Tag: Houston Rockets

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NBA (Basketball)

NBA roundup: Grizzlies hold off Rockets for a last-second win in Memphis

Memphis Grizzlies and Houston Rockets

Jaren Jackson Jr. made two free throws with 8.6 seconds left to give the Memphis Grizzlies a 120-119 win over the Houston Rockets on Thursday.

In a game between two of the Western Conference’s top teams, there were 14 ties and 13 lead changes. Houston had a chance to win at the buzzer, but Fred VanVleet missed a 3-point shot.

Desmond Bane led Memphis with 24 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists. Luke Kennard added 22 points, and Jackson finished with 21. Memphis ended the game on a 13-4 run, marking its seventh win in the last eight games.

Houston, ending its four-game win streak, was led by Jalen Green, who had 25 points, six rebounds, and five assists. Dillon Brooks contributed 22 points, and Amen Thompson had 21 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and four blocks.

Cavaliers 137, Hawks 115

Darius Garland scored 26 points, and Donovan Mitchell added 24 as Cleveland defeated Atlanta at home.

Ty Jerome scored 20 points off the bench. Evan Mobley, celebrating his NBA All-Star Game selection, had 16 points and 10 rebounds. Jarrett Allen grabbed 15 rebounds and scored nine points. Cleveland dominated the third quarter 39-21, shot 58.2 percent, and outrebounded Atlanta 53-43, earning its third consecutive victory.

Zaccharie Risacher led the Hawks with 30 points on 11-of-14 shooting. De’Andre Hunter scored 25, and Trae Young posted 15 points and 10 assists.

Timberwolves 138, Jazz 113

Anthony Edwards led the Minnesota Timberwolves with 36 points and 11 assists in Salt Lake City, helping the team extend its win streak to five games.

Edwards made 12 of 18 field-goal attempts, including 6 of 9 from 3-point range, and blocked three shots. Rookie Rob Dillingham, the eighth overall pick in the 2024 draft, scored a career-high 19 points with eight assists. Luka Garza had a season-high 16 points.

Anthony Edwards Shines but Timberwolves’ Slow Start and Late Mistakes Cost Them Against Warriors
Anthony Edwards Shines but Timberwolves’ Slow Start and Late Mistakes Cost Them Against Warriors

Former Jazz players Rudy Gobert and Nickeil Alexander-Walker also played well against their old team. Gobert finished with 16 points, nine rebounds, five assists, and four blocks, while Alexander-Walker added 15 points and five assists. Minnesota’s Julius Randle left with right groin soreness.

Keyonte George led the Jazz with 23 points. Collin Sexton added 19 points, while John Collins and Jordan Clarkson each scored 16.

Lakers 134, Wizards 96

LeBron James recorded 24 points and 11 assists as the Los Angeles Lakers dominated Washington.

LeBron’s son, Bronny James, entered the game for Los Angeles at the start of the fourth quarter, playing the final 12 minutes. He scored a career-high five points. Rui Hachimura added 22 points, and Shake Milton scored 21 points off the bench, helping the Lakers win their fifth game in six tries.

Washington, losing its 16th straight game, was led by Jordan Poole with 19 points and Kyle Kuzma with 13.

Trail Blazers 119, Magic 90

Shaedon Sharpe came off the bench to score 23 points and lead the Portland Trail Blazers to a comfortable victory over Orlando.

Sharpe hit 3 of 6 from 3-point range, shooting 9 of 14 overall. Scoot Henderson also had 23 points, along with seven assists. The Trail Blazers have won six of their last seven games.

Franz Wagner led the Magic with 24 points, but Orlando lost for the seventh time in eight games. Paolo Banchero scored 21 points and grabbed six rebounds.

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NBA (Basketball)

Memphis Grizzlies secure win over Houston Rockets with clutch free throws

Memphis Grizzlies and Houston Rockets

Jaren Jackson Jr. made two free throws with 8.6 seconds left, giving the Memphis Grizzlies a 120-119 win over the Houston Rockets on Thursday.

Houston had a chance to win at the buzzer, but Fred VanVleet missed a 3-point shot.

Desmond Bane led the Grizzlies with 24 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists. Luke Kennard added 22 points, and Jackson finished with 21. Memphis ended the game with a 13-4 run, marking their seventh win in the last eight games.

