by Murat Karul
In a thrilling basketball matchup, Jalen Green notched 23 points, while Fred VanVleet contributed with 22 points and 11 assists, propelling the Houston Rockets to their first victory of the season, securing a 128-119 win against the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday night.
The Rockets, initially facing a challenging start with three consecutive losses, managed to establish an 18-point lead in the first half. Although the Hornets fought back, Houston embarked on a substantial run during the third quarter to widen their lead. Ultimately, they withstood a late surge by the Hornets to clinch the win.
Fred VanVleet, an experienced player with eight years in the league who recently joined the Rockets, emphasized the importance of learning how to win, especially for young teams. He highlighted the significance of valuing possessions and maintaining composure, particularly in critical moments when the game is on the line.
The Rockets held a five-point lead in the closing stages of the fourth quarter when Jalen Green’s clutch 3-pointer extended their advantage to 120-112, with less than two minutes remaining.
LaMelo Ball managed to convert one of two free throws, and Jalen Green added a crucial driving layup with just over a minute left on the clock. Terry Rozier scored for the Hornets, but an emphatic one-handed dunk by Alperen Sengun solidified the Rockets’ lead at 124-115.
All five of Houston’s starters made significant contributions, each scoring at least 17 points. Dillon Brooks added 20 points, Sengun recorded 19 points and seven rebounds, and Jabari Smith Jr. chipped in with 17 points.
For the Hornets, P.J. Washington led the scoring with 23 points, followed by Rozier with 21. Despite a late rally led by LaMelo Ball, the Hornets dropped to a 1-3 record for the season.
As Charlotte’s coach, Steve Clifford, pointed out, there are areas for improvement, even though they have performed well in other games. The challenge lies in putting together a complete performance.
The Rockets held a slim three-point lead early in the third quarter but then embarked on an 11-2 run, extending their advantage to 77-65 with eight minutes left in the quarter. The run featured a pivotal 3-pointer by Jalen Green and back-to-back 3-pointers by Dillon Brooks.
Charlotte managed to conclude the quarter with a 7-2 spurt, primarily led by Nick Richards, reducing the deficit to 86-78 as they entered the fourth quarter.
Amen Thompson, the fourth overall pick in the 2023 draft for the Rockets, contributed four points but unfortunately left the game in the third quarter due to a sprained right ankle.
Looking ahead, the Hornets will visit Indiana on Saturday night, while the Rockets are set to play back-to-back home games against Sacramento on Saturday and Monday nights.
