Jalen Green led the charge for the Houston Rockets (33-35) with a career-high tying 42 points, propelling them to a commanding 137-114 victory over the struggling Washington Wizards (11-58) on Tuesday night. The point guard also contributed 10 rebounds to complete a double-double.
With this win, the Rockets now sit just 2.5 games behind the Golden State Warriors for the final play-in spot in the competitive Western Conference playoff race.
Joining Green in the spotlight was Jabari Smith Jr., who contributed 18 points and 14 rebounds. Rookie Amen Thompson contributed 25 points for the Rockets, while Fred VanVleet showcased his playmaking skills with seven points and 11 assists.
Despite the absence of key players such as Kyle Kuzma and Deni Avdija, the Wizards put up a fight, shooting well from beyond the arc in the early stages of the game.
However, Green’s explosive third-quarter performance, where he scored 15 points, proved to be the turning point as the Rockets surged ahead.
Despite a spirited effort from the Wizards, led by Justin Champagnie (16 points, 8 rebounds), Jules Bernard (16 points), and Corey Kispert (16 points), they were unable to overcome the Rockets.
