The Houston Rockets dazzled with a season-high 27 three-pointers to dismantle the Utah Jazz 147-119 during Saturday’s NBA action. Jalen Green scored an impressive 41 points, while Fred VanVleet shattered records with 10 three-pointers and contributed a staggering 34 points.
This triumph marked their eighth consecutive victory, a streak not seen since November 2019, bringing them tantalizingly close to the final Western Conference play-in spot, just 1.5 games behind the idle Golden State.
“It won’t really mean anything if we don’t make the playoffs,” Green reflected, underlining the Rockets’ playoff aspirations. “That’s the goal everyone has right now. I’m just trying to go out there and be the best version of myself for my teammates.”
The game took an unexpected turn when Jabari Smith Jr. and Kris Dunn were shown the exit just five seconds into the second quarter. This followed a fiery altercation that escalated quickly from verbal exchanges to physical conflict, necessitating intervention from players and officials to prevent further escalation.
Dunn openly acknowledged the heated moment, saying, “We exchanged a couple of words, a couple of pushes, and the next thing you know, we’re ejected.” He also expressed readiness to accept any consequences from the league.
The scuffle seemed to continue a previous encounter between the two on January 20, with Houston coach Ime Udoka noting, “I think Dunn hit him with a shot, and then, they got wrapped up and threw a few punches. Basically, nothing landed, but as soon as you throw a punch, you’re going to be ejected.”
The Rockets’ offense was on fire right from the start, with VanVleet and Green combining for an explosive first half, propelling the team to an 85-55 lead by halftime. Their exceptional performance included tying the franchise record for three-pointers in a single game, a feat VanVleet shared with former Rockets players James Harden and Chandler Parsons.
“I felt good after the first shot,” VanVleet said. “Got a couple more clean looks. When it’s going in like that, and you get good looks, teammates find you in good spots. We got it going a little bit there, and we were trying to ride that wave a little there.”
The Rockets’ sharpshooting was complemented by Jeff Green‘s season-high 21 points and Dillon Brooks‘ solid 12-point contribution, ensuring a dominant performance that evened their season record to 35-35, a benchmark of consistency not seen since they were 19-19 in early January.
Despite a valiant effort from John Collins and Collin Sexton, who scored 25 and 20 points respectively, the Jazz could not counter the Rockets’ offensive juggernaut, marking their fifth consecutive loss.
Utah coach Will Hardy tipped his hat to the Rockets, acknowledging, “Credit to Houston, 27 3s is pretty outstanding. Fred’s a hell of a player. Jalen’s a hell of a player. They both got really hot.”
Looking ahead, the Jazz are set to regroup and face Dallas on Monday night, while the Rockets aim to continue their winning streak against Portland.
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