# 2022–23 Houston Rockets season

The 2022–23 Houston Rockets season was the 56th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA), and 52nd season in the city of Houston.
The team selected Jabari Smith Jr. at third overall, looking to improve on last season's record of 20–62.
With their 96–118 loss to the Brooklyn Nets on March 7, 2023, the Houston Rockets were officially eliminated from playoff contention for the third consecutive season.

## Draft

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 1 | 3 | Jabari Smith Jr. | Power forward | United States | Auburn |
| 1 | 17 | Tari Eason | Power forward | United States | LSU |
The Rockets entered the draft holding two first round picks. The 17th overall pick came from the Brooklyn Nets in the James Harden trade.
On draft night, Houston traded Wendell Moore's draft rights at 26th to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for the draft rights to TyTy Washington at 29th, in addition to two future second-round picks—2025 and 2027.

## Standings
### Division

| Southwest Division | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | GP |
| y – Memphis Grizzlies | 51 | 31 | .622 | – | 35‍–‍6 | 16‍–‍25 | 13–3 | 82 |
| pi – New Orleans Pelicans | 42 | 40 | .512 | 9.0 | 27‍–‍14 | 15‍–‍26 | 11–5 | 82 |
| Dallas Mavericks | 38 | 44 | .463 | 13.0 | 23‍–‍18 | 15‍–‍26 | 9–7 | 82 |
| Houston Rockets | 22 | 60 | .268 | 29.0 | 14‍–‍27 | 8‍–‍33 | 4–12 | 82 |
| San Antonio Spurs | 22 | 60 | .268 | 29.0 | 14‍–‍27 | 8‍–‍33 | 3–13 | 82 |

### Conference

Western Conference :
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB | GP |
| 1 | c – Denver Nuggets * | 53 | 29 | .646 | – | 82 |
| 2 | y – Memphis Grizzlies * | 51 | 31 | .622 | 2.0 | 82 |
| 3 | y – Sacramento Kings * | 48 | 34 | .585 | 5.0 | 82 |
| 4 | x – Phoenix Suns | 45 | 37 | .549 | 8.0 | 82 |
| 5 | x – Los Angeles Clippers | 44 | 38 | .537 | 9.0 | 82 |
| 6 | x – Golden State Warriors | 44 | 38 | .537 | 9.0 | 82 |
| 7 | x – Los Angeles Lakers | 43 | 39 | .524 | 10.0 | 82 |
| 8 | x – Minnesota Timberwolves | 42 | 40 | .512 | 11.0 | 82 |
| 9 | pi – New Orleans Pelicans | 42 | 40 | .512 | 11.0 | 82 |
| 10 | pi – Oklahoma City Thunder | 40 | 42 | .488 | 13.0 | 82 |
| 11 | Dallas Mavericks | 38 | 44 | .463 | 15.0 | 82 |
| 12 | Utah Jazz | 37 | 45 | .451 | 16.0 | 82 |
| 13 | Portland Trail Blazers | 33 | 49 | .402 | 20.0 | 82 |
| 14 | Houston Rockets | 22 | 60 | .268 | 31.0 | 82 |
| 15 | San Antonio Spurs | 22 | 60 | .268 | 31.0 | 82 |

## Game log
### Preseason

2022 preseason game log Total: 3–1 (Home: 2–0; Road: 1–1) :
Preseason: 3–1 (home: 2–0; road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
October 2
San Antonio
W 134–96
Smith Jr., Eason (21)
Tari Eason (10)
Kevin Porter Jr. (6)
Toyota Center 10,640
1–0
2
October 7
Toronto
W 116–100
Tari Eason (24)
Bruno Fernando (10)
Martin Jr., Nix, Christopher (3)
Toyota Center 10,902
2–0
3
October 10
@ Miami
L 110–118
Jalen Green (25)
Tari Eason (12)
Kevin Porter Jr. (6)
FTX Arena 19,600
2–1
4
October 14
@ Indiana
W 122–114
Jalen Green (33)
Usman Garuba (9)
Alperen Şengün (5)
Gainbridge Fieldhouse 7,107
3–1 :
2022–23 preseason schedule :

