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

Rockets reaction: Amen Thompson dazzles, Jalen Green returns healthy to finish off 4-1 preseason

HOUSTON — In Friday’s primetime matchup from Toyota Center, the Rockets closed out their 2023-24 preseason with a 110-104 victory (box score) over visiting Miami. Houston finished its exhibition slate at 4-1, while the Heat concluded its stint at 2-3.

Houston’s starting backcourt of Jalen Green and Fred VanVleet led the way with 20 points apiece on Friday, while R.J. Hampton led the Heat with an efficient 17 points and 5 assists.

Green, who missed Houston’s previous two games with a toenail issue, shot 6-of-15 from the field (40.0%) and 3-of-7 on 3-pointers (42.9%), and he also grabbed 4 rebounds over his 28 minutes. VanVleet was more efficient — scoring his 20 on 7-of-10 shooting (70.0%) and 3-of-4 from 3-point range (75.5%) — and he dished out a game-high 6 assists while committing only one turnover in 29 minutes.

Other Houston players to score in double-figures included:

  • Amen Thompson: 19 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals in 25 minutes; 6-of-9 shooting (66.7%), 7-of-9 on free throws (77.8%)
  • Alperen Sengun: 16 points, 12 rebounds, 4 blocks, 3 assists in 27 minutes; 6-of-16 shooting (37.5%), 4-of-6 on free throws (66.7%)

Sengun’s performance was perhaps more impressive when adjusting for the context that he started versus Miami’s Bam Adebayo, long known as one of the league’s top defenders among big men.

Here are highlights and interviews from Friday, along with reaction by NBA media members and fans. Next up for Houston is the opening of its 2023-24 regular season on Wednesday night in Orlando.

Oct. 20 Rockets-Heat reaction

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