Jalen Green’s third-quarter explosion led the Houston Rockets to a dominant 135-112 victory over the Washington Wizards on Tuesday night. The Rockets improved to 24-12, while the struggling Wizards fell to 6-28.
Green scored 22 of his 29 points in the third quarter, helping Houston turn a close game into a rout. Alperen Sengun contributed 26 points and 10 rebounds, marking another standout performance from the versatile big man.
Amen Thompson posted a double-double with 20 points and 15 rebounds. Fred VanVleet added 19 points and dished out 12 assists.
Washington’s Corey Kispert led his team with 23 points, hitting five three-pointers. Jonas Valanciunas chipped in 18 points, but the Wizards struggled without leading scorer Jordan Poole, who missed his second straight game with a bruised left hip. Kyle Kuzma exited at halftime with a bruised right calf, further depleting the roster.
The Rockets’ defense stifled the Wizards early, allowing just 20 points in the first quarter. Washington committed 18 turnovers, leading to 35 points for the Rockets.
Offensively, Houston shot 51.5% from the field and connected on 15-of-38 three-pointers. Green’s seven triples set the tone for the Rockets’ outside shooting barrage. Meanwhile, Thompson’s efficiency stood out, as he shot 7-for-8 from the floor and a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line.
Washington struggled to find consistent offense beyond Kispert and Valanciunas. Kuzma contributed 10 points before his early exit, and Jared Butler added 14 points off the bench. Despite shooting 46.1% overall and 37.5% from beyond the arc, the Wizards couldn’t keep pace with Houston’s balanced attack.
