The Rockets trailed by 16 points midway through Friday’s third quarter, but they flipped the script in a big way as Houston rallied to defeat the visiting Hawks, 128-122 (box score). With KJ Martin setting the tone, Atlanta was out-rebounded by an astonishing 68-35 margin.
Jalen Green led the Rockets with 30 points, 5 assists, and 5 rebounds on 10-of-17 shooting (58.3%), while Martin added 21 points on 10-of-13 shooting (76.9%) and a career-high 15 rebounds.
That helped the Rockets (4-14) survive an onslaught from the Hawks (11-8) and their talented All-Star backcourt of Trae Young and Dejounte Murray, who combined to score 83 points at Toyota Center on 27-of-52 shooting (52.9%) and 12-of-23 on 3-pointers (52.2%).
With Eric Gordon out for maintenance purposes on the front end of a back-to-back, Garrison Mathews stepped into a larger wing role and had his best game of the 2022-23 season to date, scoring 20 points in 23 minutes off the bench. He connected on 4-of-6 shots overall (66.7%), 3-of-5 on 3-pointers (60.0%), and 9-of-9 on free throws.
Rookie forward Jabari Smith Jr. had another strong game with 21 points and 9 rebounds on 5-of-11 shooting from 3-point range (45.5%), while Kevin Porter Jr. added 12 points and 10 assists.
Scroll on for highlights, analysis, and postgame interviews from Toyota Center. Houston’s four-game homestand concludes Saturday night versus Oklahoma City, with tipoff set for 7 p.m. Central.
#Rockets were down 10 to start the fourth, showed a lot of fight to get back into this game, take the lead, and then close it out without Jalen Green.
Great win.
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) November 26, 2022
Jabari Smith was only 6-17 FG, but this was one of his best games to date — 21 points, 9 boards and a +13 in 37+ minutes. Dejounte Murray tried to clown Jabari when the Hawks had a huge lead and he wasn’t having it. He played the ENTIRE fourth quarter.
Rockets stun the Hawks.
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) November 26, 2022
Final: Rockets 128, Hawks 122.
Rockets with just 2 turnovers in the 4th quarter and outscored the Hawks 34-18 in the 4th.
Jalen Green: 30/5/5
KJ Martin: 21 and 15
Jabari: 21 and 9
Garrison Mathews: 20/4/2
KPJ: 12/7/10— Kris M Gardner (@TheHRReview) November 26, 2022
Biggest win of the season for the young Rockets over a good Hawks unit. The type of stuff that gives them hope.
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) November 26, 2022
Rockets are still in rebuilding mode but games like this show they are making progress from last year. Remember it took Klay best game of the year for them to beat the Rockets last game and the Rockets finally had enough of opponent’s having fun on their court pic.twitter.com/BH6w6KqNpk
— Lachard Binkley (@BinkleyHoops) November 26, 2022
Stephen Silas on the Jabari Smith-Dejounte Murray incident: “There’s always a change of emotion when something like that happens… for us tonight, it went the right way. We needed that.”
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) November 26, 2022
Garrison Mathews is playing a great game at both ends
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) November 26, 2022
Jalen Green just locked up Trae Young and drained a three to tie it up at 112
Wow
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) November 26, 2022
Rockets-Hawks Thoughts:
1. Jabari Smith’s response to the altercation was incredible. Awesome back-to-back games from Jabari
2. Jalen Green had turnover problems but otherwise played like a superstar
3. KJ Martin must start over EG. Full stop
4. Let’s stop forcing KPJ at PG
— Roosh (@RooshWilliams) November 26, 2022
This win was a huge growth moment for Jabari Smith. He refused to take Dejounte Murray’s shit and lead Houston back from a 16-point deficit with a brand of toughness that this young #Rockets team has sorely lacked. He looked like a leader and hit big shots. I love it.
— Roosh (@RooshWilliams) November 26, 2022
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