Courtesy of a career-high 42 points on strong efficiency by Jalen Green, the NBA’s worst losing streak of the 2022-23 season is now over. With Monday’s 119-114 win (box score) over Minnesota, the Houston Rockets finally ended what had been a 13-game slide.
Green made 15-of-25 shots overall (60.0%) and 6-of-12 from 3-point range (50.0%), and he even had a key block in the closing two minutes as Houston (11-36) put the game away. Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves (24-25) with 31 points, but he had 6 turnovers to Green’s 1 — a dramatic turnaround from Saturday’s discrepancy between the same two players and teams in Minneapolis.
For Green, a talented guard prospect drafted second overall in the 2021 first round, it was his second 40+ point outing in three games after tying his prior career high with 41 versus Charlotte on Jan. 18.
Alperen Sengun added 21 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists for the Rockets on 8-of-12 shooting (66.7%), while rookie forward Tari Eason stuffed the stat sheet with 11 points, 9 rebounds, 3 steals, 3 assists, and 2 blocks in 26 minutes during his second career start.
Kevin Porter Jr. (left foot soreness) and Jabari Smith Jr. (right ankle sprain) each had their multi-game absences continue.
Scroll on for highlights, analysis and postgame interview reaction. Next up for Houston is the midpoint of a three-game homestand on Wednesday versus Washington. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. Central.
Stephen Silas: “The way we started the game, a lot of it was Tari. He was on the offensive glass. Somehow he just always gets the 50/50 balls and attacking the rim and getting the offensive rebound, the put-backs, so he did a good job.”
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) January 24, 2023
Silas said he’s still trying to limit Jae’Sean Tate to around 20 minutes in the aftermath of his injury. Tate played 22 tonight and was a big part of the win
— Danielle Lerner (@danielle_lerner) January 24, 2023
Rockets coach Stephen Silas on the difference between Saturday’s game and tonight: “We still turned it over a bunch of times, we still didn’t make enough free throws, but it was the mental fortitude that we showed to win.”
— Danielle Lerner (@danielle_lerner) January 24, 2023
In his past five games, Green has averaged 28.6 points on 51 of 103 shooting. He is the sixth player 20 or younger with three or more 40 point games. https://t.co/RtNCiEAO5u
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) January 24, 2023
THE STREAK IS BROKEN. I REPEAT, THE STREAK IS BROKEN.
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) January 24, 2023
I believe this losing streak was the bottom of the rebuild. Things will start slowly but surely turning up from here. Won’t be smooth, but I think we’ll start to see some life.
— StanfordKP (@stanfordkp) January 24, 2023
Rockets guard Jalen Green scored a career-high 42 tonight in a win against Minnesota and earned his third career 40-point game. He is the second #NBA player at age 20 or younger in to score 40+ points twice in a 3-game span, joining Luka Doncic in November 2019. @ESPNStatsInfo pic.twitter.com/Fz1eRZyXMz
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) January 24, 2023
Jalen and Sengun growing this year and flashing a two-man game is a huge win.
Jabari will get stronger. Yes we have a decision to make on KPJ…
…but we’re also in the pole position for a top-5 pick in a stacked draft…
…with cap space and ability to upgrade coach if able.
— StanfordKP (@stanfordkp) January 24, 2023
That was one helluva bounce back from Jalen Green. The kid still isn’t 21 and he’s dropped 40+ three different times. A much needed positive for #Rockets fans.
— Roosh (@RooshWilliams) January 24, 2023
Tari Eason: “I just told the team before the game, ‘Be desperate.’ And I think that’s what we did tonight.”
— Danielle Lerner (@danielle_lerner) January 24, 2023
Jalen Green said Stephen Silas got on the team this morning for their mindset during shootaround. Highlighted it as a key to tonight’s performance.
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) January 24, 2023
More Jalen Green: “I’m here for all that. I’m trying to be coached, learn as much as I can, so that way that path to greatness is going to be something I can understand and be a little bit easier.” https://t.co/k0LVnidDuf
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) January 24, 2023
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