ROCKETS DEFEAT WIZARDS
Green scores 22 of his 29 in 3rd quarter as Rockets down Wizards
Jan 7, 2025, 11:14 pm
Rockets defeat the Wizards, 135-112. Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images.
Jalen Green scored 22 of his 29 points in the third quarter and the Houston Rockets routed the short-handed Washington Wizards 135-112 on Tuesday night.
Alperen Sengun added 26 points and 10 rebounds, Amen Thompson scored 20 points and grabbed 15 boards, and Fred VanVleet had 19 points as the Rockets improved to 6-1 on the road against Eastern Conference opponents.
Houston overcame a 20-point first quarter — the fewest points allowed by last-place Washington in a period this season.
Corey Kispert scored 23 points and Jonas Valanciunas added 18 in the Wizards' third straight defeat.
Washington leading scorer Jordan Poole missed his second straight game with a bruised left hip, and fellow starter Kyle Kuzma exited at halftime with a bruised right calf.
Takeaways
Rockets: Thompson continues to blossom in his second season, posting another impressive double-double after scoring a season-high 23 points and grabbing a career-high 16 rebounds in Sunday's 119-115 home win over the Los Angeles Lakers.
Wizards: A marginally improved 4-10 stretch will be hard to sustain if Poole and Kuzma miss more time. Kuzma has played in only half of Washington's 34 games this season.
Key moment
Houston put the game away with a 21-6 third-quarter run to extend its lead to 95-74. Green scored 11 points and sank three 3-pointers during that stretch,
Key stat
Washington's 18 turnovers led to 35 Houston points, the most a Wizards opponent has scored directly from giveaways this season.
Up Next
Washington visits Philadelphia Wednesday. The Rockets head to Memphis Thursday.
Most Popular
SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome
Listen Live
Behind the Rockets' boldest move yet. Composite Getty and Wiki Commons Images.
Rafael Stone finally breaks his silence on the blockbuster trade that sent Jalen Green out of Houston in exchange for Kevin Durant, and he didn’t hold back.
Stone praised Jalen as a “great player” and said the Houston Rockets loved having him, but made it clear this was a necessary move to win now. Was it the right call? And more importantly, what does Jalen Green really think about being traded?
Plus, Stone also addressed the Cam Whitmore trade talks, offering high praise for the young forward and what he brings to the table.
Be sure to watch the video below as ESPN Houston's Paul Gallant reacts to Stone's latest comments, and much more!
.__________________________
Looking to get the word out about your business, products, or services? Consider advertising on SportsMap! It's a great way to get in front of Houston sports fans. Click the link below for more information!