After a pair of uncompetitive losses in Denver, the young Houston Rockets responded with one of their most feel-good victories of the 2022-23 season in Friday’s 122-121 win at Phoenix (box score). The Suns led by 16 points in the second half before the visitors stormed back, headlined by 13-of-19 shooting (68.4%) in the fourth quarter.
The Suns (15-7), who own the best record in the Western Conference, had a six-game winning streak snapped and lost at home for just the second time this season. Meanwhile, the rebuilding Rockets (6-16) won for the first time on a four-game road trip at West contenders.
Jalen Green scored 20 of his team-high 30 points in the third quarter, and he drew a key foul and added a go-ahead free throw in the final 30 seconds to secure the win. Houston won the fourth quarter, 36-25, with Suns star Devin Booker — despite scoring a game-high 41 points — missing a shot at the buzzer that would have won it.
Green made 6-of-10 shots (60.0%) in the third, making for the highest-scoring quarter of his young NBA career, and his 16 free-throw attempts on the game (making 12, or 75%) were a career high. He also contributed with key defensive plays versus Booker, particularly late.
Rookie forward Jabari Smith Jr. added 17 points and 6 rebounds for Houston on 7-of-12 shooting (58.3%) and 3-of-5 on 3-pointers (60.0%), while Bruno Fernando registered 14 points and 7 rebounds in only 14 minutes off the bench on 7-of-8 shooting (87.5%).
Kevin Porter Jr. had 15 points and a team-high 7 assists for the Rockets, with several going to Fernando late via pick-and-roll scenarios.
Scroll on for highlights, analysis and postgame interviews. Houston finishes out its road trip with Saturday’s matchup at defending NBA champion Golden State, with tipoff at 7:30 p.m. Central.
Highlights
Analysis and Interviews
Suns had made 58.1 percent of their shots through three quarters, 39.1 percent in the fourth quarter when the Rockets outscored them, 36-25 to take the win.
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) December 3, 2022
Jalen Green locks up Devin Booker in the final seconds to help secure the #Rockets stunning win in Phoenix — easily Houston's best win of the year. pic.twitter.com/PcIztxayfP
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) December 3, 2022
Gritty win for the young Rockets.
Jalen Green looks like a completely different player than this time last year, particularly how he’s seemingly getting to the free line at will.
Also, it looks like Jabari Smith is actually a good three-point shooter. Who knew?
— Salman Ali (@SalmanAliNBA) December 3, 2022
Bruno Fernando, and Daishen Nix off the bench deserve credit as well. Nix stabilize the team early when no one else could, and Fernando showed why he will still be in the rotation
— Lachard Binkley (@BinkleyHoops) December 3, 2022
17 points for Jabari Smith Jr. tonight. Three triples, sixth straight game for the rookie with at least 3 threes.
The work continues to work. https://t.co/6rOspBO681
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) December 3, 2022
bringing it home 👏 pic.twitter.com/w4xrgUNHTa
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) December 3, 2022
Jalen Green closing this game out on defense. Critical last few possessions and having the composure to put points on the board at the other. One of “those” games young cornerstones need to have.
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) December 3, 2022
That was a mess of a possession, but what a great job by Jalen Green to force Booker into a tough shot
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) December 3, 2022
Jalen Green wanting the ball and the contact in that situation is something
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) December 3, 2022
KPJ deferred to Jalen Green with a pass and Green got the shot (heading for free throws) with 28.8 sec left. This feels like progress.
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) December 3, 2022
Jabari is growing up right before our eyes. pic.twitter.com/dnOZXMpoPA
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) December 3, 2022
You can debate who is and isn't part of the #Rockets future, but in my view, Jalen & Jabari are the surefire core players and their progress should be top priority. Tonight was the best game of the year for that.
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) December 3, 2022
Over the last few games Silas has gone back to not staggering Jalen and KPJ.
Hopefully tonight's second half performance shows that staggering those two is the right move going forward.
