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

Takeaways: Jabari Smith Jr., Amen Thompson show grit as Rockets rally past Suns

Amen Thompson Jabari Smith Jr Rockets Suns Jalen Green Alperen Sengun Cam Whitmore Jackson Gatlin Phoenix (Organization) Adam Spolane

HOUSTON — One night after the Rockets were bullied inside in a blowout loss, second-year forward Jabari Smith Jr. responded with one of the strongest games of his career in Friday’s 114-110 win (box score) over the visiting Phoenix Suns (33-24). Houston (25-31) is now 20-9 in home games at Toyota Center this season.

Smith finished with 22 points, 16 rebounds, and 2 steals, representing the first 20-15 game of his young career. Houston, which entered with six losses in its last seven games, recovered from a 22-6 deficit in the game’s early minutes to dramatically turn the tables.

The Rockets connected on 15-of-45 shots from 3-point range (33.3%) on Friday, which proved decisive on a night in which the visiting Suns shot only 7-of-31 from distance (22.6%). Smith (3), Jalen Green (3), and Fred VanVleet (6) led Houston in 3-point makes.

Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore each scored 15 points off Houston’s bench, while Thompson added 10 rebounds in his 33 minutes. The rookie duo combined to shoot 11-of-22 overall (50.0%).

Beyond Smith and the rookies, who all contributed on both ends of the court, other standout statistical lines for the Rockets included:

  • VanVleet: 23 points, 5 assists, 5 rebounds; 6-of-14 on 3-pointers (42.9%)
  • Alperen Sengun: 17 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists; 6-of-15 shooting (40.0%)
  • Green: 14 points, 4 assists; 5-of-13 shooting (38.5%), 3-of-6 on 3-pointers (50.0%)

Sengun hit 5-of-6 last-minute free throws (83.3%) to secure the win.

On defense, Thompson was a big factor in limiting Suns star Devin Booker to an inefficient 25 points on 7-of-24 shooting (29.2%), including 0-of-4 on 3-pointers. Kevin Durant, also an All-Star, led the visitors with 28 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 assists while shooting 10-of-22 (45.5%) — though he hit just 1-of-7 from 3-point range (14.3%).

Bol Bol, a sparingly used 7-foot-3 forward, had the best game of his young career off the Phoenix bench, finishing with 25 points and 14 rebounds in 27 minutes while making 11-of-17 shots (64.7%).

Here’s our look at Friday’s highlights and postgame interviews, along with reaction by media members and fans. Next up for the Rockets is a home-and-home pair of games with Oklahoma City (38-17), with the first coming Sunday in Houston. Tipoff is at 6:00 p.m. Central.

Feb. 23 Rockets-Suns reaction

 

 

 

 

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