Jalen Green (4) of the Houston Rockets drives to the basket as Kyle Kuzma (33) of the Washington Wizards defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 14, 2024, in Houston. The Rockets won 135-119. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
HOUSTON — Jalen Green scored a season-high 37 points as the Houston Rockets jumped out to a big early lead and cruised to a 135-119 victory over the Washington Wizards on Thursday night.
Fred VanVleet added 27 points for the Rockets, who won their fourth straight game.
All of Houston’s starters scored in double figures in the second game since Alperen Sengun injured his knee and ankle on Sunday. The Rockets cruised past Washington 46-32 despite missing the star big man.
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“We played really well,” Green said. “Defense has been our main priority because we are very talented offensively. When we go out in transition and run, it’s very difficult to protect ourselves. So it all starts with defense and it’s been really good.
Jordan Poole scored 25 points off the bench for the Wizards, who lost their second straight game after winning their previous two. Deni Avdija added 24 points and Kyle Kuzma had 23 for Washington.
After the nasty Jalen Green crossover tonight… Check out the best management footage from JG’s career below ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/s17QZ7Jxvk
-NBA (@NBA) March 15, 2024
“I thought we started well (but) it pulled us away a little bit in the second quarter,” Washington interim coach Brian Keefe said. “We never really had our defense in the game. The ball went into the paint too easily.
The Rockets led by 24 points and trailed by 15 to open the fourth quarter.
READ: NBA: Rockets beat Kings but lose Alperen Sengun to injury
Green explained how they are adjusting to playing without Sengun, who is out indefinitely due to his injuries.
“When it’s just a small unit, we play a lot faster and go out and run,” he said.
A 6-0 run by the Wizards, featuring four points from Avdija, cut Houston’s lead to 112-101 early in the fourth. But the Rockets recovered and pushed their advantage to 121-105 midway through the quarter, thanks to two 3-pointers from Green.
Washington trailed by 13 points later in the fourth before Houston scored the next eight points, including four from rookie Amen Thompson, to make the score 133-112 with about two minutes left.
The Rockets led by 22 with about four minutes left in the third quarter before Washington cut the lead to 110-95 early in the fourth. Poole made three 3-pointers during that stretch for the Wizards.
NEXT NBA SCHEDULE
Wizards: Visit Chicago Saturday night.
Rockets: Host Cleveland on Saturday.