Houston’s four-game win streak ended with this loss. Jalen Green scored 25 points, had six rebounds, and five assists. Dillon Brooks added 22 points, and Amen Thompson contributed 21 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and four blocks.

The Rockets were hoping to sweep the Grizzlies in the season series for the first time since 2009-10, having won the last three matchups.

The game, which saw 14 ties and 13 lead changes, was between two of the top three teams in the Western Conference.

Key players for both teams were missing — Grizzlies guard Ja Morant, out with right shoulder soreness, missed his 20th game this season, while Rockets All-Star Alperen Sengun, who had a left calf contusion, missed his first game of the season.

Memphis Grizzlies (NBA)

Down by 10 to start the third quarter, the Grizzlies went on an 8-0 run, fueled by back-to-back 3-pointers from Kennard. Memphis used that momentum to chip away at the Houston lead and briefly took a 79-78 lead after a shot by Santi Aldama.

However, the Rockets regained control and led 96-92 going into the fourth.

The Grizzlies struggled in the first half, giving up 38 points in the opening quarter and falling behind by seven in the second. Houston, which made eight 3-pointers in the first half, stretched its lead to 66-55 in the final minutes of the second period and held a 66-56 advantage at halftime.

Green had three 3-pointers and 15 points in the first half, while Thompson added 14. Bane and Jackson led Memphis with 12 points each in the first half.

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NBA (Basketball)

Rockets Aim To Continue Road Success Against Celtics In Boston

Houston Rockets (NBA)

The Houston Rockets face a tough challenge on the road against the defending NBA champions, the Boston Celtics, on Monday night.

To make matters more difficult, the Rockets will need to contend with Derrick White, who seems to have snapped out of his shooting slump after a strong performance in the Celtics’ 122-107 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday.

White had been struggling, shooting only 37.4% in the first 12 games of January. However, he bounced back with 23 points against the Mavericks, including making seven of his next ten shots after a slow start. White’s 16 points in the third quarter were key in the Celtics’ victory.

“We’re a different beast when D-White gets going,” said Boston’s Kristaps Porzingis. “He started hitting floaters, 3s, and deep corner 3s. He hit so many daggers for us. That brings us to another level.”

The Celtics’ starting lineup had a great performance, with each player scoring at least 17 points. They made 20 of their 52 attempts from beyond the arc, hitting 38.5% of their 3-point shots.

“We got a lot of talent and it’s nice when we’re all clicking like that,” White said.

On the other hand, Houston comes into the game having won two straight and with a solid 9-1 record on the road since December 8.

The Rockets are getting strong contributions from Amen Thompson, who scored 23 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, and dished out 10 assists in their 135-131 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday.

Boston Celtics and Minnesota Timberwolves

Thompson, the fourth pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, is averaging 13.2 points this season, but he has been even more impressive in his last 10 games, averaging 17.7 points per game. He has also posted at least 10 rebounds in three of his last four games.

“He’s playing great,” said Houston’s Alperen Sengun. “He’s playing both ends great, under the rim. They’re helping a lot on me and Jalen (Green), and when they help, Amen is pushing them under the rim. And defense — he can guard anybody in this league and he’s giving everyone a hard time. So he’s so important for us.”

Houston coach Ime Udoka also praised Thompson’s defense in the Cavaliers game.

“He’s pretty much ready to take on whatever, whether it’s one through five, and he did that,” Udoka said. “He started on Mobley, switched to Garland and Mitchell, obviously late in the game. And it’s a lot to ask of somebody, and he comes up with a triple-double, big defensive stops, rebounds and all of the above.”

Monday’s game will be the second meeting between the two teams this season. In their first matchup on January 3, the Celtics won 109-86. White led Boston with 23 points in that game, while Payton Pritchard came off the bench to score 20.

The Celtics led by 10 after three quarters and started the fourth quarter with an 11-0 run. Houston’s Jalen Green scored 27 points, but the Rockets shot just 36.4% from the field.

Thompson did not play in that first game because he was serving the second game of a suspension after an altercation with Miami’s Tyler Herro.

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NFL (American Football)

Houston Rockets Focus on Young Players During Rebuilding Year

Houston Rockets (NBA)

Rebuilding an NBA team can be compared to cleaning your room. First, you get rid of the things you don’t need, then start fresh. After remodeling, you can make the space into whatever you want.

