Category: Houston Rockets Blog

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Rockets sign David Nwaba, waive Isaiah Hartenstein

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey today announced that the team has signed free agent guard/forward David Nwaba.

And in a related move, the Rockets have waived center Isaiah Hartenstein.

Nwaba (6-5, 219) was eligible for the 2016 NBA Draft following his senior season at Cal Poly. In four NBA seasons, he has appeared in 161 games with 37 starts while averaging 6.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.1 assists.

In 20 games for Brooklyn this season, Nwaba shot 42.9% from 3-point range. He is shooting 49.2% from the floor for his career and was named All-NBA Development League All-Defensive Team in 2016-17.

Hartenstein was the 43rd pick by Houston in the 2017 NBA Draft and appeared in a total of 51 games as a Rocket.

Rockets break losing streak, beat Timberwolves

The Rockets have racked up losses lately. But the Timberwolves are in a state of rebuild, and do have D’Angelo Russell and Karl-Anthony Towns, but with KAT out of action, Houston suddenly remembered how to win again. Here’s the Houston Chronicle:

Facing a team with the third-worst record in the NBA and playing without star Karl-Anthony Towns, the Rockets had seemed heading to another inexplicable defeat, trailing by 10 late in the third quarter. When they finally got on the sort of roll they could not find for a week, the Rockets built a 13-point lead and finished off the Timberwolves, 117-111, Tuesday at Toyota Center.

It might have been much more difficult than they would have liked. But by the fourth quarter, much of the formula was back in place. Harden finished with 37 points, making 5 of 10 3s (including a heave from the backcourt he missed.) Russell Westbrook had 27, driving to fourth-quarter slams.

When the Timberwolves were within six, Eric Gordon, who had missed his first six 3-pointers in his first game back from a sore knee, nailed consecutive 3s to take the lead back to a safe double-digits.

The Rockets continue to play extreme “small-ball,” starting 6-foot-7, 209-pound Robert Covington and 6-foot-5, 245-pound forward P.J. Tucker at their big-man spots.

Rockets weekly notes: James Harden close to passing Calvin Murphy

Houston Rockets Weekly Notes

James Harden needs 59 points to surpass Calvin Murphy (17,949) for the second-most in franchise history… Hakeem Olajuwon is the Rockets all-time leading scorer with 26,511 points… Harden is averaging a league-best 34.3 ppg this season.

Jeff Green is averaging 18.3 points on 72.7% shooting over the past three games… he has scored in double-figures in five of his nine games as a Rocket while shooting 66.7% from the floor and 46.4% from 3-point range.

The Rockets have recorded at least 10 steals in 12 of the past 21 games and are averaging 9.8 spg over that span after only having 10+ steals twice in the 20 games prior while averaging 6.7 spg… Houston ranks fifth in the NBA with 8.4 spg this overall this season after finishing fifth with 8.5 spg in 2018-19.

Houston has scored 50+ points in the paint in two of the past three games after doing so once the seven games prior… the Rockets have scored 50+ points in the paint 25 times this season after doing so 19 times in 2018-19.

Rockets keeping Jeff Green for remainder of season

In an expected move, the Houston Rockets yesterday signed forward Jeff Green for the remainder of the season.

In four games as a Rocket, Green is averaging 9.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 19.3 minutes per game while shooting 70.0% from the floor and 61.5% from 3-point range. He has played at least 18 minutes in 17 of his 34 games for Utah and Houston this season, and is averaging 2.0 3-pointers made on 49.3% shooting in those games.

Houston Chronicle:

“I really like Jeff,” Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni said. “He fits exactly what we need. Athletic. He can guard on the perimeter, guard bigs, hit 3s, run the floor. He can dunk and finish, roll, pop. He’s a complete player that complements what we do.”

He initially signed a 10-day contract with Houston on Feb. 18.

The Rockets are 38-20 this season, which is the Western conference’s 4th best record, and are on a five-game winning streak.

Rockets sign Jeff Green to 10-day contract

The Houston Rockets yesterday signed veteran free agent forward Jeff Green to a 10-day contract.

The team will reportedly also soon add small forward DeMarre Carroll, once he clears waivers.

The 6-foot-8, 237-pound Green, now in his 12th NBA season, has played in 890 games with 543 starts, averaging 13.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 29.6 minutes per game.

