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Since returning from an extended injury absence (left lower leg) in mid-January, third-year forward Tari Eason has had stellar efficiency for the Houston Rockets.
Combine that with his strong defense and transition play, and it has all played a large role in Houston's recent success — which currently has the streaking Rockets (42-25) on a five-game winning streak while owning the No. 3 spot in the Western Conference standings.
This is the first winning season for the Rockets in five years, and if their current placement holds, it would be their first playoff appearance and Southwest Division title since that same 2019-20 season.
In Friday's blowout victory over in-state rival Dallas, Eason had a career-high 30 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 blocks. He connected on 11-of-15 shots (73.3%), including 2-of-3 on 3-pointers (66.7%) and 6-of-6 from the free-throw line, and the Rockets were an astounding +37 in his 31 minutes.
“The best teams play their best basketball down the stretch,” Eason said in a postgame interview with Vanessa Richardson of Space City Home Network. “That’s all we’re gonna keep doing.”
In 21 games since returning from the injury absence on Jan. 16, Eason is shooting 50.2% overall, 39.2% on 3-pointers, and 78.9% on free throws. All are significantly above his season-long and career-long averages. His true-shooting clip is a robust 59.1% over that time, and the Rockets are +4.1 as a team in the minutes that Eason has played in those games.
“That’s all it is... just getting my rhythm back, getting my legs up,” Eason said during shootaround comments earlier Friday. Hours later, his rhythm certainly looked the part.
For the NBA's 2024-25 season overall (45 games), Eason is now averaging a career-high 12.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.8 steals in 25.0 minutes per game. His percentages of 48.9% overall and 77.0% on free throws are career-highs, as are the totals in points, steals, and minutes.
More: Rockets (42-25) rout Dallas as Houston secures first winning season since 2019-20
This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: In career night, Tari Eason (30 points) and Rockets extend their surge
Continue reading...
Combine that with his strong defense and transition play, and it has all played a large role in Houston's recent success — which currently has the streaking Rockets (42-25) on a five-game winning streak while owning the No. 3 spot in the Western Conference standings.
This is the first winning season for the Rockets in five years, and if their current placement holds, it would be their first playoff appearance and Southwest Division title since that same 2019-20 season.
In Friday's blowout victory over in-state rival Dallas, Eason had a career-high 30 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 blocks. He connected on 11-of-15 shots (73.3%), including 2-of-3 on 3-pointers (66.7%) and 6-of-6 from the free-throw line, and the Rockets were an astounding +37 in his 31 minutes.
“The best teams play their best basketball down the stretch,” Eason said in a postgame interview with Vanessa Richardson of Space City Home Network. “That’s all we’re gonna keep doing.”
In 21 games since returning from the injury absence on Jan. 16, Eason is shooting 50.2% overall, 39.2% on 3-pointers, and 78.9% on free throws. All are significantly above his season-long and career-long averages. His true-shooting clip is a robust 59.1% over that time, and the Rockets are +4.1 as a team in the minutes that Eason has played in those games.
“That’s all it is... just getting my rhythm back, getting my legs up,” Eason said during shootaround comments earlier Friday. Hours later, his rhythm certainly looked the part.
For the NBA's 2024-25 season overall (45 games), Eason is now averaging a career-high 12.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.8 steals in 25.0 minutes per game. His percentages of 48.9% overall and 77.0% on free throws are career-highs, as are the totals in points, steals, and minutes.
More: Rockets (42-25) rout Dallas as Houston secures first winning season since 2019-20
This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: In career night, Tari Eason (30 points) and Rockets extend their surge
Continue reading...
