Big third quarter sends Rockets past Wizards

Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun combined for 36 points in a runaway third quarter and the visiting Houston Rockets erased an early double-digit deficit to beat the Washington Wizards 135-112 on Tuesday.

Green scored 22 of his game-high 29 points while Sengun added 14 points, four rebounds and four assists in the Rockets’ 40-point quarter to complete a remarkable turnaround, both for that tandem and the Rockets collectively.

Green drilled six 3-pointers in the period and combined with Sengun to shoot 15 of 23 in the third period, after they missed 14 of 20 shots in the first half while totaling 15 points.

Fred VanVleet added 19 points, 12 assists and four steals, and Amen Thompson chipped in 20 points, 15 rebounds, five assists and three steals for the Rockets. Sengun totaled 26 points, 10 boards and six assists. Green added eight rebounds.

Houston turned 18 Washington turnovers into 35 points and led by as many as 26.

Corey Kispert scored 23 points and made five 3-pointers, while fellow reserve Jonas Valanciunas posted 18 points for the Wizards, who lost Kyle Kuzma (10 points, six rebounds) to a right calf contusion late in the first half.

The Wizards capitalized on the Rockets’ slow start and darted to a 28-16 lead when Kispert followed a Valanciunas floater with a transition 3-pointer with one minute left in the first period. Houston shot 29.2 percent in the quarter and missed seven consecutive shots, while Washington assumed its largest lead.

The Rocket quickly found their rhythm in the second, using a 10-0 run capped by a Thompson fastbreak dunk to slice the deficit to 31-30.

Kuzma stalled that rally with a 3-pointer and teamed with Kispert to help the Wizards stretch their lead to 44-38 at the 5:20 mark when Kispert completed a three-point play.

But Houston answered consecutive treys from Wizards rookie Carlton Carrington with a 7-0 spurt to close the first half, a rally capped by a Green 3-pointer just before the buzzer. Houston led 57-55 at the break.

Blogs

Advertise with us with SWEET DEALS!

Advertise with us with SWEET DEALS!

Sweet Deals are radio advertising at its best. It’s a cash-free marketing campaign for your business that grows your customer base. It’s not about the offer – it’s about branding. We limit your liability by selling a fixed, fair number of deals. If you would like more information on our Sweet Deals program, fill out…

Local Resources

These are some very trying times on our hands, and here at The Score, we are trying to give you as many local resources and information that we can to assist you. If you, or someone you know, has lost their job and needs more information regarding unemployment information you can click HERE or HERE for…

The Score’s Online Career Fair

The Score’s Online Career Fair

THESE LOCAL BUSINESSES ARE HIRING Click on the logo of the company below, and it will take you to that website. Eugene School District 4J Elwood Staffing Farwest Steel Lane Community College Northwest College Professional Credit Nova Healthcare Express Employment Northwest Community Credit Union Oregon Department of Transportation