In the opener of a road back-to-back, the Rockets put their recent struggles behind them in Friday’s dominant 138-104 win (box score) at Charlotte (10-33). Two nights after being upset at home by Portland, Houston (21-23) made amends as they battle for a potential spot in the 2023-24 Western Conference play-in tournament.
Third-year guard Jalen Green had his best night of the season to date with a team-high 36 points and 10 rebounds, shooting 12-of-20 overall (60.0%) and 11-of-12 on free throws (91.7%). His season-high totals came in only three quarters, owing to the blowout margin.
Rookie reserve Cam Whitmore had 24 points and 11 rebounds in nearly 20 minutes, shooting 9-of-18 overall (50.0%) and 4-of-9 on 3-pointers (44.4%). Veteran guard Fred VanVleet had 14 points on 3-of-5 shooting from 3-point range, and he also had a career-high 6 blocks.
Fellow rookie Amen Thompson stuffed the stat sheet with 13 points, 8 assists, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals in 23 minutes, shooting 4-of-6 overall (66.7%), 1-of-1 on 3-pointers, and 4-of-6 on free throws.
As a team, Houston shot 50-of-89 overall (56.2%) and 13-of-33 on 3-pointers (39.4%) on Friday while limiting the Hornets to 35-of-85 shooting (41.2%) and just 9-of-29 from 3-point range (31.0%). Led by 20 combined rebounds from Green and Whitmore, Houston dominated the rebounding battle by a decisive 53-32 margin.
Miles Bridges led Charlotte with 21 points and 7 rebounds, shooting 7-of-11 from the field (63.6%) and 2-of-4 on 3-pointers (50.0%).
Here’s our look at Friday night’s highlights and postgame interviews, along with reaction by media members and fans. Next up for the Rockets is part two of this weekend’s road back-to-back on Saturday at Brooklyn (17-27), where tipoff is set for 5:00 p.m. Central.
Jan. 26 Rockets-Hornets reaction
Jalen Green’s last 2 games:
36 PTS | 9 REB | 4 AST | 12/20 FG
29 PTS | 3 REB | 1 BLK | 12/24 FGThis is how you respond to criticism. pic.twitter.com/G9O8aUSkAu
— Bradeaux (@BradeauxNBA) January 27, 2024
Jalen Green is taking this game over. Flawless response to the criticism.
— Roosh (@RooshWilliams) January 27, 2024
Rockets put up 83 in the 2nd half tonight, blowing out the Hornets. After going 3-19 3P in the 1st half, they hit 10-14 in the 2nd.
Jalen Green (36 points) was excellent driving and finishing. Rookies Cam Whitmore (24 pts, 11 reb) and Amen Thompson (13 pts, team-high 8 asts)…
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) January 27, 2024
Jalen Green in just 28 minutes tonight:
36 PTS
9 REB
4 AST
2 STL
12/20 FG
11/12 FT
71.2 TS
+15#Rockets pic.twitter.com/6vHXNBdTJy— ᵂᴵᴸᴸ (@BiasedHouston) January 27, 2024
What a NIGHT for Jalen Green! 🤩
📊 36 PTS (season high)
📊 9 REB (season high)
📊 12/20 FG
📊 11/12 FT@CreditKarma | #MoneyMoveoftheGame pic.twitter.com/tWHhZGSVqb— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) January 27, 2024
Also, what a week for Jalen Green so far: 29 points vs. Portland, 36 tonight vs. Charlotte. pic.twitter.com/eI1CIV7S0Z
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) January 27, 2024
Jalen Green and Alperen Şengün have clearly been working on the give-&-go.
That play has been a focal point for the two over these last three games.
— ᵂᴵᴸᴸ (@BiasedHouston) January 27, 2024
Cam Whitmore has 22 points and 11 rebounds in less than 20 minutes. pic.twitter.com/IqUQGGUBh1
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) January 27, 2024
Points after this interaction:
– Cam Whitmore: 14
– Lamelo Ball: 3 https://t.co/gnu8394IBG— Rob Kimbell (@RobKSports) January 27, 2024
CAM WHITMORE İS PUTTING ON A SHOW!
His 4th three in the quarter! pic.twitter.com/tZo9Fp1DWk
— Bradeaux (@BradeauxNBA) January 27, 2024
AMEN THOMPSON TO CAM WHITMORE pic.twitter.com/4alNmMY3OE
— Bradeaux (@BradeauxNBA) January 27, 2024
Tonight
Jalen Green:
36 PTS | 9 REB | 4 AST | 2 STLCam Whitmore:
22 PTS | 11 REB | 2 ASTAmen Thompson:
13 PTS | 6 REB | 8 AST | 1 STL pic.twitter.com/Y6LyS3IZyr— V̷a̷t̷o̷r̷ (@VatorSports) January 27, 2024
Cam Whitmore has 19 PTS on 60 TS in just 16 minutes of play tonight.
