# 2021–22 Houston Rockets season

The 2021–22 NBA season was the Rockets' 55th season in the National Basketball Association and 51st season in the city of Houston. On August 20, 2021, the NBA announced that the regular season for the league would begin on October 19, 2021, returning to the typical 82-game schedule following the schedule disruptions that resulted from COVID-19. After a woeful 17–55 record compiled in the previous season following the departure of James Harden in a trade to the Brooklyn Nets, the Rockets started a new era by drafting Jalen Green from the G League with the second overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft.
The Rockets were eliminated from playoff contention for the second consecutive season, which was the first time the Rockets missed the playoffs in consecutive seasons since 2010–12.

## Draft

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 1 | 2 | Jalen Green | SG | United States | NBA G League Ignite (NBA G League) |
| 1 | 23 | Usman Garuba | PF/C | Spain | Real Madrid (Spain) |
| 1 | 24 | Josh Christopher | SG | United States | Arizona State (Fr.) |
The Rockets held the second pick in the 2021 NBA draft, along with two other first-round picks from the Portland Trail Blazers and the Milwaukee Bucks entering the draft. This was the first time the Rockets had a lottery pick since the 2012 NBA draft, in which they selected Jeremy Lamb with the twelfth overall pick. It was also their first time with a top-4 pick since the 2002 NBA draft, in which they selected Yao Ming with the first overall pick.
The Rockets traded two future first-round picks to the Oklahoma City Thunder for the draft rights to Turkish center Alperen Şengün of the Beşiktaş Icrypex. In addition to that pick, the Rockets would select the first ever player from the experimental NBA G League Ignite franchise in forward Jalen Green with the #2 pick of the draft, as well as select Spanish power forward/center Usman Garuba from Real Madrid Baloncesto and shooting guard Josh Christopher from Arizona State University as back-to-back late first round selections.

## Roster
### Roster Notes

* Point guard John Wall missed the entire season due to a hamstring injury.

## Standings

Notes
* z – Clinched home court advantage for the entire playoffs
* y – Clinched division title
* x – Clinched playoff spot
* pi – Clinched play-in tournament spot
* * – Division leader

## Game log

The preseason and regular season schedule were announced on August 20, 2021.

### Preseason

2021 preseason game log :
Preseason: 1–3 (home: 1–1; road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
October 5
Washington
W 125–119
Kevin Porter Jr. (25)
Alperen Şengün (8)
Kevin Porter Jr. (5)
Toyota Center 11,495
1–0
2
October 7
Miami
L 106–113
Jalen Green (20)
Martin Jr., Wood (8)
Dante Exum (6)
Toyota Center 10,491
1–1
3
October 11
@ Toronto
L 92–107
Armoni Brooks (15)
Christian Wood (7)
Green, Porter Jr. (4)
Scotiabank Arena 9,245
1–2
4
October 15
@ San Antonio
L 98–126
Christian Wood (19)
Christian Wood (19)
Kevin Porter Jr. (4)
AT&T Center 17,676
1–3 :
2021–22 preseason schedule :

