The Houston Rockets secured a hard-fought 114-110 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday night, marking their first win in Toronto since December 2019. Dillon Brooks led the charge with a game-high 27 points, while Jalen Green added 22 as the Rockets improved to 19-9 on the season.
Alperen Sengun contributed a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. The Rockets’ effort was bolstered by Fred VanVleet, who made his first return to Toronto as a visitor. Although VanVleet struggled offensively, shooting 1-for-10 from the field, he chipped in with eight rebounds and five assists.
The Raptors, now on a seven-game losing streak, dropped to 7-22. Rookie forward Ja’Kobe Walter delivered a standout performance with a career-high 27 points before fouling out. Chris Boucher and Ochai Agbaji each contributed 15 points off the bench, but Toronto’s struggles continued as they fell for the sixth straight time at home.
Walter opened the game with a blistering start, scoring Toronto’s first 14 points. However, Houston responded with balanced scoring and key defensive stops to keep the game within reach.
Turnovers plagued both teams throughout the game. Houston committed a season-high 21 turnovers, allowing Toronto to score 23 points off those miscues. However, the Rockets cleaned up their play in the second half, which proved crucial in securing the win.
Scottie Barnes struggled offensively for the Raptors, shooting 2-for-15 from the field and missing all eight of his three-point attempts. Despite his poor shooting night, Barnes grabbed 10 rebounds and dished out four assists. Jamal Shead provided a spark off the bench with 11 points and a career-high 10 assists.
For the Rockets, Brooks delivered clutch free throws, going 13-for-14 from the line, and played an integral role defensively. Whitmore and Amen Thompson added valuable contributions off the bench, combining for 21 points. Houston also dominated the boards with 53 rebounds compared to Toronto’s 42.
Toronto played without key contributors RJ Barrett, Bruce Brown, and Jakob Poeltl, all sidelined due to injuries or illness. The absence of Barrett, their second-leading scorer, was particularly felt on the offensive end.
