Thompson has triple-double as Rockets beat Cavaliers for second time in week

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Rockets beat the Cavs, 135-131. Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images.

Amen Thompson had his second career triple-double, Alperin Sengun and Jalen Green scored 26 points apiece and the Houston Rockets beat the Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers 135-131 on Saturday night.

Thompson finished with 23 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists, and Fred VanVleet had 20 points and six assists for Houston. The Rockets beat Cleveland for the second time in four days, winning 109-108 at home Wednesday.

Darius Garland scored 27 of his 39 points in the second half for the Cavaliers. They have lost a season-high three in a row and dropped a half-game behind Oklahoma City for the NBA lead. Donovan Mitchell had 25 of his 33 points in the second half.

Cleveland also lost consecutive home games for the first time, but is a league-best 21-3 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

Takeaways

Rockets: Centers Sengun and Steven Adams dominated counterparts Jarrett Allen and Tristan Thompson, combining for 40 points and 12 rebounds.

Cavaliers: Power forward Evan Mobley returned after missing four games with a right calf strain, but was ineffective throughout. He had seven points, eight rebounds and two blocked shots in 29 minutes.

Key moment

After Garland made two free throws to even the score with 1:51 remaining, Houston answered with a 10-2 run to seize a 134-126 lead, fueled by five points from Thompson. Mitchell missed a wide-open, potential tying 3-pointer with 27 seconds left.

Key stat

Mitchell made his first three shots and had Cleveland’s first eight points, then missed 10 straight field goal attempts. The All-Star starter didn’t score again until the third quarter, winding up 11 of 27 from the field and 4 of 11 on 3-pointers.

Up next

Both teams are back in action Monday night. The Rockets are at Boston, and the Cavaliers host Detroit.

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OC Bobby Slowik will not be back with the Texans. Composite Getty Image.

After a historic rookie season for Texans quarterback CJ Stroud, many were expecting the rookie phenom to take another step in his sophomore campaign.

Sadly for Houston fans, that didn't happen. Stroud regressed in his second year, and many believed that OC Bobby Slowik was the main reason for the sophomore slump.

And it looks like the Texans felt the same way. According to sources, Bobby Slowik and the Texans are parting ways.

Offensive line coach Chris Strausser will not be returning either. Strausser's exit isn't nearly as surprising as Slowik's, KPRC2's Aaron Wilson reported earlier in the week that Strausser wasn't expected back.

But many didn't believe DeMeco Ryans would let Slowik go after one down season. However, the amount of hits Stroud was taking behind a leaky o-line that repeatedly was unable to pick up simple stunts certainly justifies the move.

Another year of that kind of abuse to Stroud just wasn't sustainable.

Now the team will have to turn their attention to finding a new coordinator and offensive line coaches. Ohio State's OC Chip Kelly is a name that has been discussed because of his past relationship with Ryans.

Aaron Wilson listed some potential internal candidates in the post below, which includes Jerod Johnson, Bill Lazor, and Ben McDaniels.

The outside candidate (Klint Kubiak) he mentioned would make me the most excited!

Either way, the Texans have their work cut out for them in finding the next leader of the offensive staff.

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