### Regular season

2021–22 game log Total: 20–62 (Home: 11–30; Road: 9–32) :
October: 1–5 (home: 1–2; road: 0–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
October 20
@ Minnesota
L 106–124
Christian Wood (16)
Christian Wood (9)
Jalen Green (4)
Target Center 16,079
0–1
2
October 22
Oklahoma City
W 124–91
Christian Wood (29)
Tate, Wood (14)
Kevin Porter Jr. (9)
Toyota Center 15,674
1–1
3
October 24
Boston
L 97–107
Jalen Green (30)
Christian Wood (9)
Şengün, Tate (4)
Toyota Center 16,069
1–2
4
October 26
@ Dallas
L 106–116
Eric Gordon (22)
Christian Wood (17)
Kevin Porter Jr. (8)
American Airlines Center 19,337
1–3
5
October 28
Utah
L 91–122
Christian Wood (16)
Christian Wood (7)
Green, Gordon (3)
Toyota Center 15,858
1–4
6
October 31
@ L.A. Lakers
L 85–95
Eric Gordon (17)
Christian Wood (13)
Jalen Green (5)
Staples Center 16,448
1–5 :
November: 3–11 (home: 3–3; road: 0–8)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
7
November 2
@ L.A. Lakers
L 117–119
Christian Wood (26)
Christian Wood (16)
Kevin Porter Jr. (8)
Staples Center 18,997
1–6
8
November 4
@ Phoenix
L 111–123
Kevin Porter Jr. (20)
Christian Wood (15)
Şengün, Wood (5)
Footprint Center 15,058
1–7
9
November 6
@ Denver
L 94–95
Daniel Theis (18)
Christian Wood (17)
Kevin Porter Jr. (4)
Ball Arena 16,046
1–8
10
November 7
@ Golden State
L 107–120
Jae'Sean Tate (21)
Jae'Sean Tate (10)
Kevin Porter Jr. (7)
Chase Center 18,064
1–9
11
November 10
Detroit
L 104–112
Jalen Green (23)
Christian Wood (9)
Kevin Porter Jr. (5)
Toyota Center 15,350
1–10
12
November 12
Portland
L 92–104
Kevin Porter Jr. (18)
Christian Wood (15)
Kevin Porter Jr. (5)
Toyota Center 15,468
1–11
13
November 14
Phoenix
L 89–115
Christian Wood (17)
Alperen Şengün (10)
Kevin Porter Jr. (6)
Toyota Center 16,088
1–12
14
November 15
@ Memphis
L 102–136
Jalen Green (15)
Jae'Sean Tate (9)
Augustin, Christopher (5)
FedExForum 11,482
1–13
15
November 17
@ Oklahoma City
L 89–101
Jalen Green (21)
Christian Wood (14)
Eric Gordon (5)
Paycom Center 12,066
1–14
16
November 20
@ New York
L 99–106
Christian Wood (18)
Christian Wood (12)
Eric Gordon (5)
Madison Square Garden 19,812
1–15
17
November 22
@ Boston
L 90–108
Armoni Brooks (17)
Christian Wood (9)
Alperen Şengün (7)
TD Garden 19,156
1–16
18
November 24
Chicago
W 118–113
Danuel House (18)
Christian Wood (10)
Kevin Porter Jr. (9)
Toyota Center 16,074
2–16
19
November 27
Charlotte
W 146–143 (OT)
Christian Wood (33)
Christian Wood (16)
Kevin Porter Jr. (12)
Toyota Center 14,687
3–16
20
November 29
Oklahoma City
W 102–89
Christian Wood (24)
Christian Wood (21)
Kevin Porter Jr. (11)
Toyota Center 12,829
4–16 :
December: 6–10 (home: 3–4; road: 3–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
21
December 1
@ Oklahoma City
W 114–110
Jae'Sean Tate (32)
Jae'Sean Tate (10)
Jae'Sean Tate (7)
Paycom Center 13,222
5–16
22
December 3
Orlando
W 118–116
Eric Gordon (24)
Christian Wood (14)
Kevin Porter Jr. (6)
Toyota Center 13,697
6–16
23
December 5
New Orleans
W 118–108
Gordon, Wood (23)
Christian Wood (8)
Jae'Sean Tate (7)
Toyota Center 14,771
7–16
24
December 8
Brooklyn
W 114–104
Eric Gordon (21)
Christian Wood (15)
Jae'Sean Tate (5)
Toyota Center 15,834
8–16
25
December 10
Milwaukee
L 114–123
Garrison Mathews (23)
Christian Wood (13)
Jae'Sean Tate (9)
Toyota Center 16,319
8–17
26
December 11
@ Memphis
L 106–113
Christian Wood (22)
Christian Wood (11)
Brooks, Şengün (6)
FedExForum 17,794
8–18
27
December 13
@ Atlanta
W 132–126
Eric Gordon (32)
Garrison Mathews (8)
Şengün, Tate (4)
State Farm Arena 14,456
