In the final preseason game for both teams, second-year Jalen Green dropped 33 points in 29 minutes on efficient shooting as the Houston Rockets won at Indiana, 122-114 (box score). Green connected on 10-of-15 shots in Friday’s game (66.7%), including 4-of-7 on 3-pointers (57.1%). He also made all nine of his free throws.
Backcourt mate Kevin Porter Jr. added 22 points and 7 rebounds on 8-of-14 shooting (57.1%) for Houston (3-1), including 5-of-6 on 3-pointers (83.3%). Veteran guard Eric Gordon, who missed the previous two games for rest purposes, added 14 points in just 17 minutes on 4-of-8 shooting (50.0%) and 2-of-5 on 3-pointers (40.0%).
Second-year center Alperen Sengun recovered from a sluggish game Monday to record 12 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds, and 2 blocked shots in 22 minutes, including 2-of-2 from 3-point range.
Veteran guard Buddy Hield led the Pacers (2-2) with 19 points in 20 minutes on 6-of-9 shooting and 4-of-6 on 3-pointers (66.7%).
Jabari Smith Jr. (left ankle sprain), Jae’Sean Tate (right ankle soreness), Garrison Mathews (illness), and Daishen Nix (lower back soreness) did not play for Houston, though all of those issues are considered minor and none are expected to miss time in the 2022-23 regular season, according to Friday’s update by head coach Stephen Silas.
Scroll on for postgame interviews, clips, and analysis. The Rockets will open regular-season play next Wednesday, Oct. 19 in Atlanta.
Jalen Green tonight:
33 points
1 rebound
3 assists
1 steal10/15 FG
4/7 3FG
9/9 FTScoring with ease, getting to the line and creating for teammates. Great game.
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) October 15, 2022
Hey so I think Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr. might be a pretty badass young back court, yea?
— Roosh (@RooshWilliams) October 15, 2022
If the #Rockets backcourt looks like this for 82 games… we might have to say goodbye to Scoot/Wemby.
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) October 15, 2022
Talked about it on the podcast with @The_Raheel:
If Jalen Green makes the extremely difficult second year leap, a lot of us will have to re-evaluate how we view him as a player and by proxy, Houston as a team.
I’m not saying he’s there yet, but the guy looks like a superstar.
— Salman Ali (@SalmanAliNBA) October 15, 2022
More than anything, the preseason is about picking out things that *might* stick once the real games begin. Porter and Green are miles more comfortable playing alongside each other than this time last year — which is huge for their growth.
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) October 14, 2022
Sengun’s energy better than Monday. Got some early touches but also moved the ball more decisively. Hit the floor, too.
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) October 14, 2022
Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr. have combined for 38 points on 13/17 shooting at halftime.
They’ve been ON FIRE tonight and the #Rockets lead Pacers 81-60.
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) October 15, 2022
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