The Houston Rockets secured a thrilling 135-131 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday night, with standout performances from Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, and Amen Thompson. The trio combined for 75 points, propelling Houston to a critical win over the Eastern Conference leaders.
Green and Sengun led the Rockets with 26 points apiece, while Thompson recorded his second career triple-double with 23 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists. Fred VanVleet added 20 points and six assists, contributing to Houston’s balanced attack.
The Rockets, now 30-14, defeated Cleveland for the second time in four days after narrowly winning 109-108 at home on Wednesday.
Darius Garland carried Cleveland with 39 points and nine assists, scoring 27 in the second half as the Cavaliers attempted a late comeback. Donovan Mitchell added 33 points, including 25 in the second half, but struggled with efficiency, shooting 11-of-27 from the field.
Cleveland’s loss marked their third straight defeat, a season high, and dropped their record to 36-9. They are now a half-game behind Oklahoma City for the league’s best record.
The Rockets’ frontcourt excelled, with Sengun and Steven Adams combining for 40 points and 12 rebounds. Houston’s bench also made key contributions, with Adams adding 14 points and Tari Eason and Jae’Sean Tate chipping in for a combined 11 points.
Cleveland’s Evan Mobley returned after missing four games due to a calf strain but had minimal impact, finishing with seven points and eight rebounds in 29 minutes. Jarrett Allen and Tristan Thompson also struggled to match Houston’s physicality in the paint.
The Rockets set the tone early, outscoring Cleveland 33-27 in the first quarter and never relinquishing their lead. They shot an impressive 54.9% from the field and 46.4% from beyond the arc, led by Green’s five three-pointers.