9–18
28
December 15
@ Cleveland
L 84–129
Alperen Şengün (19)
Alperen Şengün (11)
Alperen Şengün (5)
Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 17,131
9–19
29
December 16
New York
L 103–116
Daniel Theis (22)
Daniel Theis (10)
Eric Gordon (9)
Toyota Center 13,857
9–20
30
December 18
@ Detroit
W 116–107
Christian Wood (21)
Kenyon Martin Jr. (11)
Josh Christopher (7)
Little Caesars Arena 13,722
10–20
31
December 20
@ Chicago
L 118–133
Christian Wood (23)
Christian Wood (11)
Gordon, Tate (6)
United Center 21,150
10–21
32
December 22
@ Milwaukee
L 106–126
Christian Wood (20)
Christian Wood (11)
Gordon, Martin Jr. (6)
Fiserv Forum 17,341
10–22
33
December 23
@ Indiana
L 106–118
Christian Wood (22)
Şengün, Wood (8)
Eric Gordon (5)
Gainbridge Fieldhouse 15,089
10–23
34
December 27
@ Charlotte
L 99–123
Trevelin Queen (17)
Christian Wood (9)
Armoni Brooks (4)
Spectrum Center 19,349
10–24
35
December 28
L.A. Lakers
L 123–132
Jalen Green (24)
David Nwaba (7)
Kevin Porter Jr. (9)
Toyota Center 18,104
10–25
36
December 31
Miami
L 110–120
Jae'Sean Tate (22)
David Nwaba (10)
Gordon, Porter Jr. (4)
Toyota Center 16,197
10–26 :
January: 4–10 (home: 0–7; road: 4–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
37
January 1
Denver
L 111–124
Jalen Green (29)
Kenyon Martin Jr. (7)
Armoni Brooks (4)
Toyota Center 18,055
10–27
38
January 3
@ Philadelphia
L 113–133
Garrison Mathews (23)
Daniel Theis (9)
Jae'Sean Tate (5)
Wells Fargo Center 20,026
10–28
39
January 5
@ Washington
W 114–111
Green, Wood (22)
Christian Wood (11)
Kevin Porter Jr. (8)
Capital One Arena 13,014
11–28
40
January 7
Dallas
L 106–130
Christian Wood (20)
Jae'Sean Tate (8)
Jae'Sean Tate (5)
Toyota Center 15,238
11–29
41
January 9
Minnesota
L 123–141
Christian Wood (22)
Christian Wood (8)
Kevin Porter Jr. (8)
Toyota Center 15,277
11–30
42
January 11
Philadelphia
L 91–111
Green, Wood (14)
Porter Jr., Wood (6)
Kevin Porter Jr. (5)
Toyota Center 13,593
11–31
43
January 12
@ San Antonio
W 128–124
Eric Gordon (31)
Christian Wood (11)
Jae'Sean Tate (7)
AT&T Center 11,314
12–31
44
January 14
@ Sacramento
L 114–126
Christian Wood (26)
Jae'Sean Tate (10)
Tate, Porter Jr. (8)
Golden 1 Center 12,857
12–32
45
January 16
@ Sacramento
W 118–112
Porter Jr., Wood (23)
Christian Wood (14)
Kevin Porter Jr. (7)
Golden 1 Center 13,601
13–32
46
January 19
@ Utah
W 116–111
Garrison Mathews (23)
Christian Wood (15)
Kevin Porter Jr. (8)
Vivint Arena 18,306
14–32
47
January 21
@ Golden State
L 103–105
Christian Wood (19)
Christian Wood (15)
Kevin Porter Jr. (8)
Chase Center 18,064
14–33
48
January 25
San Antonio
L 104–134
Kevin Porter Jr. (16)
Kenyon Martin Jr. (8)
Kevin Porter Jr. (9)
Toyota Center 15,007
14–34
49
January 28
Portland
L 110–125
Mathews, Wood (21)
Christian Wood (15)
Green, Tate (5)
Toyota Center 16,100
14–35
50
January 31
Golden State
L 108–122
Christian Wood (24)
Christian Wood (13)
Kevin Porter Jr. (11)
Toyota Center 16,146
14–36 :
February: 1–9 (home: 1–3; road: 0–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
51
February 2
Cleveland
W 115–104
Green, Wood (21)
Alperen Sengun (8)
Kevin Porter Jr. (7)
Toyota Center 14,163
15–36
52
February 4
@ San Antonio
L 106–131
Josh Christopher (23)
Christian Wood (11)
Josh Christopher (4)
AT&T Center 15,344
15–37
53
February 6
New Orleans
L 107–120
Christian Wood (22)
Christian Wood (8)
Kevin Porter Jr. (8)
Toyota Center 15,702
15–38
54
February 8
@ New Orleans
L 97–110
Kevin Porter Jr. (27)
Sengun, Wood, Tate (9)
Kevin Porter Jr. (5)
Smoothie King Center 15,121
15–39
55
February 10