An NBA rebuild usually starts with removing players who don’t fit the team’s future plans. After clearing cap space or gathering draft picks, the team can go in several directions.

The most common way is to build the team through the draft. Losing for a few years can lead to high draft picks, which the team then develops into star players or key contributors to a future playoff team.

Another option is to trade for established players. This approach has worked for some teams, but in the early 2020s, teams like the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers tried to build superteams and failed.

The Houston Rockets are rebuilding using the first approach, and so far, things are going well. After trading their star player James Harden in 2021, the Rockets started fresh with three straight losing seasons.

Houston Rockets (NBA)

During this time, Houston drafted a group of young players who have the potential to become stars, including Alperen Sengun, Jalen Green, Amen Thompson, and Jabari Smith Jr. They also added promising talent through the draft, like Reed Sheppard, the No. 3 pick this year.

After a tough 22-60 season in 2022-23, the Rockets showed great improvement last season under new coach Ime Udoka, finishing 41-41 and nearly making the Play-In Tournament. Their 19-game improvement was the biggest turnaround in the league.

Instead of focusing on big-name players, the Rockets wisely brought in experienced veterans like Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks, and Steven Adams, who helped the team improve last season.

The coaching staff and players deserve praise, but the front office should also be recognized for building a great mix of talent. General manager Rafael Stone, who took over in 2020, has rebuilt the team in just five seasons. The Rockets are now looking to make a serious playoff push in 2025.

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NBA (Basketball)

Rockets look to showcase their growth against Celtics in Houston

Houston Rockets (NBA)

The way the Houston Rockets won on Wednesday, with veteran guard Fred VanVleet missing 7 of 8 shots and scoring only five points, would have seemed impossible last season. But their 110-99 win over the Dallas Mavericks showed just how much the Rockets have developed as a team.

The win ended a two-game losing streak and came in the third game of a five-game homestand, with the next game against the Boston Celtics on Friday night.

Even though VanVleet didn’t score much, he contributed five rebounds, seven assists, and six steals. The Rockets didn’t need his scoring or leadership on offense because other players have stepped up to take on those roles. One of those players, Amen Thompson, was out due to a suspension, but the Rockets were still strong.

Houston has grown more confident, relying on Alperen Sengun and Jalen Green to run the offense when VanVleet isn’t performing at his best. Green scored 22 points and kept the team organized, though he didn’t get any assists.

Sengun led with 23 points and four assists, proving that he can handle the offense from the center position with his good vision and passing skills. The Rockets now have several players, like Green, Sengun, and Thompson, who can take on the responsibility of directing the team, making them less dependent on VanVleet.

“I think across the board, the more guys you have that can get us into sets, penetrate, shoot, drive and all those things, it makes us more balanced and deadly,” Houston coach Ime Udoka said. “Fred keeping the turnovers down and getting us into sets last year was a big thing for us to improve our offense and improve the team.

Dallas Mavericks (NBA)

The growth of our young guys and those guys taking on that role with Fred being the recipient sometimes can be beneficial for us.”

The Celtics, on the other hand, won 118-115 against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday in the first game of a four-game road trip. They did this without Jaylen Brown (shoulder injury) and Kristaps Porzingis (ankle injury).

Jayson Tatum led the way with 33 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists. Boston finished 8-6 in December but is staying confident, knowing that the win against the Timberwolves could give them a boost.

“We’ve had a rough stretch the last eight or nine games,” Tatum said. “This January (we’re) trying to turn it around and get back to our identity.”

The road ahead will be tough for the Celtics as they face the Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder and Denver Nuggets after their game with the Rockets. Even without Brown and Porzingis, the Celtics showed how to win on the road against tough competition.

“Take it one game at a time,” Tatum said. “I love the way we competed. Our physicality was on point. That’s what it’s going to take. We play four really good, physical teams on the road, and we’re going to need everybody each game.”

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NBA (Basketball)

Rockets surge in second quarter to beat Mavericks

Houston Rockets and Dallas Maverick

Cam Whitmore scored 18 points off the bench, and along with Alperen Sengun, led the Houston Rockets to a 110-99 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday.

Sengun finished with 23 points, six rebounds, four assists, and six steals as the Rockets bounced back from losing their first two games of a five-game homestand. The game turned in the second quarter when Whitmore and Sengun combined for 20 points in a 23-4 run, turning a 10-point deficit into a 53-44 lead.

