Cryer scores 22 points and No. 3 Houston beats Kansas for 9th straight win
Mar 3, 2025, 11:01 pm
Houston defeat Kansas, 65-59.Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images.
L.J. Cryer scored 22 points and No. 3 Houston won its ninth straight game with a 65-59 victory over Kansas on Monday night.
Emanuel Sharp added 12 points off the bench, including two free throws that pushed Houston's lead to 63-59 with 20 seconds left. The Cougars (26-4, 18-1 Big 12) went 4 of 4 from the foul line down the stretch.
Cryer had 18 points on 7-of-13 shooting in the first half as Houston took a 30-27 lead into the break.
Milos Uzan finished with 10 points, and Mylik Wilson had 10 points, six assists and five rebounds for the Cougars, who shot 35% from the field and were 7 of 20 on 3-pointers.
Hunter Dickinson had 17 points and 12 rebounds for the Jayhawks (19-11, 10-9), who shot 45%. KJ Adams Jr. added 15 points and David Coit had 14 off the bench.
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The Houston Rockets face a tough challenge Monday night as they take on the first-place Oklahoma City Thunder, who have been one of the NBA’s most dominant teams this season.
The Thunder (49-11) enter the matchup riding an 8-2 stretch over their last 10 games, averaging an impressive 127.6 points per contest. Led by MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is averaging 32.3 points on 52.4% shooting, Oklahoma City is fresh off a 146-132 win over San Antonio, where Jalen Williams erupted for 41 points.
Houston (37-23) sits fifth in the Western Conference but has been inconsistent lately, going 5-5 over its last 10 outings. Injuries could be a concern, with key contributors like Fred VanVleet (ankle) ruled out and Alperen Sengun (back) listed as day-to-day. Jalen Green, who has been averaging 3.7 made three-pointers per game in his last 10, will need a big performance for Houston to stay competitive.
The Rockets will have to find a way to slow down the Thunder’s potent offense, which ranks among the league’s best from beyond the arc with 14.2 made threes per game. Houston’s defense allows just 12.1 made threes per game, making perimeter defense a key factor in the matchup.
Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. EST, with the Thunder entering as a 10.5-point favorite.
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