Rockets' comeback effort falls 3 points short in 111-108 loss to Heat

POSTED: December 15, 2022 -- 11:47 p.m. CT

HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- The Houston Rockets held the Miami Heat scoreless the last 5 minutes of the game; however, the Rockets still lost to the Heat 111-108 Thursday night. Houston trailed Miami 111-99 with 5 minutes remaining and outscored Miami 9-0 the rest of the ball game.

Kevin Porter Jr. missed a game-tying three-point shot. Rockets big man Usman Garuba tipped the missed shot off Miami big man Orlando Robinson with 2 seconds left on the game clock; however, the ball was ruled out of bounds off Garuba.

At the 2:32 mark of the fourth quarter, Rockets Head Coach Stephen Silas used his 1 Coach's Challenge. His challenge was successful; however, by rule, NBA coaches only get 1 coaches' challenge per game regardless if their challenge is successful or not.

The NBA eliminated the automatic review last season; therefore, with no challenge remaining, the Rockets were out of luck. Miami ball. Miami called timeout before passing the ball to Jimmy Butler to seal the win for the Heat.

"Yeah, I didn't even know they (the NBA) took that rule out," KPJ said after the game. "Reviewing. That was a vital possession. That was a vital missed call. If I make the shot, I make the shot. But, we had the effort. We should have been rewarded."

After the game, Rockets Head Coach Stephen Silas said the play not being up for review was "very frustrating".

With the win tonight, the Heat has won five in a row versus the Rockets. Houston has its five-game home winning streak snapped while Miami has won four of its past five to reach .500 (15-15) for the first time since Game #14.

Miami's Tyler Herro scored a career-high 41 points. Herro scored 17 of Miami's 29 points in the first quarter to carry the Heat. The game was tied at 29 at the end of the first quarter.

The Rockets stellar defense the 2 previous games this week was non-existent in the second quarter. Miami shot 56.0 fg% (14 for 25) in the second period including 41.7 3pt% (5 for 12). Miami outscored Houston 37-23 in the quarter. The Rockets trailed 66-52 at halftime.

"The way the first half went," Coach Silas said after the game. "Where there's 50-50 balls; and, there's offensive rebounds. There's hustle plays that we weren't making. That's not us; and, that was the message at halftime."

The Rockets limited the Heat to 20 points in the third quarter on 36.4 fg% (8 for 22) and just 23.1 3pt% (3 for 13). Jalen Green scored 12 points in the third quarter (4 for 8 field goals and 4 for 5 free throws).

Houston finished the third quarter with a 13-2 run over the last 4:25 and outscored Miami 33-20 in the quarter to trail by one point (86-85) heading to the fourth quarter.

Tari Eason's dunk (assist from TyTy Washington) put the Rockets on top 87-86; however, Tyler Herro knocked down back-to-back three-pointers for a 92-87 Heat lead. Herro and Jimmy Butler helped Miami increase the lead to 111-99 with 5 minutes remaining in the game.

The Heat did not score the rest of the game. Miami committed 3 turnovers and Butler missed 2 free throws in the final 5 minutes to give the Rockets a chance to get back in the game.

Jabari Smith Jr. hit his only three-point shot (7 attempts) to slice Houston's deficit to 5 (111-106) with 2:55 to go in the game. Seconds later, Smith missed another three-point shot while Butler and Herro missed jumpers.

Usman Garuba missed 2 free throws with 75 seconds remaining; however, after Butler committed a turnover, Eric Gordon missed a long three-point shot. Garuba grabbed the miss and scored a putback layup.

Herro missed a 9-foot fadeaway jumper. Jabari Smith Jr grabbed the rebound; and, the Rockets called timeout to set up the final play. KPJ got an open look for his three-point attempt; but, the shot bounced off the rim. Then, Garuba tipped the miss off Orlando Robinson's hands but the play was not reviewable.

Houston outrebounded Miami 51-40. The Rockets have outrebounded the opposition by double-digits in four of the past six games and eight times overall this season after doing so five times in 2021-22.

Kevin Porter Jr. finished the game with 21 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals. KPJ has recorded at least 20 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists seven times this season after doing so six times in 2021-22.

Jalen Green had a team-high 22 points and 5 rebounds. Jabari Smith Jr. had 15 points and 11 rebounds, marking his fifth double-double. Jabari has grabbed 10 or more rebounds in three of the past 5 games after doing so four times his first 22 games played.

In the third game of his NBA career, TyTy Washington Jr. had a team-high tying 5 assists without a turnover in 12 minutes of play off the bench.

Jimmy Butler had 20 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists, 4 steals and 3 blocks. It's the 12th time a player has posted those numbers going back to 1996-97 and the third time going back to 2017-18.

Tyler Herro made 10 three-pointers (15 attempts) against the Rockets. That ties the Heat record for the most three-point field goals made in a game and ties the Rockets opponent high.

NEXT:

The Rockets' next game is Saturday night, December 17, at home versus the Portland Trail Blazers. Tip is set for 7 p.m. Central Time.

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