The Houston Rockets secured their third consecutive win by defeating the Charlotte Hornets 114-101 on Monday night. Jabari Smith Jr. led the Rockets with a double-double, scoring 21 points and grabbing 11 rebounds, while Fred VanVleet contributed 20 points. The Rockets displayed a balanced offensive effort, with Amen Thompson adding 19 points and 11 rebounds, and Cam Whitmore coming off the bench to score 17 points. The Rockets’ strong second-half performance saw them build a commanding 34-point lead.
The Rockets’ young players delivered a standout performance, with Thompson’s energy and Whitmore’s scoring helping Houston dominate throughout. Defensively, they stifled the Hornets, holding Charlotte to just 15 points in the first quarter and a dismal 1-for-11 from three-point range. By halftime, the Rockets led 62-31, capped by a buzzer-beating three-pointer from VanVleet. The Hornets faced a hostile response from their home crowd as they headed to the locker room amidst boos.
For the struggling Hornets, Miles Bridges and LaMelo Ball were bright spots, scoring 24 and 23 points, respectively. However, their efforts were not enough to overcome the team’s broader issues, as Charlotte has now lost 13 of their last 14 games. Their shooting woes continued, particularly in the first half, where they shot an abysmal 2-for-20 from beyond the arc, with a mix of poor execution and Houston’s tight defense contributing to the struggle.
The Rockets also dominated the boards, outrebounding the Hornets 59-44, which underscored their physicality and control of the game. In one notable sequence, Houston grabbed multiple offensive rebounds on a single possession, leading to three three-point attempts. The game’s highlight came in the fourth quarter when Thompson drove the length of the floor and finished with a spectacular two-handed dunk, further energizing the Rockets.
Looking ahead, both teams are on the road Thursday night. The Rockets will travel to New Orleans to face the Pelicans, while the Hornets head to Washington to take on the Wizards, hoping to reverse their dismal run of form. The Rockets’ continued growth and dominant play highlight their potential as a rising team, while the Hornets face mounting challenges in turning their season around.
