File this one under the category “Be careful what you wish for.”
Just 24 hours earlier, Kyle Lowry had sat in front of his locker after Houston’s victory over Sacramento – a game that had seen Lowry log 41 minutes of action – and nonchalantly said he’d happily play all 48 minutes of every game if he had to so long as it helped the Rockets rack up win upon win.
Of course, that’s exactly what you’d expect Houston’s bulldog of a point guard to say, as that mentality is an integral part of the package that has transformed Lowry into the All-Star caliber player he is today. Little did he know, however, that just one night later – in the Rockets’ fourth game in five nights, no less – he’d be asked to exceed 48 minutes in his club’s pursuit of its second win in a row and third in four games.
True to form, Lowry answered the call and fought through the considerable fatigue he was feeling to lead his club to a thrilling 107-105 overtime victory over the Trail Blazers. It was a performance that saw Lowry play the entire second half and overtime – 49 minutes in all – while posting another monster stat line filled with gaudy numbers like 33 points, 9 assists and 8 rebounds.
Of course, the numbers only tell part of the story. They don’t speak to the grit, determination, perseverance and leadership – or the smarts on display during plays like his clutch 3-pointer in the final minute of regulation; a perfect execution of a 2-for-1 scenario that just so happened to double as one of those memorable frozen moments that sets Toyota Center on fire. That such plays are no longer exceptional but rather expected from Lowry says it all about his performance through the first few weeks of the season. You can make a pretty convincing case, in fact, that he’s been the best point guard in the NBA up this point (he entered Saturday’s game with the highest Player Efficiency Rating of all players at his position).
But part of the story, too, includes an exhausted Lowry having to receive a post-game IV prior to fulfilling his media obligations. He was fine and in good spirits afterward and maintained his willingness to do whatever it takes to help his team win. But admirable as that is, it’s obviously not in either the team's or the player’s best interest to see Lowry continue to log such heavy minutes on a regular basis, especially in back-to-back situations.
“They’re playing too many minutes; we’ve got to give them more rest, there’s no doubt,” conceded Rockets Head Coach Kevin McHale after the game when asked about the heavy minutes played by his team’s starting backcourt (Kevin Martin played 49 minutes Saturday night as well). “But while they’re getting that rest we’ve got to be able to maintain leads and expand leads. Our second team is really good, we’ve just got to get them playing better, that’s all.
To that end, Houston received a big boost off the bench from its University of Arizona connection, Chase Budinger and Jordan Hill. Budinger scored a season-high 18 points, looking more comfortable and aggressive than he has in some time. Hill, meanwhile, pitched in 7 points and 7 rebounds during 21 minutes of play, giving his team a sorely-needed lift with foul trouble plaguing the Rockets’ frontcourt for much of the night.
Still, much of the heavy lifting in the second half and overtime was left to the starters; that was especially true on the offensive end, where Lowry and Martin carried the load. Both players were clearly feeling the burn in a fourth quarter that saw them shoot a combined 3-of-12 from the field while the Blazers staged their rally, but still managed to come through when it mattered most – Lowry with his clutch triple toward the end of regulation and Martin with six huge points in overtime.
In fact, perhaps the most encouraging sign emerging from Saturday’s contest from a Rockets’ perspective had to be K-Mart’s rediscovered mojo for getting to the free throw line. Coming into the game, Martin had been shooting five fewer free throws per game on average than he was a season ago. But by employing a more aggressive, attack-oriented mindset, Martin made it to the line 13 times in a signal that that devastating aspect of his offensive arsenal might be back on track.
“It’s really valuable,” said McHale in reference to Martin’s knack for drawing fouls in bulk. “I think there was a little bit of a frustration (earlier in the season) with not getting there but I think Kevin figured it out that you’re going to have to turn corners harder … get low, make the guy foul you and if you never get the shot up, big deal, you still get two free throws. And that’s what he did.”
Kyle Lowry's quotes
(On his playing more than 48 minutes tonight) “It is what it is. We got the win. I did what I had to do to help my team get a victory.”
(On his clutch 3-point shot near the end with 30 seconds left in regulation) “I was shooting the 3 (pointer). I was shooting it no matter what. I was thinking two for one, trying to get a shot up. It was definitely a two for one situation and I got the opportunity to take the shot and I made it. Great screen by (Luis) Scola.”
Source: NBA.com