Jalen Green added 22 points, and Dillon Brooks contributed 19 points and six rebounds. The Rockets played without two key bench players: Tari Eason (leg injury) and Amen Thompson (suspension).

Klay Thompson led the Mavericks with 16 points and four 3-pointers, while Kyrie Irving scored 16 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and had three steals and two blocks.

The Mavericks were already without their top scorer Luka Doncic (calf injury) and then lost P.J. Washington to a right knee sprain, which kept him out for the second half.

Dallas Mavericks (NBA)

Dallas started strong, but Houston fought back from an early 10-point deficit with a 12-2 run, capped off by two free throws from Brooks. The Mavericks led 30-24 at the end of the first quarter.

In the second, the Mavericks led 40-30 when Spencer Dinwiddie hit a 3-pointer at the 8:12 mark, making Dallas 6-for-6 from beyond the arc. The Rockets were 0-for-6 up until that point. Sengun started the Rockets’ comeback with two quick baskets inside, followed by a 3-pointer from Whitmore.

Sengun extended the lead to 47-44, and Whitmore added another 3-pointer, putting Houston ahead by seven. Whitmore scored 11 points during this stretch.

Quentin Grimes led Dallas with 17 points, and Jaden Harden added 10 in the first half, but the Mavericks were down 61-52 at halftime.

Houston started the third quarter strong with a 9-2 run, including a 3-pointer by Jabari Smith Jr. In the fourth, after Thompson and Dinwiddie hit three 3-pointers, Whitmore answered with his own 3-pointer, extending Houston’s lead to 104-86.

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NBA (Basketball)

Rockets aim to improve late-game performance ahead of Mavs matchup

Houston Rockets (NBA)

The Houston Rockets are looking to fix their late-game struggles as they prepare to face the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday. In their recent games, the Rockets have had trouble finishing strong, especially in the final minutes.

Against the Miami Heat on Sunday, the Rockets blew a 12-point lead in the second half and scored just 18 points in the fourth quarter. Most of those points came late in the game when the outcome was already decided. They struggled to make shots, finishing 6-for-25 in the fourth quarter.

This was similar to their collapse against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday, where they gave up a 16-point lead in the last five minutes.

Houston’s shooting has been a major issue. They rank near the bottom in the NBA for 3-point shooting percentage (32.7%). When their outside shots aren’t falling, teams are crowding the paint, making it harder for players like Jalen Green to drive to the basket, and doubling Alperen Sengun to limit his post moves. This has led to poor finishes in games.

“Scoring at the end in both of those games obviously stands out, and that’s something that has to be addressed,” coach Ime Udoka said.

Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma City Thunder

“We are guarding well enough to hold Minnesota to 100 until they go on their run, but we are struggling to score at the end. And so that’s something that needs to be solved.”

Houston will be without Amen Thompson for Wednesday’s game after he was suspended for two games due to his role in a scuffle against Miami.

The Mavericks, meanwhile, are also dealing with injury problems. In their recent 110-100 loss to the Sacramento Kings, Dallas played without four key players: Luka Dončić, Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, and Dereck Lively II. Despite the missing players, Dallas fought hard but lost for the third time in their last four games.

Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said, “We felt confident with the group we went out there with (on Monday). We’re just trying to find a way with the bodies that we have.”

With several players injured, Kidd has been relying heavily on P.J. Washington and Spencer Dinwiddie, who combined for 58 points in the loss to Sacramento.

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NBA (Basketball)

Amen Thompson suspended for 2 games, Terry Rozier for 1 game following Rockets-Heat altercation

The teams brawl in the game

The NBA has suspended Houston’s Amen Thompson for two games and Miami’s Terry Rozier for one game due to their involvement in a fight during the final moments of the Rockets-Heat game on Sunday night.

The league also issued $145,000 in fines from that game. Houston coach Ime Udoka was fined $50,000 for verbally abusing a referee and not leaving the court quickly enough. Rockets player Jalen Green was fined $35,000, while Miami’s Tyler Herro received a $25,000 fine for their roles in the altercation.

In addition, Houston’s Fred VanVleet was fined $35,000 for making contact with referee Marc Davis just before the fight started.

