Houston Rocket’s coach Ime Udoka hoped his team would rediscover his form of early season when he returned from All-Star Break this weekend.
“Just overall to come back to what we did early, which was aggressive and put teams back on his heels,” he said before Rocket’s home game on Friday to Minnesota. “We have had chances to win many of the games we lost in this little stretch here. We have to get our turn back, our confidence and get into attack mode.”
One night after that happened in a 121-115 welcome-back victory over Timberwolves, Rockets will have a quick opportunity to repeat the urgency as they travel to Salt Lake City to oppose Utah Jazz on Saturday night.
Rockets not only got a little of its swagger back in one night when Jalen Green scored 35, the Alperen Sengun had 24 points and 13 returns and Amen Thompson compiled 17 points, 10 returns and six assists, but they also received some refund after two new losses for Timberwolves.
Winners of three of the last four, the rockets also saw the return of Jabari Smith Jr., as a total of 15 points and nine returns in a reserve role after missing 22 matches with a broken left hand.
“I think he is easy (to play) because he controls many boxes and we can put him in many places,” Udoka said as he talked about Smith coming from the bench.
“I think overall only his skill and what he brings with him to the table – the edge protection and rebounding and some of the things that have lost that he is out – will be a welcome sight to be back.”
The Saturday game will be the first of three between Utah and Houston over the next six weeks.
The jazz will also complete a back-to-back set, after taking a defeat of 130-107 against the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder in their first match back from All-Star Break on Friday.
Utah has lost five of the last six matches.
“It was a good kind of welcoming back after all-Star Break,” said jazz coach Will Hardy after Friday loss. “I’m glad we have another game (Saturday).”
Veterans John Collins (26 points) and Jordan Clarkson (19 points) had strong offensive matches against the best team of the West.
Jazz also got solid efforts from its young group, which Hardy expects to see more of the AS end of the season approaching.
Keyonte George netted 20 points, Isaiah Collier pulled out 12 assists with nine points, Kyle Filipowski added 12 points and Walker Kessler contributed 19 returns against Thunder.
“It’s time to graduate. I don’t think beginners are beginners anymore,” Hardy said, referring to Collier and Filipowski. “They have had a lot of experience.”
Jazz also got his first look at Jaden Springer, which signed a 10-day contract this week. He registered seven points and two assists in his 11-minute Utah debut.
“I wouldn’t say I was surprised. I was ready for anything,” said Springer. “It’s been pretty good. They’ve done a good job of getting me up.”
Being on the track with so many young players is exciting for running, which is only 22 but has been around the NBA since 2021.
“I think it’s fun. It’s a young team,” he said. “We definitely had some good spurts out there tonight. I can definitely see this team grow and get better.”
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