### Regular season

2022–23 game log Total: 22–60 (Home: 14–27; Road: 8–33) :
October: 1–7 (home: 1–1; road: 0–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
October 19
@ Atlanta
L 107–117
Kevin Porter Jr. (21)
Fernando, Şengün (9)
Fernando, Porter Jr. (7)
State Farm Arena 17,878
0–1
2
October 21
Memphis
L 122–129
Jalen Green (33)
Alperen Şengün (12)
Gordon, Porter Jr. (4)
Toyota Center 17,878
0–2
3
October 22
@ Milwaukee
L 105–125
Jalen Green (22)
Jabari Smith Jr. (11)
Kevin Porter Jr. (7)
Fiserv Forum 17,341
0–3
4
October 24
Utah
W 114–108
Kevin Porter Jr. (26)
Kevin Porter Jr. (10)
Kevin Porter Jr. (4)
Toyota Center 16,260
1–3
5
October 26
@ Utah
L 101–109
Kevin Porter Jr. (24)
Kenyon Martin Jr. (10)
Kevin Porter Jr. (5)
Vivint Arena 18,206
1–4
6
October 28
@ Portland
L 111–125
Eric Gordon (18)
Alperen Şengün (11)
Jae'Sean Tate (6)
Moda Center 19,082
1–5
7
October 30
@ Phoenix
L 109–124
Kevin Porter Jr. (26)
Alperen Şengün (9)
Kevin Porter Jr. (6)
Footprint Center 17,071
1–6
8
October 31
@ L.A. Clippers
L 93–95
Kenyon Martin Jr. (23)
Alperen Şengün (9)
Kevin Porter Jr. (5)
Crypto.com Arena 14,887
1–7 :
November
: 4–9 (home: 2–4; road: 2–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
9
November 2
L.A. Clippers
L 101–109
Alperen Şengün (26)
Alperen Şengün (13)
Kevin Porter Jr. (7)
Toyota Center 15,860
1–8
10
November 5
@ Minnesota
L 117–129
Jalen Green (21)
Alperen Şengün (7)
Daishen Nix (6)
Target Center 16,412
1–9
11
November 7
@ Orlando
W 134–127
Jalen Green (34)
Alperen Şengün (10)
Kevin Porter Jr. (11)
Amway Center 15,441
2–9
12
November 9
@ Toronto
L 109–116
Jalen Green (21)
Jabari Smith Jr. (10)
Kevin Porter Jr. (11)
Scotiabank Arena 19,800
2–10
13
November 12
@ New Orleans
L 106–119
Jalen Green (33)
Jabari Smith Jr. (15)
Jalen Green (6)
Smoothie King Center 15,367
2–11
14
November 14
L.A. Clippers
L 106–122
Jalen Green (25)
Kevin Porter Jr. (7)
Jalen Green (7)
Toyota Center 16,098
2–12
15
November 16
@ Dallas
W 101–92
Green, Porter Jr. (17)
Kevin Porter Jr. (11)
Kevin Porter Jr. (8)
American Airlines Center 19,602
3–12
16
November 18
Indiana
L 91–99
Eric Gordon (24)
Alperen Şengün (9)
Jalen Green (5)
Toyota Center 15,882
3–13
17
November 20
Golden State
L 120–127
Kevin Porter Jr. (30)
Tari Eason (8)
Kevin Porter Jr. (6)
Toyota Center 18,055
3–14
18
November 25
Atlanta
W 128–122
Jalen Green (30)
Kenyon Martin Jr. (15)
Kevin Porter Jr. (10)
Toyota Center 16,669
4–14
19
November 26
Oklahoma City
W 118–105
Jalen Green (28)
Alperen Şengün (19)
Jalen Green (9)
Toyota Center 15,151
5–14
20
November 28
@ Denver
L 113–129
Alperen Şengün (18)
Alperen Şengün (7)
Jalen Green (7)
Ball Arena 16,027
5–15
21
