The Houston Rockets extended their winning streak to three games by defeating the Charlotte Hornets 114-101 on Monday night. Jabari Smith Jr. led Houston with 21 points and 11 rebounds, while Fred VanVleet added 20 points to help secure the win.
Amen Thompson delivered an impressive performance with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Cam Whitmore provided a spark off the bench, scoring 17 points. Houston’s dominance on the boards was evident, as they outrebounded Charlotte 59-44.
The Rockets controlled the game from the start, holding the Hornets to just 15 first-quarter points and limiting them to 1-for-11 shooting from beyond the arc. By halftime, Houston had built a commanding 62-31 lead, capped by VanVleet’s buzzer-beating three-pointer.
Miles Bridges led the Hornets with 24 points, while LaMelo Ball contributed 23 in a losing effort. However, Charlotte’s struggles from deep were glaring, as they shot just 2-of-20 from three-point range in the first half and 10-of-36 for the game.
Houston’s defense continued to shine, forcing tough shots and capitalizing on Charlotte’s missed opportunities. The Rockets also benefited from strong contributions across the roster, with Alperen Sengun adding 16 points and eight rebounds. Despite playing only 24 minutes, Jalen Green chipped in with six points.
The Hornets showed some fight in the second half, but the damage had already been done. Moussa Diabate provided a bright spot off the bench for Charlotte, scoring 14 points on 6-of-6 shooting. However, it wasn’t enough to overcome their early struggles and mounting frustration.
Aaron Holiday of the Rockets was ejected after a brief three-minute stint due to an altercation with officials. Despite the incident, Houston remained focused and maintained their sizable lead throughout the game.
The Rockets now improve to 20-9, positioning themselves as a competitive force in the Western Conference. Meanwhile, the Hornets continue to slide, dropping to 7-22 after losing 13 of their last 14 games.
