Veteran goalie John Wall led Saturday’s way with 28 points and six assists, leading the Houston Rockets to a short 102-94 victory (boxing score) at the Toyota Center over the Sacramento Kings.
With his usual partner on the field James Harden, a late scratch due to an ankle sprain, Wall picked up the weakness and then some, showing shaped lightning that made him five times NBA All-Star before a series of injury. Wall missed the first two games of the 2020-21 regular season in Houston, both losses, due to a mandatory quarantine, but he triggered the Rockets (2-2) both offensively and defensively since his return.
With 50 points combined in the two games, both against Sacramento, Wall became Michael Jordan’s first NBA player in 2001 to score 50 in his first two games after a layoff of at least two years. Using a lightning first step to break the defense, Wall also led the Rockets with 15 assists in those games, including six on Saturday.
Perhaps most impressive, Wall showed the ability to deliver on the other end of the field. Wall had three steals and two blocked shots on Saturday, and his defense helped limit De’Aaron Fox’s rising star to a shot of 17 out of 42 (40.5%) during the two games in Houston. Sacramento (3-3) held on for just 30 points in a decisive second half, with Houston’s suffocating defense leading to victory.
“I heard from people who said he looked good, but I didn’t know until I caught him.” head coach Stephen Silas said postgame. “Regardless of the expectations I had for him, he exceeded them.”
“When I’m healthy, I can be a blocking defender,” added Wall, who said he felt the best shot-blocking guard of all time.
“I bring so much to the game besides scoring,” Wall postgame said.
Outside the Wall, Christian Wood continued his strong run with 20 points (50% shooting), 15 rebounds and four blocks, while Eric Gordon scored 21 in the last minute to replace Harden. Silas said after the game that it is too early to know if Harden will be able to play in the next game in Houston, which takes place on Monday at home against Dallas.