November 30
@ Denver
L 100–120
Kevin Porter Jr. (23)
Alperen Şengün (11)
Kevin Porter Jr. (5)
Ball Arena 16,286
5–16 :
December: 5–10 (home: 3–6; road: 2–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
22
December 2
@ Phoenix
W 122–121
Jalen Green (30)
Bruno Fernando (7)
Kevin Porter Jr. (7)
Footprint Center 17,071
6–16
23
December 3
@ Golden State
L 101–120
Kevin Porter Jr. (20)
Eason, Garuba (10)
Nix, Porter Jr. (4)
Chase Center 18,064
6–17
24
December 5
Philadelphia
W 132–123 (2OT)
Jalen Green (27)
Jabari Smith Jr. (11)
Jalen Green (7)
Toyota Center 15,331
7–17
25
December 8
@ San Antonio
L 109–118
Jabari Smith Jr. (23)
Alperen Şengün (11)
Daishen Nix (5)
AT&T Center 13,140
7–18
26
December 11
Milwaukee
W 97–92
Jalen Green (30)
Jabari Smith Jr. (10)
Kevin Porter Jr. (7)
Toyota Center 16,268
8–18
27
December 13
Phoenix
W 111–97
Jalen Green (26)
Alperen Şengün (16)
Green, Porter Jr. (4)
Toyota Center 15,128
9–18
28
December 15
Miami
L 108–111
Jalen Green (22)
Jabari Smith Jr. (11)
Porter Jr., Washington Jr. (5)
Toyota Center 16,210
9–19
29
December 17
Portland
L 95–107
Jalen Green (15)
Alperen Şengün (8)
Green, Porter Jr. (4)
Toyota Center 16,217
9–20
30
December 19
San Antonio
L 105–124
Alperen Şengün (22)
Jabari Smith Jr. (8)
Daishen Nix (9)
Toyota Center 15,928
9–21
31
December 21
Orlando
L 110–116
Kevin Porter Jr. (31)
Alperen Şengün (12)
Alperen Şengün (6)
Toyota Center 15,965
9–22
32
December 23
Dallas
L 106–112
Jabari Smith Jr. (24)
Jabari Smith Jr. (10)
Alperen Şengün (7)
Toyota Center 16,989
9–23
33
December 26
@ Chicago
W 133–118
Kevin Porter Jr. (36)
Alperen Şengün (11)
Kevin Porter Jr. (9)
United Center 21,561
10–23
34
December 27
@ Boston
L 102–126
Jalen Green (28)
Şengün, Smith Jr. (9)
Kevin Porter Jr. (9)
TD Garden 19,156
10–24
35
December 29
@ Dallas
L 114–129
Jalen Green (23)
Usman Garuba (9)
Kevin Porter Jr. (7)
American Airlines Center 20,307
10–25
36
December 31
New York
L 88–108
Kevin Porter Jr. (23)
Tari Eason (13)
Kevin Porter Jr. (8)
Toyota Center 18,055
10–26 :
January: 2–12 (home: 1–6; road: 1–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
37
January 2
Dallas
L 106–111
Kevin Porter Jr. (25)
Tari Eason (7)
Kevin Porter Jr. (6)
Toyota Center 18,055
10–27
38
January 4
@ New Orleans
L 108–119
Green, Martin Jr. (16)
Jabari Smith Jr. (13)
Porter Jr, Şengün (5)
Smoothie King Center 17,295
10–28
39
January 5
Utah
L 114–131
Jalen Green (30)
Alperen Şengün (14)
Jalen Green (4)
Toyota Center 16,320
10–29
40
January 8
Minnesota
L 96–104
Kevin Porter Jr. (25)
Alperen Şengün (8)
Green, Porter Jr. (5)
Toyota Center 18,055
10–30
41
January 11
@ Sacramento
L 115–135
Jalen Green (26)
Alperen Şengün (10)
