban and you have the youngest team by far. Starters are 22,20,19,20 and with Gordon out another 21. Their rotation is all players sub 2 years in the league. It’s not surprising they’re this poor with next to no vetran influence.
It just looks like asset collection with no direction. With exception of Green Sengun and Smith. They have 6or7 players 21 and under who are good role or starter/future starter or better level that can easily be got by other teams. They have the value pieces but they don’t have anything else to show for it and it’s painful as a fan to watch.
In June Rockets have one of three selections
First pick to select Wemby
Second pick Scott
Third pick tank
It is possible that new regulation is not allowed to have 4th year tank for any team. In other words, Rockets have no draft pick at all on the 4th year tank
They won’t have a pick in 24 anyway as OKC have it.
If Houston don’t get Wemby or Scoot. Even though there are some other good players like Thompson etc. they most likely make drastic moves for any star not nailed down.
They keep drafting the same type of players whom play mostly the same game is why. None can really stand out on the court as a result.
It’s time to break them up.KPJ,Green and Seguin are the only keepers.