Unlikely hero
Of all people, Sam Dekker gets 30 in win at Memphis.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Sam Dekker tried to make his way to the Rockets’ locker room, the best game of his brief NBA career complete and a trip home ahead.
Teammates would not let him leave the court so easily. They circled him and smacked him in the head, needing only a shaving cream pie to give him the full walkoff home run treatment to finish a night he will never forget.
He was not the only one. The Rockets will want to keep their 119-95 surge past the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday night in mind for a while.
They rolled through the fourth quarter, completing their most impressive rout of the season. But as much as the game will be noted for Dekker getting a careerhigh 30 points in his first start and the return of the Rockets’ 3-point barrage offense, they beat the Grizzlies by matching, and even surpassing, their host’s toughness.
“We had a lot of heart,” Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni said. “This is the eighth game … in 12 nights. It’s one of those games, if you would pencil it in, you’d say, ‘nah, let’s leave everybody at home.’ These guys found a reservoir of energy against a tough team. We had to grind it.”
The Rockets moved to 11-1 in the second half of back-to-backs, but it came in their only time this season playing four games in five nights, and against a physical foe.
“It was important for us, especially coming off the loss last night,” James Harden said. “We want to bounce back, have short-term memory. Dekker played extremely well, not only knocking down shots but just (with) his activity. We had to fight.” Memorable game
With Ryan Anderson home trying to recover from a stomach virus, the Rockets were undersized inside against the twofisted strength of Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph, to the point that Harden spent much of the night matched up with the star Grizzlies center. But with the Rockets doubleteaming and scrambling, they held Memphis to 38 points in the paint and 37.1 percent shooting.
Nene slowed Randolph. Trevor Ariza grabbed 10 rebounds. Eric Gordon emerged from a slow start to score 23 points, with 17 in the second half.
But most conspicuously, Dekker filled in as a starter and poured in 30 points, making 12 of 19 shots and stunning the Grizzlies with six 3-pointers in an unforgettable debut as a starter.
“I think I’ll remember my first career start in Memphis the rest of my life,” Dekker said. “That’s something you always dream about doing. I happened to have a good night.”
Dekker, who played just six minutes last season, seemed to have hit a wall. He had not scored in double figures in 13 consecutive games, but he felt he had gotten past the fatigue. He had 17 points Friday and then got off to a fast start Saturday, making his first five shots.
“I just saw the ball go through the hoop early on, kind of got in a rhythm,” Dekker said. “Once you get quick, easy buckets like that, the game opens up for you.”
Dekker became the fifth Rocket 22 years old or younger since 1996-97 to score 30 points, joining Terrence Jones, Chase Budinger, Yao Ming and Steve Francis. Not all sunshine
Dekker battled through some difficult moments, from an elbow he caught in his right eye in the first half to a full-throated chewing out from D’Antoni in the second half. But he gave the Rockets what they need before Anderson is expected to return Monday in Milwaukee.
“Oh man, Sam came out, he hooped, man,” guard Pat Beverley said. “Everybody’s happy for him. He made shots. He played the right way. We’re all on Sam a lot. He responds well. He plays hard.”
When he was through, Dekker intended to treat his career night as just another game on the way to a day off at home in Sheboygan, Wis. The Rockets would not let him get away that easily.
“I just wanted to get off the floor, get in the locker room and get home,” he said. “Those guys always have my back. I mess up a lot. They cover for a lot of things. They’re going to be on me because they know I can help this team.”
Saturday, when the Rockets needed it most, he proved them right.