The Brooklyn Nets earned a 110-98 win over the Houston Rockets on Saturday night, marking their first consecutive victories since November. Ziaire Williams led the way with 21 points, while D’Angelo Russell contributed 18 to help Brooklyn improve to 16-33 on the season.
Houston (32-16) struggled without Alperen Sengun, who missed his second straight contest with a bruised calf. Fred VanVleet also exited in the second quarter due to an ankle injury, further limiting the Rockets’ offensive production.
Brooklyn established control early, leading by double digits for most of the night. The Nets put together a strong run in the third quarter to extend their lead to 18 points and never allowed Houston to mount a serious comeback.
Jalen Green scored a game-high 29 points for the Rockets, but his efforts were not enough to overcome the team’s offensive struggles. Houston shot just 40% from the field and 30.8% from beyond the arc, with Amen Thompson and Dillon Brooks combining to hit only 11 of their 30 shot attempts.
Brooklyn relied on a balanced scoring attack, with all five starters finishing in double figures. Nic Claxton recorded 17 points on 8-of-14 shooting, while Keon Johnson and Jalen Wilson each added 13. The Nets also received solid contributions from their bench, including Day’Ron Sharpe’s 13 points on 6-of-8 shooting.
Houston’s struggles were evident in the second quarter, where the team managed just 15 points. The absence of Sengun and VanVleet left the Rockets without two of their top three scorers, and the lack of offensive rhythm made it difficult to keep pace with Brooklyn.
Despite Green’s scoring output, Houston lacked efficiency, committing 10 turnovers while dishing out only 18 assists. Tari Eason chipped in 12 points off the bench, and Steven Adams added 11, but the Rockets never found a consistent offensive flow.
Brooklyn’s defense played a key role in the victory, holding the Rockets to just 98 points and limiting their shooting efficiency. The Nets also won the rebounding battle, grabbing 46 boards compared to Houston’s 44.