Alperen Şengün (10)
Golden 1 Center 16,057
10–31
42
January 13
@ Sacramento
L 114–139
Green, Smith Jr. (27)
Jabari Smith Jr. (8)
Alperen Şengün (7)
Golden 1 Center 17,894
10–32
43
January 15
@ L.A. Clippers
L 100–121
Eric Gordon (24)
Kenyon Martin Jr. (9)
Alperen Şengün (6)
Crypto.com Arena 17,238
10–33
44
January 16
@ L.A. Lakers
L 132–140
Alperen Şengün (33)
Alperen Şengün (15)
Eric Gordon (8)
Crypto.com Arena 17,657
10–34
45
January 18
Charlotte
L 117–122
Jalen Green (41)
Alperen Şengün (12)
Jalen Green (7)
Toyota Center 15,678
10–35
46
January 21
@ Minnesota
L 104–113
Alperen Şengün (19)
Alperen Şengün (16)
Alperen Şengün (7)
Target Center 17,136
10–36
47
January 23
Minnesota
W 119–114
Jalen Green (42)
Tari Eason (9)
Alperen Şengün (7)
Toyota Center 13,811
11–36
48
January 25
Washington
L 103–108
Alperen Şengün (21)
Kenyon Martin Jr. (13)
Alperen Şengün (10)
Toyota Center 15,302
11–37
49
January 26
Cleveland
L 95–113
Tari Eason (18)
Tari Eason (11)
Alperen Şengün (7)
Toyota Center 16,327
11–38
50
January 28
@ Detroit
W 117–114
Eric Gordon (24)
Kenyon Martin Jr. (13)
Eric Gordon (7)
Little Caesars Arena 19,411
12–38 :
February: 1–10 (home: 1–4; road: 0–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
51
February 1
Oklahoma City
W 112–106
Eric Gordon (25)
Tari Eason (13)
Martin Jr., Şengün (4)
Toyota Center 15,181
13–38
52
February 3
Toronto
L 111–117
Eric Gordon (28)
Jabari Smith Jr. (8)
Gordon, Nix (5)
Toyota Center 16,585
13–39
53
February 4
@ Oklahoma City
L 121–153
Christopher, Washington Jr. (20)
Tari Eason (8)
Christoper, Nix (5)
Paycom Center 16,994
13–40
54
February 6
Sacramento
L 120–140
Jalen Green (27)
Kenyon Martin Jr. (8)
Eric Gordon (8)
Toyota Center 15,405
13–41
55
February 8
Sacramento
L 128–130
Jalen Green (41)
Bruno Fernando (10)
Alperen Şengün (11)
Toyota Center 15,881
13–42
56
February 10
@ Miami
L 95–97
Jabari Smith Jr. (22)
Şengün, Smith Jr. (8)
TyTy Washington Jr. (6)
Miami-Dade Arena
13–43
57
February 13
@ Philadelphia
L 104–123
Jalen Green (29)
Jabari Smith Jr. (12)
Jalen Green (4)
Wells Fargo Center 19,850
13–44
58
February 15
@ Oklahoma City
L 96–133
Jabari Smith Jr. (15)
Alperen Şengün (10)
Frank Kaminsky (5)
Paycom Center 14,988
13–45
59
February 24
@ Golden State
L 101–116
Kenyon Martin Jr. (22)
Şengün, Smith Jr. (9)
Alperen Şengün (8)
Chase Center 18,064
13–46
60
February 26
@ Portland
L 114–131
Şengün, Tate (17)
Eason, Şengün (10)
Alperen Şengün (5)
Moda Center 18,064
13–47
61
February 28
Denver
L 112–133
Eason, Green (17)
Tari Eason (12)
Alperen Şengün (8)
Toyota Center 15,368
13–48 :
March
: 6–11 (home: 5–5; road: 1–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
62
March 1
