Houston secured a decisive 135-119 win against the Washington Wizards this past Thursday, fueled by a standout effort from Jalen Green. The victory is part of a larger surge for the Rockets, who have now won four games in a row and six of their last seven. This win is crucial as it narrows the gap between Houston and the Golden State Warriors in the race for the play-in tournament.
Young American Jalen Green’s brilliant effort helped the Houston Rockets build a big lead early and secure a 135-119 win over the Washington Wizards on Thursday night. The Rockets got closer to catching the Golden State Warriors in the play-in tournament race following their dominant victory over the Wizards. With a comfortable win, the Rockets extended their winning streak to four while coming away victorious in six of their previous seven games.
Jalen Green dominated the court, scoring a season-high 37 points while shooting efficiently, hitting 15 of his 22 shots and making five 3-pointers. By the time the teams headed to the locker room at halftime, Green's 17 first-half points had helped the Rockets build a substantial 75-56 lead. He wasn't the only one firing on all cylinders, though; Amen Thompson delivered a powerhouse performance, tallying 20 points and 10 rebounds. Thompson's aggressive start, including 12 points in the first quarter, gave Houston a narrow 33-31 lead early on.
Houston's offense was well-balanced, with six different players scoring in double digits. Fred VanVleet led the supporting cast with 27 points and nine assists, while Jabari Smith Jr. contributed 16 points and five boards. Filling in for the absent Alperen Sengun, Jock Landale continued his strong run of form; the 28-year-old Australian came off the bench for 25 minutes, adding 13 points and five rebounds to the total.
On the other side, Jordan Poole paced the Wizards with 25 points, supported by 24 from Deni Avdija and 23 from Kyle Kuzma. Houston maintained control for most of the game, holding a lead as large as 24 points and entering the final frame up by 15. Washington attempted a comeback early in the fourth quarter, using a 6-0 run led by Avdija to cut the lead to 112-101. However, the Rockets quickly shut down the rally, with Green hitting two more 3-pointers to push the advantage back to 121-105.
Despite a late push from the Wizards—including three 3-pointers from Poole that brought the score to 110-95 before the fourth—Houston regained total control. A late surge featuring four baskets from rookie Amen Thompson pushed the lead to 133-112 with just two minutes left on the clock. It was a tough night for Washington, who have now suffered 18 losses in their last 20 games.
Looking ahead to Sunday, March 17, the Houston Rockets will be at home facing the Cleveland Cavaliers, while the Washington Wizards travel to take on the Chicago Bulls.