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) December 3, 2022
Jalen Green had 16 free-throw attempts tonight, a career best. Appropriately, the last foul he drew resulted in the winning point. #Rockets
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) December 3, 2022
#Rockets coach Stephen Silas on Jalen Green: "He took on the challenge of guarding Booker, which is doing it on both ends, which is growth, showing his competitiveness and what he can be. I was really proud of him for that."
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) December 3, 2022
Stephen Silas w/the media. “Coming off the 2 games we just did in Denver where we didn’t play well,it means a lot for us. All the hard work we’re putting in, is paying off a little bit. That last possession was heart-stopping..It helps us know we’re moving in the right direction”
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) December 3, 2022
Stephen Silas speaking on Jalen Green not only getting going offensively in the 2nd half but then taking the challenge of guarding Devin Booker. #Rockets pic.twitter.com/pw7AIn4AgC
— Don Dougan (@don_dougan) December 3, 2022
You can debate who is and isn't part of the #Rockets future, but in my view, Jalen & Jabari are the surefire core players and their progress should be top priority. Tonight was the best game of the year for that.
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) December 3, 2022
More Stephen Silas on Jalen Green's performance tonight. #Rockets. https://t.co/bjCu5hgL4m pic.twitter.com/PF4YsrX6Kl
— Don Dougan (@don_dougan) December 3, 2022
All Jabari Smith Jr. buckets!
The diversity in his offensive game is getting kinda scary. He’s only 19!
17 PTS | 6 REB | 1 STL | 1 BLK 🔥 pic.twitter.com/9Gnnqyhp6T
— V̷a̷t̷o̷r̷ (@Vator_H_Town) December 3, 2022
Booker said something spicy to Jalen early in the 3rd quarter and it seemed like Jalen took it personal. Went into killmode on both ends. Relentlessly attacked the rim and refused to switch off Booker on defense. Alpha. https://t.co/gnSkke0u0e
— Rob Kimbell (@RobKSports) December 3, 2022
Jalen Green told everyone in the arena its time to go home pic.twitter.com/aD7pOhlA19
— Lachard Binkley (@BinkleyHoops) December 3, 2022
#Rockets BEAT THE SUNS 122-121 !!!!!!@JalenGreen 30 POINTS
🏀CAREER HIGH 20 IN THE 3RD QUARTER🏀@HoustonRockets on AT&T SportsNet pic.twitter.com/7andlBTTt3— AT&T SportsNet™ | SW (@ATTSportsNetSW) December 3, 2022
Great #Rockets win tonight!
After a terrible 1st half, Jalen Green was assertive in a terrific 2nd half on both ends.
Jabari Smith with one of his best all-around games of the season.
Credit HOU’s bench. *Every* bench player had a positive plus-mins, led by Bruno’s (+15).
— David Weiner (@BimaThug) December 3, 2022
One of the biggest takeaways from this game was how Jalen was actively drawing fouls
Not just driving into guys hoping for calls, he was methodically creating contact and forcing the refs to call it
When he’s able to do that consistently, it’ll be a massive leap. #Rockets
— Paulo Alves (@PauloAlvesNBA) December 3, 2022
Bruno Fernando with a huge spark off the bench @BrunoFernandoMV vs PHX
🚀14 POINTS (10 IN THE 4TH)
🚀7-8 FIELD GOALS
🚀7 REBOUNDS#Rockets BEAT THE SUNS 122-121@HoustonRockets on AT&T SportsNet pic.twitter.com/vQQrGtBnMZ— AT&T SportsNet™ | SW (@ATTSportsNetSW) December 3, 2022
Suns had multiple chances to win the game.
Rockets hung on to win on the road 🚀 pic.twitter.com/p6svQhBPWL
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) December 3, 2022
Jalen Green with a huge 3rd quarter as the #Rockets BEAT the Suns 122-121@SportsVanessa with @JalenGreen after the @HoustonRockets WIN pic.twitter.com/qxEqerE6Fa
— AT&T SportsNet™ | SW (@ATTSportsNetSW) December 3, 2022
