A big third quarter for Jalen Green turned things around for the Rockets
The Houston Rockets were having trouble with the Washington Wizards, but Jalen Green turned on the afterburners in the third quarter, scoring 22 points in the frame on his way to a game-high 29, to lead the Rockets to a 135-112 victory.
Green helped break upon a tight game in which the Rockets only lead by 2 at the half by scoring 11 points during a 21-6 Houston run, and the Wizards never recovered. Green finished 10-for-22 from the field and 7-for-15 from deep to go along with 8 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals.
Alperen Sengun also had a nice night in a game that saw them both play well together in what could be a positive sign for the future. Sengun finished with 26 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals on 12-for-23 shooting. While Amen Thompson also had another big night, filling in and then some for an injured Jabari Smith Jr. If Thompson keeps playing like this, Smith may have a tough time getting his old job back. Thompson finished with 20 points, 15 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals on 7-for-8 from the field.
Despite Thompson not hitting a three, the Rockets were 15-for-38 from deep overall (40 percent) behind Green, Dillon Brooks (11 points, 3-for-4 from deep) and Cam Whitmore (18 points off of the bench, 3-for-3 from beyond the arc).
Even a struggling Fred VanVleet got in on the action versus the Wizards, as he finished with 19 points, 12 assists and 4 steals, though he was just 2-for-9 from deep.
The Rockets gave up 46 percent shooting as a defense, but they forced 18 turnovers and scored 35 total points off of them, which was a major difference in the game.
The Rockets move to 24-12 on the year and still sit firmly in second place in the Western Conference. They’ll be back on Thursday night when they travel to Memphis to take on the Grizzlies in a massive conference battle. The Grizz sit just a half-game back of the Rockets in third place. It should be a good one.