I’d bet a large amount of money he’d finish top-3 in ROTY if he was on a team that allowed him to play 30+ minutes a night and put up whatever shot he wanted.
— ᵂᴵᴸᴸ (@BiasedHouston) January 27, 2024
If we knew that Cam Whitmore was this good of a shooter pre-draft, then ranking him as high as 2nd would have been reasonable.
We're so lucky to have him.
— Itamar (@Itamar_17_10) January 27, 2024
This is where we're at: Rockets made 30 of 40 shots in the second half.
— Rod Boone (@rodboone) January 27, 2024
Jalen Green tonight:
36 PTS
9 REB
4 AST
11-12 FTSeason-high in points. https://t.co/Go351XGDb5
— StatMuse (@statmuse) January 27, 2024
This move and dunk by Amen Thompson 👀 pic.twitter.com/Ra6ykGD0Ke
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) January 27, 2024
We’ve seen Cam get in the post multiple times tonight so far and I think it’s the first time this season. This guy is going to be an absolute load to handle.
— RedNinetyFour (@RedNinetyFour) January 27, 2024
What's amazing about this is the #Rockets did it essentially without Alperen Sengun scoring at all. He put up two of the Rockets 83 second-half points. https://t.co/cnXKg6veH0
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) January 27, 2024
I’m telling you, it’s all about the finishing at the rim
— Madison Moore (@MadManLeaks) January 27, 2024
The spacing issues with Amen are mitigated when you play him with Sengun, because he can punish defenders on cuts
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) January 27, 2024
Two games in a row of good, aggressive Jalen Green. Gotta start somewhere.
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) January 27, 2024
#Rockets beat the Hornets 138-104
Jalen Green TONIGHT
36 PTS 🏀12-20 FG🏀11-12 FT🏀9 REB@JalenGreen with our @SportsVanessa after the @HoustonRockets WIN pic.twitter.com/wx0xihekYF— Space City Home Network (@SpaceCityHN) January 27, 2024
#Rockets win 138-104 over the Hornets. Season high in points for the Rockets, Jalen (36p) & Cam (24p), also Whitmore's 1st double-double with 11 reb. Houston scored 83 pts in the 2nd half.
— Adam Wexler (@AdamJWexler) January 27, 2024
The vibes are immaculate in Charlotte — Jock Landale celebrating after emphatic dunks, Amen Thompson doing 3-PT celebrations. Rockets up 35 with 8 minutes to go. Much-needed road response after the Blazers home loss.
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) January 27, 2024
Probably Jalen Green's best game of the season. Scoring efficiently, getting to the line, making plays for others, rebounding and defending
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) January 27, 2024
Watch @JalenGreen drop a season-high 36 points tonight ⤵️
Thank us later. pic.twitter.com/Z3shOKmNd5
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) January 27, 2024
Ime Udoka talked about Jalen Green's struggles.
"The shots are going to fall eventually. He's taking good shots, getting great looks and so now, it's just falling at a little bit higher clip … Big-time scorer, obviously. And when he gets that going, everything is much easier… pic.twitter.com/6ADguAVGsm
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) January 27, 2024
Alpi's play making has been outstanding the last 6 games, he's tallied 7, 8, 10, 6, 5, and 6 assists, the 6 games before that he had 3, 1, 5, 2, 4, and 1, crazy jump from 16 assists to 42
— Abel (@AbelGe87) January 27, 2024
Rockets needed a game like this after such a gut punch loss, now the starters can sit the 4th and be fresh for tomorrow, hopefully they get Jabari back and they'll be in great shape on the 2nd night of a back to back
— Abel (@AbelGe87) January 27, 2024
Really big night for the Rockets tomorrow, Lakers play GS so whoever loses there it benefits Hou, Jazz play Charlotte, could tie whoever losses in the standings if they're able to take care of Brooklyn who they absolutely need to beat
— Abel (@AbelGe87) January 27, 2024
Jalen Green looks like a star. Good lord it's been so long.
I love it so much when Sengun hits him when he's cutting after being denied.
— Itamar (@Itamar_17_10) January 27, 2024
The instant chemistry between Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun will make me smile for years to come.
— Itamar (@Itamar_17_10) January 27, 2024
Amen is slowly replacing some of KJs production around Sengun with the cutting. Wonder if we will ever see some inverted pnr at the elbow
— Nathan Fogg (@NathanFogg1) January 27, 2024
Body language from Jalen looks so much better the last couple games, like he’s finally having fun again
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) January 27, 2024
#Rockets beat Charlotte 138-104
Cam Whitmore career high 24 PTS & 11 REB@HoustonRockets on Space City Home Network pic.twitter.com/mhclY0imGu
— Space City Home Network (@SpaceCityHN) January 27, 2024