Reaction: Jalen Green leads Rockets to blowout win over short-handed Blazers
Rookie guard Jalen Green was dominant and efficient on Friday in Portland, leading the young Houston Rockets to one of their most comfortable wins of the year in a 125-106 win (box score) at Portland.
The No. 2 overall pick from the 2021 NBA draft scored a game-high 23 points in under 28 minutes, shooting 9-of-16 overall (56.3%) and 5-of-10 on 3-pointers (50.0%). He did not turn the ball over a single time.
After scoring 20+ points in just nine of his first 42 professional games, Green has now scored 20 or more in 10 of his last 17 outings.
Other players for the Rockets (19-55) who scored in double figures on Friday included Jae’Sean Tate (17 points, 3-of-4 on 3-pointers); Kevin Porter Jr. (13 points, 7 assists); Christian Wood (10 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists); KJ Martin (16 points, 75% FG); Dennis Schroder (14 points, 3 steals, 2-of-4 on 3-pointers); and Josh Christopher (14 points, 4 rebounds, 5-of-8 shooting). No player on Houston’s roster even needed to play 28 minutes, owing to the consistently large margin in Portland.
Jalen Green at the buzzer 🔥 pic.twitter.com/BpWtQbaKyb
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) March 26, 2022
The Trail Blazers (27-46), whose roster is ravaged by widespread injuries, lost for the 12th time in 14 games. Trendon Watford led what was left of Portland with 19 points and 6 assists on 8-of-13 shooting (61.5%).
Scroll on for highlights and postgame reaction. The same two teams will meet again on Saturday in night two of a back-to-back.
Game Highlights
🚨Jalen Green Windmill, All Angles🚨 pic.twitter.com/h63BJb2Wv0
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) March 26, 2022
— ً (@arxanii) March 26, 2022
When he knows he's shooting and gets his footwork right, it's so pure. https://t.co/PvxxsJaTi9
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) March 26, 2022
Alperen Sengun is so special. pic.twitter.com/snXycK0e8A
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) March 26, 2022
GUP 🗣
10 straight points for the rookie! pic.twitter.com/KjMMLNZoBt
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) March 26, 2022
KJ Martin deserves to be a starter.
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) March 26, 2022
The #Rockets should try to re-sign Dennis Schroder this offseason. He takes so much pressure off everyone else, young guys are able to be themselves around him. If I was going to pick a vet to keep, it’d be Schroder. He’s good for the rebuild.
— Brandon Scott (@brandonkscott) March 26, 2022
What’s next
The Rockets and Trail Blazers will meet again at Portland’s Moda Center on Saturday in part two of a back-to-back, with tipoff set for 9 p.m. CDT. That game will conclude a three-game road trip for Houston.
Veteran guard Eric Gordon is unlikely to be available for the rematch, since he typically rests in one game of back-to-back scenarios.
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