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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Ben DuBose

Takeaways: Jalen Green breaks out as Rockets rout Kings, climb back to .500

Jalen Green Rockets Kings (Organization) Alperen Sengun Ime Udoka Jabari Smith Jr Jabari Smith Space City Home Network Sacramento (Organization) Chris A White

HOUSTON — In Monday’s rematch at Toyota Center, the Rockets followed up Saturday’s win over Sacramento with a 122-97 blowout (box score). Houston, which has now won three straight games, led by as many as 40 points in another strong two-way performance.

The Kings fell to 2-4 with the loss, while the Rockets (3-3) are at .500 for the first time since being 1-1 in October 2021. Excluding that two-game sample, it’s the first time the Rockets have been at .500 or better since being 11-11 early in the 2020-21 season.

Third-year guard Jalen Green had slumped to start the 2023-24 season, averaging just above 17 points over his first five games on subpar shooting. But in this one, Green was electric with a game-high 23 points in just 26 minutes, shooting 5-of-9 overall (55.6%), 3-of-5 on 3-pointers (60.0%), and 10-of-12 on free throws (83.3%).

Meanwhile, fellow third-year prospect Alperen Sengun finished with 17 points, 8 rebounds, and a career-high 12 assists. Jabari Smith Jr. added 13 points and 4 rebounds for the Rockets in just 22 minutes, making 5-of-8 shots (62.5%) and 3-of-5 on 3-pointers (60.0%).

Sengun’s defense also helped limit Kings star Domantas Sabonis to just 8 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 turnovers in 30 minutes.

De’Aaron Fox and Amen Thompson again sat out for the Kings and Rockets, respectively, due to right ankle sprains, while Tari Eason missed his sixth straight game with a stress reaction in his left lower leg. Eason is expected to return soon, while Thompson is likely weeks away from a return due to the Grade 2 nature of his sprain.

As for Monday’s rout, here’s our look at highlights and postgame interviews, along with reaction by media members and fans. Next up for Houston, as a seven-game homestand continues, is Wednesday’s game versus the Los Angeles Lakers. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. Central.

Nov. 6 Rockets-Kings reaction

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