After a pair of uncompetitive losses in Denver, the young Houston Rockets responded with one of their most feel-good victories of the 2022-23 season in Friday’s 122-121 win at Phoenix (box score). The Suns led by 16 points in the second half before the visitors stormed back, headlined by 13-of-19 shooting (68.4%) in the fourth quarter.
The Suns (15-7), who own the best record in the Western Conference, had a six-game winning streak snapped and lost at home for just the second time this season. Meanwhile, the rebuilding Rockets (6-16) won for the first time on a four-game road trip at West contenders.
Jalen Green scored 20 of his team-high 30 points in the third quarter, and he drew a key foul and added a go-ahead free throw in the final 30 seconds to secure the win. Houston won the fourth quarter, 36-25, with Suns star Devin Booker — despite scoring a game-high 41 points — missing a shot at the buzzer that would have won it.
Green made 6-of-10 shots (60.0%) in the third, making for the highest-scoring quarter of his young NBA career, and his 16 free-throw attempts on the game (making 12, or 75%) were a career high. He also contributed with key defensive plays versus Booker, particularly late.
Rookie forward Jabari Smith Jr. added 17 points and 6 rebounds for Houston on 7-of-12 shooting (58.3%) and 3-of-5 on 3-pointers (60.0%), while Bruno Fernando registered 14 points and 7 rebounds in only 14 minutes off the bench on 7-of-8 shooting (87.5%).
Kevin Porter Jr. had 15 points and a team-high 7 assists for the Rockets, with several going to Fernando late via pick-and-roll scenarios.
Scroll on for highlights, analysis and postgame interviews. Houston finishes out its road trip with Saturday’s matchup at defending NBA champion Golden State, with tipoff at 7:30 p.m. Central.
Suns had made 58.1 percent of their shots through three quarters, 39.1 percent in the fourth quarter when the Rockets outscored them, 36-25 to take the win.
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) December 3, 2022
Gritty win for the young Rockets.
Jalen Green looks like a completely different player than this time last year, particularly how he’s seemingly getting to the free line at will.
Also, it looks like Jabari Smith is actually a good three-point shooter. Who knew?
— Salman Ali (@SalmanAliNBA) December 3, 2022
Bruno Fernando, and Daishen Nix off the bench deserve credit as well. Nix stabilize the team early when no one else could, and Fernando showed why he will still be in the rotation
— Lachard Binkley (@BinkleyHoops) December 3, 2022
17 points for Jabari Smith Jr. tonight. Three triples, sixth straight game for the rookie with at least 3 threes.
The work continues to work. https://t.co/6rOspBO681
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) December 3, 2022
17 points for Jabari Smith Jr. tonight. Three triples, sixth straight game for the rookie with at least 3 threes.
The work continues to work. https://t.co/6rOspBO681
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) December 3, 2022
Jalen Green closing this game out on defense. Critical last few possessions and having the composure to put points on the board at the other. One of “those” games young cornerstones need to have.
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) December 3, 2022
That was a mess of a possession, but what a great job by Jalen Green to force Booker into a tough shot
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) December 3, 2022
Jalen Green wanting the ball and the contact in that situation is something
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) December 3, 2022
KPJ deferred to Jalen Green with a pass and Green got the shot (heading for free throws) with 28.8 sec left. This feels like progress.
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) December 3, 2022
You can debate who is and isn’t part of the #Rockets future, but in my view, Jalen & Jabari are the surefire core players and their progress should be top priority. Tonight was the best game of the year for that.
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) December 3, 2022
Over the last few games Silas has gone back to not staggering Jalen and KPJ.
Hopefully tonight’s second half performance shows that staggering those two is the right move going forward.
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) December 3, 2022
Jalen Green had 16 free-throw attempts tonight, a career best. Appropriately, the last foul he drew resulted in the winning point. #Rockets
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) December 3, 2022
#Rockets coach Stephen Silas on Jalen Green: “He took on the challenge of guarding Booker, which is doing it on both ends, which is growth, showing his competitiveness and what he can be. I was really proud of him for that.”
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) December 3, 2022
Stephen Silas w/the media. “Coming off the 2 games we just did in Denver where we didn’t play well,it means a lot for us. All the hard work we’re putting in, is paying off a little bit. That last possession was heart-stopping..It helps us know we’re moving in the right direction”
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) December 3, 2022
You can debate who is and isn’t part of the #Rockets future, but in my view, Jalen & Jabari are the surefire core players and their progress should be top priority. Tonight was the best game of the year for that.
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) December 3, 2022
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