Memphis
L 99–113
Jalen Green (20)
Alperen Şengün (8)
Alperen Şengün (5)
Toyota Center 15,919
13–49
63
March 4
@ San Antonio
W 122–110
Tari Eason (20)
Kenyon Martin Jr. (13)
Kevin Porter Jr. (5)
AT&T Center 18,354
14–49
64
March 5
San Antonio
W 142–110
Jalen Green (31)
Alperen Şengün (14)
Kevin Porter Jr. (13)
Toyota Center 16,721
15–49
65
March 7
Brooklyn
L 96–118
Jalen Green (25)
Alperen Şengün (12)
Kevin Porter Jr. (7)
Toyota Center 14,833
15–50
66
March 9
@ Indiana
L 125–134 (OT)
Jabari Smith Jr. (30)
Jabari Smith Jr. (12)
Jalen Green (4)
Gainbridge Fieldhouse 16,027
15–51
67
March 11
Chicago
L 111–119
Jabari Smith Jr. (20)
Jabari Smith Jr. (10)
Jalen Green (7)
Toyota Center 18,055
15–52
68
March 13
Boston
W 111–109
Jalen Green (28)
Jabari Smith Jr. (11)
Kevin Porter Jr. (13)
Toyota Center 18,055
16–52
69
March 15
L.A. Lakers
W 114–110
Kevin Porter Jr. (27)
Porter Jr., Şengün (9)
Porter Jr., Şengün (6)
Toyota Center 18,055
17–52
70
March 17
New Orleans
W 114–112
Jalen Green (25)
Alperen Şengün (11)
Green, Porter Jr. (6)
Toyota Center 15,841
18–52
71
March 19
New Orleans
L 107–117
Jalen Green (40)
Alperen Şengün (7)
Alperen Şengün (6)
Toyota Center 14,209
18–53
72
March 20
Golden State
L 108–121
Tari Eason (21)
Tari Eason (12)
Kevin Porter Jr. (5)
Toyota Center 16,116
18–54
73
March 22
@ Memphis
L 125–130
Jalen Green (32)
Kevin Porter Jr. (10)
Kevin Porter Jr. (10)
FedExForum 17,794
18–55
74
March 24
@ Memphis
L 114–151
Tari Eason (21)
Jabari Smith Jr. (8)
Kevin Porter Jr. (7)
FedExForum 17,851
18–56
75
March 26
@ Cleveland
L 91–108
Jalen Green (30)
Eason, Şengün (8)
Green, Porter Jr., Şengün (4)
Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 19,432
18–57
76
March 27
@ New York
L 115–137
Kevin Porter Jr. (26)
Jabari Smith Jr. (11)
Jabari Smith Jr. (6)
Madison Square Garden 19,812
18–58
77
March 29
@ Brooklyn
L 114–123
Kevin Porter Jr. (31)
Sengün, Smith Jr. (12)
Kevin Porter Jr. (6)
Barclays Center 17,074
18–59
78
March 31
Detroit
W 121–115
Kevin Porter Jr. (33)
Alperen Şengün (13)
Alperen Şengün (7)
Toyota Center 15,844
19–59 :
April
: 3–1 (home: 1–1; road: 2–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
79
April 2
L.A. Lakers
L 109–134
Jalen Green (24)
Alperen Şengün (15)
Jalen Green (7)
Toyota Center 18,204
19–60
80
April 4
Denver
W 124–103
Jalen Green (32)
Jabari Smith Jr. (13)
Kevin Porter Jr. (9)
Toyota Center 16,924
20–60
81
April 7
@ Charlotte
W 112–109
Green, Porter Jr. (26)
Alperen Şengün (21)
Jalen Green (6)
Spectrum Center 19,102
21–60
82
April 9
@ Washington
W 114–109
Jabari Smith Jr. (20)
Alperen Şengün (12)
Alperen Şengün (6)
Capital One Arena 15,233
22–60 :
2022–23 season schedule :

