As has become the custom for Rockets rookie Josh Christopher when the Rockets face the Lakers in his hometown, one of his brothers plays a key role.
On Halloween, it was when his older brother Patrick, sitting behind the Rockets bench, gained attention as LeBron James' doppelganger, causing so much social media buzz that James gained weight.
On Wednesday, Caleb was far less specific. But his appearance caught the attention of Josh Christopher. This would have contributed to his top-scoring game in more than a month, and perhaps his best shooting performance since his entire night in a win against the Nets on December 8, his 20th birthday.
"It was my brother's first time at Toyota Center the other night," Christopher said. “So, I wanted to play well for my brother. At the same time, wanted to down shots, being self-confident, relied on work. That's all it is."
Caleb Christopher plays at Tennessee Tech and was able to play because he is on spring break. Patrick Christopher, a former NBA player turned fashion designer, lives in Los Angeles. Josh Christopher played just 1:25 in two games against the Lakers in Los Angeles, but scored 5 of 8 shots against the Lakers at Toyota Center in December's game, before hitting a career-high 8 of his 13 attempts. Made, scored 21 points on Wednesday. ,
After struggling for several games after the All-Star break, he shot 6 of 11 against the Heat on Monday, including 3 of 6 3-pointers. He had 4 of 25 shots in his first five games after the All-Star break, 18 of 30 in three games since then. But he said his shot had no adjustments, no tweaks.
"Just try to be confident, stay in the gym, be prepared," Christopher said. "Just being myself. I've had good stretches this season. I've had to get out of those doubles games I've had, those pairs bad games, play basketball. It's basketball at the end of the day. It's the NBA." But it's basketball."
With his success, he joined Alpern Sengun and Jalen Green in producing the second game in NBA history, in which three teammates 20-year-old and younger scored at least 20 points, and the third game in league history. (and the Rockets' second game of the week) in which five players scored 21 and younger scored in double digits.
"At 20 years old, it's fun to play with a bunch of other youngsters, play people of those calibers and come out victorious," Christopher said. "It was a good feeling, for sure."
It was even better because this time one of his brothers got to see the victory, even though very few people paid attention to him.