Jalen Green led the Houston Rockets to a dominant 138-104 victory over the Charlotte Hornets during Friday’s NBA action, netting 36 points. Rookie sensation Cam Whitmore made a significant impact with a personal best of 24 points and 11 rebounds.
Contributing to the Rockets’ triumph, Fred VanVleet scored 14 points, and Amen Thompson added 13 points from the bench. The Rockets excelled in the second half, shooting an impressive 30 out of 40 from the field, which enabled them to outpace the Hornets with a score of 83-51.
Miles Bridges was the top scorer for the Hornets with 21 points, but it wasn’t enough to prevent their home record from slipping to 5-15.
The game was closely contested in the first half, with the Rockets holding a slim two-point lead. However, the third quarter saw a dramatic shift as the Rockets surged ahead, outscoring the Hornets 44-25. This surge was partly due to the absence of Hornets’ key players LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller, who were benched due to foul trouble.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Jalen Green, Houston Rockets, LaMelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets Updates
The Rockets further solidified their lead early in the fourth quarter with a barrage of four consecutive three-pointers, three of which were scored by Whitmore, extending their lead to 31 points. Houston coach Ime Udoka emphasized the importance of defense in their identity and strategy.
“I mean, it shows that our identity is when we guard at that level, we are in good shape, and so anytime we can get stops and not have to play in the half court every time at a slower pace, it benefits a lot of guys,” Udoka said. “We are going to get back to the identity of guarding instead of just getting in track meets up and down with teams like we have lately.”
Whitmore, the 20th pick in the 2023 draft, attributed his success to gaining confidence from driving to the basket and making plays, encouraged by his team to keep shooting.
“I got it going and my teammates and coaches just said keep letting it fly, and if you’re open shoot it,” Whitmore said. “So they had the confidence in me.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Jalen Green, Houston Rockets, LaMelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets Updates
The Rockets, who had been struggling with three-pointers in the first three quarters, turned it around in the fourth quarter by sinking 7 of 8 attempts from beyond the arc.
Steve Clifford, the Hornets coach, expressed disappointment with his team’s attitude and performance in the third quarter, stressing the need for a better mindset.
“It was the refs’ fault, it was my teammate’s fault,” Clifford said. “We’ve got to have the right attitude.”
The win was crucial for the Rockets, who had lost five of their previous six games. This victory allowed them to rest their starters for most of the fourth quarter, potentially benefiting them in their next game against the Brooklyn Nets.
Green’s performance was particularly noteworthy as he scored 17 points in the third quarter alone and finished the game with impressive shooting statistics. The Rockets achieved this victory despite the absence of Jabari Smith due to an ankle injury.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Jalen Green, Houston Rockets, LaMelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets Updates
“We needed this one bad,” Whitmore said. “Coach has preached just be tough and take that anger into the next game and that’s what we did. So we have to keep this momentum going.”
The Hornets, on the other hand, are adjusting after trading their leading scorer, Terry Rozier, to the Miami Heat, receiving Kyle Lowry in return. General Manager Mitch Kupchak indicated that Lowry might not play for Charlotte before the trade deadline, as the team explores trade options.
Looking ahead, the Rockets are set to play the Brooklyn Nets, while the Hornets will host the Utah Jazz on Saturday night.