## Player statistics

| Player | Pos. | GP | GS | MP | Reb. | Ast. | Stl. | Blk. | Pts. |
| Josh Christopher | SG | 64 | 2 | 786 | 71 | 73 | 33 | 15 | 372 |
| Darius Days | PF | 4 | 0 | 25 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 15 |
| Tari Eason | PF | 82 | 5 | 1,767 | 496 | 88 | 96 | 47 | 760 |
| Bruno Fernando$^†$ | C | 31 | 4 | 364 | 122 | 30 | 6 | 31 | 126 |
| Usman Garuba | PF | 75 | 1 | 970 | 307 | 64 | 44 | 29 | 225 |
| Eric Gordon$^†$ | SG | 47 | 47 | 1,418 | 97 | 136 | 30 | 17 | 615 |
| Jalen Green | SG | 76 | 76 | 2,602 | 284 | 281 | 59 | 18 | 1,683 |
| Trevor Hudgins | PG | 5 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Frank Kaminsky$^≠$ | C | 10 | 0 | 59 | 16 | 11 | 1 | 3 | 18 |
| Boban Marjanović | C | 31 | 0 | 171 | 60 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 102 |
| Kenyon Martin Jr. | SF | 82 | 49 | 2,292 | 452 | 123 | 41 | 30 | 1,039 |
| Garrison Mathews$^†$ | SG | 45 | 0 | 602 | 62 | 23 | 23 | 4 | 214 |
| Daishen Nix | PG | 57 | 7 | 914 | 98 | 132 | 31 | 7 | 226 |
| Kevin Porter Jr. | PG | 59 | 59 | 2,024 | 314 | 338 | 82 | 17 | 1,130 |
| Alperen Şengün | C | 75 | 72 | 2,171 | 678 | 291 | 70 | 70 | 1,109 |
| Jabari Smith Jr. | PF | 79 | 79 | 2,451 | 569 | 101 | 43 | 74 | 1,010 |
| Jae'Sean Tate | SF | 31 | 7 | 677 | 118 | 84 | 21 | 7 | 283 |
| TyTy Washington | PG | 31 | 2 | 433 | 45 | 47 | 15 | 2 | 145 |
After all games. $^‡$Waived during the season $^†$Traded during the season $^≠$Acquired during the season

## Transactions
### Overview

| Players Added Via draft Jabari Smith Jr. Tari Eason TyTy Washington Via trade Boban Marjanović Derrick Favors Via free agency Trevor Hudgins Willie Cauley-Stein Darius Days | Players Lost Via trade Christian Wood David Nwaba Via free agency Trevelin Queen Dennis Schröder Waived John Wall Ty Jerome Théo Maledon Maurice Harkless |

### Trades

| June 24, 2022 | To Houston RocketsSterling Brown Trey Burke Marquese Chriss Boban Marjanović Draft rights to Wendell Moore Jr. (No. 26) | To Dallas MavericksChristian Wood |
| June 24, 2022 | To Houston RocketsDraft rights to TyTy Washington (No. 29) 2025 MIN second-round pick 2027 MIN second-round pick | To Minnesota TimberwolvesDraft rights to Wendell Moore Jr. (No. 26) |
| September 30, 2022 | To Houston RocketsDerrick Favors Maurice Harkless Ty Jerome Théo Maledon 2026 second-round pick Cash considerations | To Oklahoma City ThunderSterling Brown Trey Burke Marquese Chriss David Nwaba |

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

| Player | Signed | Ref. |
| Jae'Sean Tate | Three year, $22.1 million | |
| Bruno Fernando | Four year, $10.9 million | |

#### Additions

| Date | Player | Contract Terms | Former team |
| July 1 | Trevor Hudgins | Two-way contract | Northwest Missouri State |
| October 9 | Willie Cauley-Stein | Standard contract | Philadelphia 76ers |
| October 11 | Darius Days | Exhibit 10 | Louisiana State |

#### Subtractions

| Date | Player | Reason left | New team |
| June 28 | John Wall | Waived | Los Angeles Clippers |
| July 1 | Trevelin Queen | Free agent | Philadelphia 76ers |
| September 16 | Dennis Schröder | Free agent | Los Angeles Lakers |
| October 1 | Ty Jerome | Waived | Golden State Warriors |
| October 11 | Maurice Harkless | Waived | |
| October 11 | Théo Maledon | Waived | Charlotte Hornets |