Rockets face Nets, look to keep rolling behind young stars

Inconsistent performances often accompany any reliance upon 21-year-olds, a reality that continues to shape the Houston Rockets' decision to develop around Alperen Sengun and Jalen Green.

When everything clicks -- shot-making, aggressiveness and resilience -- the results can be wildly positive. During the third quarter against the Detroit Pistons on Monday, the Rockets witnessed firsthand what can manifest when Sengun and Green dually fashion an unrelenting approach.

Sengun scored a game-high 26 points on 9-of-13 shooting in the Rockets' 136-113 victory while Green added 22 points on 6-of-12 shooting. It marked the sixth consecutive game Sengun has scored at least 20 points. He is averaging 27.8 points during that span. Green extended his streak of consecutive games scoring at least 20 points to three while averaging 25.3 points on 51 percent shooting, including 5.3 3-pointers per game.

The Rockets, who will continue their seven-game homestand against the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday, led 59-55 at the intermission against Detroit. Sengun and Green then erupted for a combined 37 points in the Rockets' 47-point third period, both turning the tide from slow starts.

"Play aggressive," Sengun said of his goal entering the third. "In the first half, I had five assists but I wasn't that aggressive to go score. In the second half, I was more aggressive and tried to ... play fast and finish strong."

The same explosion of aggression also fueled Green, who has struggled to cobble together lengthy stretches of exceptional play. Before his recent three-game run of efficient scoring, Green averaged 11.6 points on 30.5 percent shooting over the previous nine games.

Neither set the nets ablaze before the intermission, combining for 11 points on 4-for-12 shooting. But after some self-reflection, Sengun and Green seized the opportunity.

"Especially when you see some easy things that you missed in the first half and you kind of reassess at halftime," Rockets coach Ime Udoka said of being pleased by the third-quarter thrust. "We felt we had favorable matchups and ... got caught up in some of the other stuff instead of worrying about just playing.

"Good to see them bounce back in that quarter."

The Nets continued their recent spiral on Tuesday, falling 112-85 to the Pelicans in New Orleans for their fourth consecutive loss and their ninth in their last 11 games. The Nets not only recorded a season low in points, they also shot a season-worst 35.7 percent from the floor.

The shooting issues were widespread. The Nets' leading scorer, Cam Thomas, finished 0-for-11 and was held scoreless. Spencer Dinwiddie and Royce O'Neale shot a combined 0-for-12 for zero points. Dorian Finney-Smith was 1-for-6 for three points. The Nets attempted only eight free throws in the game and trailed by double digits over the last 42 minutes of their wire-to-wire loss.

Considering the recent slate of woes, the Nets' lack of fight throughout was especially troubling.

"I was very concerned with how we responded," Nets coach Jacque Vaughn said of the effort. "We've been a team to be able to step up to challenges and we didn't do a lot of things well.

"If you're really desperate about winning then you'll dive on the floor or you'll do it all. You'll get cuts and bruises and you'll go home sore. We're not there yet. It's as simple as that."