As a result of their suspensions, Rozier will lose approximately $143,242 in salary, and Thompson will lose about $127,586.

The game ended with a chaotic final minute, leading to seven ejections: VanVleet, Thompson, Rozier, Udoka, Houston assistant coach Ben Sullivan, Green, and Herro. VanVleet was ejected first for making contact with referee Davis after a 5-second violation was called on the Rockets.

Amen Thompson and Tyler Herro in the game

Soon after, things escalated. Thompson threw Herro to the ground after exchanging words with him. Rozier then joined in, and a lot of pushing, shoving, and shouting occurred between players from both teams.

Herro led all scorers with 27 points, adding nine assists and six rebounds. He later said he thought Thompson was frustrated by his performance.

“Guess that’s what happens when someone’s scoring, throwing dimes, doing the whole thing,” Herro said. “I’d get mad, too.”

Miami won the game 104-100 after finishing with a 19-5 run, coming back from a seven-point deficit with 7 minutes left. Houston had led by as many as 12 points in the third quarter.

“I think they lost control of their feelings when the game started to turn a little bit in our direction,” Herro said Tuesday. “And then obviously the ejection of VanVleet, you heard some words from their sideline towards the refs. They were definitely frustrated.”

Herro mentioned he got a bruise near his hip from the fall but expects to play in the game against the Pelicans on Wednesday.

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Anthony Edwards’ clutch 3-pointer leads Timberwolves to victory over Rockets

Minnesota Timberwolves and Houston Rockets

Anthony Edwards made a key 3-pointer with 23.2 seconds left to complete a remarkable fourth-quarter comeback, leading the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 113-112 win over the Houston Rockets on Friday.

The Timberwolves ended the game with a 23-6 run, which included two 3-pointers each from Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Naz Reid, and Edwards’ three-point play with 1:31 left, cutting the Rockets’ lead to 110-108. Julius Randle followed up with a dunk, and then Edwards hit a pull-up 3-pointer to erase a 106-90 deficit with 4:57 remaining.

Edwards scored 24 points in the game. Randle had 27 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists. Donte DiVincenzo added 22 points, while Alexander-Walker and Reid combined for 25 points, all coming off the bench.

Alperen Sengun led the Rockets with a season-high 38 points but missed two crucial free throws in the last 69 seconds. Sengun also grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds. Amen Thompson posted a double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds.

Fred VanVleet added 18 points, six rebounds, and seven assists, and he, along with Sengun, helped the Rockets take control in the third quarter.

Alperen Sengun reacts in the 1st half

Houston was without Dillon Brooks (ankle) and Tari Eason (leg) and had its four-game winning streak snapped. Thompson’s two dunks and two 3-pointers by Jabari Smith Jr. sparked a 12-2 run early in the fourth quarter, putting the Rockets up by double digits.

Edwards had a strong first quarter, scoring 13 points on 5-for-6 shooting, including 3-for-3 from behind the arc. His coast-to-coast layup at the buzzer gave the Timberwolves a 22-21 lead at the end of the first quarter. Despite committing six turnovers, Minnesota shot just 3-for-11 in the opening period.

Randle and DiVincenzo came alive in the second quarter, with Randle leading a 10-2 run that gave the Timberwolves a 39-32 lead with five points. DiVincenzo added a corner 3-pointer to make it 45-36, with Edwards, DiVincenzo, and Randle all scoring 13 points.

The Rockets responded with an 8-0 run, closing the gap to 52-50, and despite shooting just 4-for-14 from 3-point range, they trailed by only five points at halftime.

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NBA (Basketball)

Houston Rockets Dominate Hornets for Third Straight Win Behind Jabari Smith Jr.’s Double-Double

Houston Rockets Dominate Hornets for Third Straight Win Behind Jabari Smith Jr.'s Double-Double
Houston Rockets Dominate Hornets for Third Straight Win Behind Jabari Smith Jr.'s Double-Double

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.

Houston Rockets Dominate Hornets for Third Straight Win Behind Jabari Smith Jr.'s Double-Double
Houston Rockets Dominate Hornets for Third Straight Win Behind Jabari Smith Jr.’s Double-Double

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.

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NBA (Basketball)

Rockets look to continue strong offense against struggling Timberwolves

Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors

The Houston Rockets are coming off a successful 3-0 road trip, which they capped with a 128-111 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday. This victory extended their winning streak to four games since their loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Cup semifinals. During this streak, the Rockets’ offense has found its rhythm.

