Rockets Blitz Jazz, 147-119, for 8th Straight Win
Flaming Start. Splashtown. Another One.
The shots kept falling for the Rockets on Saturday night, as they cruised to a 147-119 victory over the Utah Jazz, extending their winning streak to 8 games. Jalen Green continues to play at a superstar level since Alperen Sengun suffered an injury. Green was last week’s player of the week in the Western Conference, and he’s had an even better week this week. Green led the Rockets with 41 points on an extremely efficient 15-for-22 shooting from the floor, including 7-for-11 beyond the arc. Fred VanVleet scored a season-high 34 points and dished out 7 assists. And ageless “Uncle” Jeff Green had one of his best games of the season, scoring 21 points off the bench. John Collins led Utah with 25 points, and Collin Sexton chipped in 20 points, but the Jazz were never in this contest.
Houston absolutely blitzed Utah front the opening tip. The Rockets had their highest scoring half of the season, thanks to an absolutely dominant first quarter. Houston scored 47 points on a ridiculous 82.6% shooting from the field in the first frame. The Rockets held a 26 point lead after the first quarter, and led by as many as 35 points. At halftime, Houston had 85 points on the scoreboard, the second most in franchise history. The Rockets 27 made threes, were also the second most in the squad’s existence. Utah’s defense didn’t put up much of a fight, but regardless, Houston displayed a season’s worth of highlights in this single dominant performance. Watching this matchup, it’s easy to wish the Rockets would’ve saved some of these plays for future performances, but hopefully they’ll provide more of these encores in the final dozen games.
This matchup featured another confrontation which had to be separated by both teams’ security and other staff. Jabari Smith Jr. and Kris Dunn, who were in a scuffle in the previous meeting between these teams, got in another one just seconds into the second quarter. And like in the previous matchup, Dunn initiated the flare up between opposing players. Both players received ejections, unfortunately for Houston, considering Smith Jr. is far more valuable to his team than Dunn. Nonetheless, the Rockets are now 5-0 in 2024 when matters escalate and proceedings get chippy on the court. Houston is still one of the league’s youngest teams, but this group is growing up fast. Ime Udoka has instilled in these Rockets a mental toughness and grittiness we haven’t witnessed in years. As opposed to the previous three seasons under Stephen Silas, this Houston squad won’t get pushed around, regardless of the competition.
Up next, the Rockets finish their home-stand by welcoming the Portland Trail Blazers for a Monday night clash. Houston is 1-1 against Portland this season, with the Blazers dealing the Rockets arguably their worst loss of the season in the first matchup at Toyota Center between these foes. Houston bounced back in Portland to even the seasons series, and the Rockets will aim for further vengeance, as they strive for their ninth straight victory on Monday night.