Jalen Green showcased his talent by matching his career-best performance with 42 points, propelling the Houston Rockets to their sixth consecutive triumph, a convincing 137-114 victory over the Washington Wizards on Tuesday night.
With this win, Houston narrows the gap to just 2 1/2 games behind Golden State for the final play-in spot in the competitive Western Conference. Amen Thompson contributed significantly with 25 points, while Fred VanVleet orchestrated the offense with seven points and 11 assists.
Reflecting on his impressive performance, Green emphasized the importance of consistency, stating, “My main goal is just to keep building on the hot streaks and be as consistent as possible and affect the game in ways even when I’m not scoring the ball well.”
Corey Kispert led the Wizards with 16 points, but despite their efforts, injuries hampered Washington’s roster, sidelining key players like Kyle Kuzma, Deni Avdija, Tyus Jones, and Bilal Coulibaly.
Although the Wizards remained competitive for much of the game, Green’s explosive third-quarter display, where he tallied 15 points, proved pivotal. Rockets’ interim coach Brian Keefe highlighted Green’s impact, acknowledging that the game shifted in Houston’s favor during this decisive period.
Jabari Smith Jr. also made a significant contribution for the Rockets, recording 18 points and 14 rebounds. On the Wizards’ side, Justin Champagnie and Jules Bernard each scored 16 points.
Houston’s defense, anchored by Jock Landale’s seven blocked shots, posed a challenge for Washington, particularly limiting Jordan Poole, who had six of his shots blocked.
Despite a valiant effort, Washington struggled to capitalize on their home-court advantage, securing only four wins at Capital One Arena this season. With five consecutive losses, the Wizards now hold the NBA’s worst record at 11-58, trailing behind the Detroit Pistons by 1 1/2 games.