Houston will now begin a five-game homestand, facing the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday. The Rockets are shooting 48.1 percent during their win streak, including an impressive 57.4 percent on shots inside the 3-point arc. While the team has already been one of the top defensive squads, their offensive struggles earlier in the season had held them back.

“We had the same looks against OKC in Las Vegas and missed those same looks,” Rockets coach Ime Udoka said. “It would have been nice to have them that night against a team that loads up the paint and tries to make you prove it.

Guys are shooting with confidence, putting in the work. We’ve had some days to get some legs up under us and, yeah, have had some big shooting nights lately. And, obviously, when you play defense at the level we are and make shots, you have good results.”

The Rockets won their final two road games without key forwards Dillon Brooks (ankle) and Tari Eason (leg), with both players’ status for the Timberwolves game unknown.

Minnesota Timberwolves (NBA)

Despite these absences, the Rockets’ depth has stepped up, especially from the starting backcourt of Jalen Green and Fred VanVleet, who combined for 55 points against the Pelicans. Reserve Cam Whitmore also had a breakout performance, scoring a career-high 27 points.

The Timberwolves, on the other hand, had been on a strong stretch with six wins in seven games before a 26-point loss to the New York Knicks on Dec. 19. This loss sparked a three-game losing streak, which they broke with a 105-99 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Christmas. The Timberwolves are now back above .500.

Minnesota made significant moves in the offseason, trading Karl-Anthony Towns to the Knicks while adding Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo. However, the new roster has taken some time to gel.

Anthony Edwards continues to be the team’s star, and his clutch performance helped Minnesota hold off a late comeback from the Mavericks. Despite Edwards’ heroics, the Timberwolves remain one of the bottom-10 offenses in the league, and the team is still figuring things out.

“We’ve got a good group of guys,” Edwards said. “It’s all about having patience. It’s a different team so we’ve got to have patience to be able to get it together. Sometimes it looks good, sometimes it looks bad and we’re still trying to figure it out. I think patience is what’s going to take us over the top. Being able to wait and figure it out, and once we figure it out, we’ll be all right.”

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NBA (Basketball)

Jalen Green and Cam Whitmore lead Rockets to victory over struggling Pelicans

Houston Rockets and New Orleans Pelicans

Jalen Green scored 30 points, Cam Whitmore added 27 off the bench, and the visiting Houston Rockets never trailed in their 128-111 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday night.

Fred VanVleet contributed 25 points, Alperen Sengun added 10 points and 13 rebounds, and Jae’Sean Tate scored 10 off the bench. The Rockets won their fourth consecutive game, a streak that began with a 133-113 win over the Pelicans one week ago.

Trey Murphy III led the Pelicans with 21 points, while Dejounte Murray and Brandon Boston Jr. each scored 17. CJ McCollum added 13, Javonte Green scored 11, and Herbert Jones finished with 10 points. New Orleans lost their eighth straight game.

Green, who had scored 34 points in the previous win against the Pelicans, made a 3-pointer to start the third quarter, extending Houston’s lead to 21 points. The Rockets then pushed the lead to 24 before Murphy made three 3-pointers and Murray added one, bringing New Orleans closer at 83-66 midway through the third.

VanVleet answered with a 3-pointer, and Green hit another later in the quarter, helping Houston extend the lead to 102-74 by the end of the third. New Orleans made only one field goal in the final four minutes of the third quarter.

Dejounte Murray (NBA)

Green scored the first five points of the game for the Rockets, and VanVleet added eight as Houston built an early 19-12 lead. The Pelicans stayed within five points until Whitmore and Green connected on 3-pointers to spark a 14-2 run, giving the Rockets a 39-22 lead by the end of the first quarter.

Green (16 points) and VanVleet (10 points) combined to outscore New Orleans in the first quarter. Houston made 5 of 10 3-pointers in the period, while the Pelicans missed all seven of their 3-point attempts.

The Rockets extended their lead to 21 points, but McCollum made two 3-pointers and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl added one, helping New Orleans cut the deficit to 50-36. The Pelicans got within 14 points again after a 3-pointer from Murphy, but Houston pushed the lead to 61-43 by halftime.