This season, he played limited minutes for the Utah Jazz.

Last season, in 77 games with 44 starts for the Wizards, Green averaged 12.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.4 3-pointers made in 27.2 minutes per game.

Per the Houston Chronicle:

Green, 33, also fits in the Rockets’ recent history of late-season veteran additions, moves that have brought in Michael Beasley and Joe Johnson and generated mixed results. On Thursday, they are expected to sign veteran forward DeMarre Carroll when he clears waivers, according to two individuals with knowledge of the team’s plans.

Even if Green replaces Sefolosha as the backup center, that would still give the Rockets 10 players in the rotation, assuming coach Mike D’Antoni looks at Carroll down the stretch, too. That would seem to be more than he would play in the postseason, making the final eight weeks of the season valuable to experiment.

The Rockets are 34-20 this season, which is the 5th best record in the Western conference.

The team recently traded the only center who played real minutes, Clint Capela, and didn’t replace him with a similar player. Smallball or bust, apparently.

Rockets waive forward Gary Clark

The Houston Rockets have waived forward Gary Clark.

Clark was eligible for the 2018 NBA Draft and originally signed with Houston in July of 2018. In two seasons as a Rocket, he appeared in 69 games with two starts, while averaging 12.4 minutes played.

Following his senior season at Cincinnati, Clark was named the American Athletic Conference Player of the Year. He was also the AAC Defensive Player in each of his final two seasons with the Bearcats.

Rockets sign William Howard to two-way contract

The Houston Rockets signed forward William Howard to a two-way contract today.

Howard (6-8, 207) was playing for Salt Lake City in the NBA G League and is the eighth GATORADE Call-Up of the season. In 15 games for the Stars, Howard averaged 13.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.7 steals and 2.1 3-pointers made on 43.7% shooting.

Prior to joining the Stars, Howard was with Utah during training camp and the preseason. He spent the past seven seasons playing professionally in his home country of France.

Rockets give Chris Clemons a standard NBA contract

Earlier today, the Houston Rockets converted the two-way contract of guard Chris Clemons into a standard NBA contract.

Clemons (5-9, 180) was eligible for the 2019 NBA Draft and originally signed with Houston on July 3. He has appeared in 20 games for the Rockets this season and is averaging 21.1 points and 5.5 3-pointer made per 36 minutes played. Clemons has also averaged 21.6 points in five G League games for the Rockets affiliate, Rio Grande Valley.

As a senior at Campbell University last season, Clemons led the nation in scoring with 30.1 ppg. He finished his career with the third-most points (3,225) and the fifth-most 3-pointers made (444) in NCAA Division I history.

James Harden scores 60 points in 31 minutes vs Hawks

 

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James Harden had himself a game on Saturday.

Well, three quarters of a game.

Playing 30 minutes and 41 seconds and then sitting out the fourth quarter, the superstar Rockets guard shot 16 of 24, including 8 of 14 from three-point range, and hit 20 of 23 free throws for 60 points, eight assists and three steals.

The Rockets beat the Hawks easily, 158-111.

In the loss, Hawks guard Trae Young put up 37 points and seven assists.

According to ESPN.com, “it was Harden’s fourth career 60-point game, tying him with Michael Jordan for third most in NBA history, trailing only Kobe Bryant (six) and Wilt Chamberlain (32). Harden is the only active player who has scored 60 points more than once.”

The Rockets are now 13-6 for the season.

Austin Rivers signs with Rockets

 

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The Houston Rockets have signed free agent guard Austin Rivers for the remainder of the season.

Originally drafted 10th overall by New Orleans in the 2012 NBA Draft, the 6-4, 200 Rivers played one season at Duke.

Rivers, now in his 7th NBA season, has played in 437 games (132 starts), averaging 9.3 points, 2.4 assists and 2.1 rebounds in 24.2 minutes per game.

Last season, as a Clipper, Rivers averaged career highs of 15.1 points, 4.0 assists, 2.4 rebounds and 1.21 steals. He also averaged a career-best 2.2 3-pointers made on 37.8% shooting.

The 26-year-old started this season with Washington prior to being traded to the Suns on Dec. 17.

The Rockets are 17-15 this season and host the OKC Thunder tomorrow.