Toronto
L 120–139
Kevin Porter Jr. (30)
Christian Wood (11)
Kevin Porter Jr. (8)
Toyota Center 16,129
15–40
56
February 14
@ Utah
L 101–135
Kenyon Martin Jr. (16)
Christian Wood (9)
Kevin Porter Jr. (8)
Vivint Arena 18,306
15–41
57
February 16
@ Phoenix
L 121–124
Dennis Schroder (23)
Alperen Sengun (14)
Dennis Schroder (9)
Footprint Center 17,071
15–42
58
February 17
@ L.A. Clippers
L 111–142
Jalen Green (21)
Christian Wood (7)
Dennis Schroder (9)
Staples Center 17,519
15–43
59
February 25
@ Orlando
L 111–119
Jalen Green (23)
Christian Wood (11)
Tate, Schroder (6)
Amway Center 16,631
15–44
60
February 27
L.A. Clippers
L 98–99
Garrison Mathews (17)
Dennis Schroder (8)
Dennis Schroder (10)
Toyota Center 14,324
15–45 :
March: 5–12 (home: 3–8; road: 2–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
61
March 1
L.A. Clippers
L 100–113
Jalen Green (20)
Sengun, Tate (9)
Dennis Schroder (6)
Toyota Center 12,949
15–46
62
March 2
Utah
L 127–132 (OT)
Jalen Green (27)
Christian Wood (10)
Kevin Porter Jr. (12)
Toyota Center 13,583
15–47
63
March 4
@ Denver
L 101–116
Christian Wood (22)
Sengun, Wood (10)
Jalen Green (7)
Ball Arena 16,254
15–48
64
March 6
Memphis
W 123–112
Kevin Porter Jr. (29)
Christian Wood (13)
Kevin Porter Jr. (5)
Toyota Center 18,055
16–48
65
March 7
@ Miami
L 106–123
Kevin Porter Jr. (22)
Alperen Sengun (8)
Daishen Nix (4)
FTX Arena 19,600
16–49
66
March 9
L.A. Lakers
W 139–130 (OT)
Jalen Green (32)
Alperen Sengun (14)
Kevin Porter Jr. (10)
Toyota Center 18,055
17–49
67
March 11
Dallas
L 100–113
Christopher, Porter Jr. (17)
Bruno Fernando (11)
Dennis Schroder (7)
Toyota Center 15,060
17–50
68
March 13
@ New Orleans
L 105–130
Jalen Green (17)
Christian Wood (12)
Nix, Porter Jr. (5)
Smoothie King Center 15,683
17–51
69
March 16
Phoenix
L 112–129
Jalen Green (22)
Christian Wood (9)
Kevin Porter Jr. (8)
Toyota Center 18,055
17–52
70
March 18
Indiana
L 118–121
Christian Wood (32)
Christian Wood (13)
Christian Wood (7)
Toyota Center 13,748
17–53
71
March 20
Memphis
L 98–122
Dennis Schroder (17)
Alperen Şengün (9)
Josh Christopher (7)
Toyota Center 18,055
17–54
72
March 21
Washington
W 115–97
Christian Wood (39)
Christian Wood (10)
Jae'Sean Tate (6)
Toyota Center 13,936
18–54
73
March 23
@ Dallas
L 91–110
Alperen Şengün (14)
Alperen Şengün (11)
Kevin Porter Jr. (5)
American Airlines Center 20,026
18–55
74
March 25
@ Portland
W 125–105
Jalen Green (23)
Christian Wood (11)
Kevin Porter Jr. (7)
Moda Center 16,947
19–55
75
March 26
@ Portland
W 115–98
Alperen Şengün (27)
Alperen Şengün (7)
Kevin Porter Jr. (11)
Moda Center 17,821
20–55
76
March 28
San Antonio
L 120–123
Jalen Green (30)
Kevin Porter Jr. (9)
Kevin Porter Jr. (7)
Toyota Center 18,055
20–56
77
March 30
Sacramento
L 118–121
Jalen Green (32)
Kevin Porter Jr. (12)
Kevin Porter Jr. (12)
Toyota Center 13,365
20–57 :
April: 0–5 (home: 0–3; road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
78
April 1
Sacramento
L 117–122
Jalen Green (33)
Usman Garuba (14)
Kevin Porter Jr. (11)
Toyota Center 14,857
20–58
79
April 3
Minnesota
L 132–139
Jalen Green (31)
Alperen Sengun (15)
Kevin Porter Jr. (8)
Toyota Center 16,539
20–59
80
April 5
@ Brooklyn
L 105–118
Kevin Porter Jr. (36)
Alperen Sengun (11)
Alperen Sengun (5)
Barclays Center 17,768
20–60
81
April 8
@ Toronto
L 115–117
Kevin Porter Jr. (35)
Kevin Porter Jr. (10)
Christopher, Porter Jr. (4)
Scotiabank Arena 19,800
20–61
82
April 10
Atlanta
L 114–130
Jalen Green (41)
Kevin Porter Jr. (8)
Alperen Sengun (8)
Toyota Center 18,055
20–62 :
2021–22 season schedule :

