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

Takeaways: Rockets burn Suns as Jalen Green (34 points) stays hot

Jalen Green Rockets Suns Kelly Iko Kevin Durant Sarge Chris A White Houston (Organization) Bradley Beal Devin Booker

In the finale of two straight games in Phoenix between the Rockets and Suns, Jalen Green kept his momentum going on Saturday night.

And in contrast to Thursday’s close loss, Green had ample support from teammates in Saturday’s 118-109 victory (box score).

Key individual statistics in Houston’s win included:

  • Jalen Green: 34 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists; 12-of-23 shooting (52.2%), 6-of-12 on 3-pointers (50.0%)
  • Fred VanVleet: 24 points, 11 assists, 5 rebounds; 8-of-14 shooting (53.3%), 6-of-11 on 3-pointers (54.5%)
  • Alperen Sengun: 21 points, 10 rebounds, 2 steals; 9-of-21 shooting (42.9%)

As a team, the Rockets made 16-of-42 shots from 3-point range (38.1%), which outpaced the 9-of-29 night (31.0%) from Phoenix. For Green, it was his second straight game to score 34 points.

Houston (26-34) won for just the second time in six games out of the All-Star break, while Phoenix (35-25) saw its nine-game home winning streak end. Perennial All-Star Kevin Durant led the hosts with 30 points and 9 rebounds while shooting 12-of-19 overall (63.2%).

Unfortunately for the Rockets, Saturday’s news wasn’t all positive, as second-year forward Tari Eason was officially ruled out for the remainder of the 2023-24 season with a lower leg injury.

Here’s our look at Saturday’s highlights and postgame interviews, along with reaction by media members and fans. Next up for the Rockets is a home back-to-back versus the Spurs and Los Angeles Clippers, with Tuesday’s tip versus San Antonio at 7:00 p.m. Central.

March 2 Rockets-Suns reaction

 

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