Tari Eason’s Buzzer-Beater Overturned: Rockets Stunned in Portland Showdown

Houston Rockets forward Tari Eason has become one of the most talked-about names in the NBA this week, and for good reason. On Tuesday night in Portland, Eason’s last-second tip-in was waved off after video review, sealing a narrow Rockets loss to the Trail Blazers and sparking debate among fans and analysts about the call’s timing accuracy. Although the bucket didn’t count, the sequence highlighted a larger trend: Eason’s growing impact on Houston’s playoff push. Since rejoining the starting lineup after a mid-December ankle sprain, the 23-year-old wing is averaging 14.7 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.1 stocks (steals + blocks) over his last seven games, providing two-way versatility the Rockets desperately needed. Fantasy basketball analysts have rushed to add him to waiver-wire watch lists, citing his increased minutes and across-the-board production. What’s driving the surge? First, head coach Ime Udoka has empowered Eason to attack early in transition, creating easy rim opportunities and open-corner threes. Second, his defensive length—6-foot-8 with a 7-foot-2 wingspan—allows Houston to switch almost everything on the perimeter, a scheme that has vaulted the club into the NBA’s top-10 defensive rating since New Year’s Day. The Sporting News recently called him “the engine behind the Rockets’ current hot stretch,” noting that lineups featuring Eason, Alperen Şengün, and Jalen Green are outscoring opponents by 11.4 points per 100 possessions. Off the court, Eason’s popularity is booming. Clips of him casually sitting with courtside fans during a clock malfunction in Phoenix went viral, racking up more than two million views in 24 hours and driving a spike in Rockets merchandise searches. Social media engagement around the forward now ranks among the top five for NBA players under 25, according to internal team metrics shared after Wednesday’s practice. Looking ahead, Eason’s emergence creates intriguing trade-deadline questions. Houston owns multiple future first-round picks and has been linked to veteran playmakers, but league sources say the front office views Eason as “virtually untouchable” given his fit with the franchise’s timeline and culture. If his recent form continues, the Rockets could find themselves back in the postseason for the first time since 2020—and Tari Eason’s breakout might be the catalyst that turns a young, exciting roster into a legitimate Western Conference threat.