 On February 23, 2011, Budinger scored a new career-high 30 points in a 124–119 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.During the Rockets' season finale against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Budinger scored a new career-high 35 points on 12 of 21 shooting, including 4 for 8 from 3-point range.During the 2011 NBA lockout, Budinger agreed to play for the Russian team PBC Lokomotiv-Kuban; however, before he signed the deal, the lockout ended and the agreement fell through.