HOUSTON — In their final home game of their 2022-23 season, the young and rebuilding Rockets (20-60) pulled off perhaps their best win to date in Tuesday’s 124-103 blowout (box score) of Denver. The Nuggets (53-26) hold the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.
The Rockets were led by second-year guard Jalen Green, who had 32 points on 12-of-27 shooting (44.4%) while going 4-of-8 from 3-point range (50.0%). After missing all seven of his shots in the third quarter and picking up a technical due to his frustration with not getting calls from officials, Green responded with 16 points and 4 assists in a dominant fourth quarter as Houston pulled away.
“The shots weren’t falling, he wasn’t as efficient as he’s been lately, but he didn’t stop,” head coach Stephen Silas said postgame. “He didn’t let that deter him. He stayed within his game. He can really, really score, and once he gets it going, it’s usually pretty good for us.”
The Rockets were a team-best +27 in Green’s minutes, and the 21-year-old was focused postgame on the result. Despite having one of the NBA’s worst records, the Rockets have defeated each of the top four teams (Milwaukee, Boston, Philadelphia, and Denver) by record.
“A bunch of our wins are against the best in the NBA right now,” Green said. “That’s when we play at our best. That’s hope for the future.”
Playing against back-to-back NBA MVP Nikola Jokic (14 points, 10 rebounds, 8 turnovers), young Rockets center Alperen Sengun (20 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists) had a fourth straight double-double in a performance that Silas called the best of his career on defense.
Rookie forward Jabari Smith Jr. (16 points, 13 rebounds) had a double-double for the Rockets, as well, while Kevin Porter Jr. had 20 points to go with a team-high five 3-pointers and 9 assists.
Scroll on for highlights, postgame interviews with players and head coach Stephen Silas, and reaction from Houston fans and media members. The Rockets close out their 2022-23 schedule with road games on Friday and Sunday versus Charlotte and Washington.