Veteran guard John Wall led the game with a maximum of 28 points and six assists on Saturday, leading the abbreviated Houston Rockets to a 102-94 (cash score) victory at the Toyota Center over the Sacramento Kings.
With back-to-back teammate James Harden, who scratched late due to an ankle sprain, Wall picked up the pace and then some, showing flashes of the shape that made him five times All -NBA star before a series of injuries. Wall missed the first two games of Houston’s 2020-21 regular season, both losses, due to a mandatory quarantine, but has led the Rockets (2-2) both offensively and defensively since their return.
With 50 points combined in both games, both against Sacramento, Wall became the first NBA player since Michael Jordan in 2001 to score 50 in his first two games after a layoff of at least two years. With a quick first step to breaking down the defenses, Wall has also led the Rockets with 15 assists in those games, including six on Saturday.
Perhaps most impressive is that Wall has also shown the ability to indulge at the other end of the field. Wall got three steals and two blocked shots on Saturday, and his defense helped limit Kings star De’Aaron Fox to a 17-of-42 (40.5%) shot during both games in Houston. Sacramento (3-3) held on just 30 points in a decisive second half, with Houston’s suffocating defense leading the way to victory.
“We heard from people who said it looked good, but we didn’t know it until we got it.” Head coach Stephen Silas said the postgame. “Whatever expectations we had for him, he has exceeded them.”
“When I’m healthy, I can be a blocking advocate,” added Wall, who said he feels like the best defender of all time blocking shots.
“I contribute a lot to the game other than scoring,” Wall said after the game.
Outside of Wall, Christian Wood continued his strong run with 20 points (50% shooting), 15 rebounds and four blocks, while Eric Gordon scored 21 as a last-minute starter instead of Harden. Silas said after the game it was too early to know if Harden would be able to play in Houston’s next game, which will take place Monday at home against Dallas.