## Player statistics

| Player | Pos. | GP | GS | MP | Reb. | Ast. | Stl. | Blk. | Pts. |
| D. J. Augustin$^‡$ | PG | 34 | 2 | 510 | 41 | 74 | 10 | 0 | 182 |
| Armoni Brooks$^‡$ | SG | 41 | 8 | 690 | 81 | 49 | 21 | 8 | 254 |
| Josh Christopher | SG | 74 | 2 | 1,334 | 186 | 150 | 65 | 13 | 587 |
| Bruno Fernando$^≠$ | C | 10 | 0 | 94 | 40 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 69 |
| Usman Garuba | PF | 24 | 2 | 239 | 83 | 17 | 10 | 11 | 48 |
| Eric Gordon | SG | 57 | 46 | 1,669 | 113 | 154 | 28 | 18 | 765 |
| Jalen Green | SG | 67 | 67 | 2,138 | 226 | 176 | 44 | 18 | 1,157 |
| Danuel House$^‡$ | SF | 16 | 1 | 233 | 43 | 19 | 5 | 5 | 77 |
| Kenyon Martin Jr. | SF | 79 | 2 | 1,656 | 297 | 101 | 34 | 40 | 696 |
| Garrison Mathews | SG | 65 | 33 | 1,712 | 190 | 64 | 57 | 24 | 650 |
| Daishen Nix | PG | 24 | 0 | 261 | 33 | 40 | 15 | 0 | 77 |
| David Nwaba | SF | 46 | 4 | 609 | 151 | 35 | 28 | 20 | 233 |
| Kevin Porter Jr. | PG | 61 | 61 | 1,907 | 267 | 376 | 69 | 22 | 949 |
| Trevelin Queen$^≠$ | SG | 10 | 0 | 74 | 16 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 43 |
| Dennis Schröder$^≠$ | PG | 15 | 4 | 404 | 50 | 88 | 12 | 3 | 163 |
| Alperen Şengün | C | 72 | 13 | 1,489 | 393 | 185 | 59 | 68 | 692 |
| Jae'Sean Tate | SF | 78 | 77 | 2,056 | 420 | 222 | 72 | 41 | 919 |
| Daniel Theis$^†$ | C | 26 | 21 | 584 | 130 | 20 | 11 | 17 | 218 |
| Christian Wood | C | 68 | 67 | 2,094 | 686 | 155 | 54 | 65 | 1,218 |
After all games. $^‡$Waived during the season $^†$Traded during the season $^≠$Acquired during the season

## Transactions
### Overview

| Players Added Via draft Jalen Green Usman Garuba Josh Christopher Via trade Alperen Şengün Dennis Schröder Bruno Fernando Via free agency Daishen Nix | Players Lost Via trade Daniel Theis Via free agency Avery Bradley Sterling Brown Kelly Olynyk D. J. Wilson Waived Matthew Hurt Khyri Thomas Sekou Doumbouya Tyler Bey Danuel House D. J. Augustin Armoni Brooks |

### Trades

| July 30, 2021 | To Houston RocketsDraft rights to Alperen Şengün | To Oklahoma City Thunder2022 DET protected first-round pick 2023 WAS protected first-round pick |
| October 6, 2021 | To Houston RocketsSekou Doumbouya Unprotected 2024 second-round pick | To Brooklyn NetsCash considerations |

### Free agency
#### Re-signed

| Date | Player | Signed |
| August 9 | David Nwaba | 3 years, $15 million |
| August 27 | Armoni Brooks | 4 years, $7.2 million |
| September 6 | Anthony Lamb | Two-way contract |
| September 17 | Danté Exum | 3 years, $15 million |

#### Additions

| Date | Player | Contract Terms | Former team | Ref. |
| August 7 | Daniel Theis | 4 years, $36 million | Chicago Bulls | |
| August 25 | Daishen Nix | 1 year, $925 thousand | NBA G League Ignite | |

#### Subtractions

| Date | Player | Reason left | New team |
| August 1 | Avery Bradley | Unrestricted free agent | Golden State Warriors |
| August 1 | D. J. Wilson | Unrestricted free agent | Oklahoma City Thunder |
| August 6 | Kelly Olynyk | Unrestricted free agent | Detroit Pistons |
| August 10 | Sterling Brown | Unrestricted free agent | Dallas Mavericks |
| September 24 | Matthew Hurt | Waived | Memphis Grizzlies |
| October 6 | Khyri Thomas | Waived | Bilbao Basket |
| October 7 | Sekou Doumbouya | Waived | Los Angeles Lakers |
| October 14 | Tyler Bey | Waived | Rio Grande Valley Vipers |
| October 16 | Dante Exum | Waived | FC Barcelona |
| December 21 | Danuel House | Waived | New York Knicks |