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Takeaways: Jalen Green’s sophomore slump lingers as Timberwolves rally past Rockets

ben dubose
·5 min read
2

With 9 points on 4-of-15 shooting (26.7%), including 1-of-6 on 3-pointers (16.7%), the sophomore slump continued for second-year Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green in Sunday’s 104-96 home loss (box score) to the Minnesota Timberwolves at Toyota Center.

In his previous 20 games, Green had shot just 38.9% from the field and 28.6% on 3-pointers. While the No. 2 overall draft pick from the NBA’s 2021 first round still averaged 21.2 points in 34.4 minutes per game over that time, thanks largely to high volume, the 20-year-old’s trend of subpar efficiency continues to pick up steam.

The Timberwolves (20-21), who won their fourth straight game, were led by veteran guard D’Angelo Russell (22 points, 6 assists, 4-of-7 on 3-pointers) and big man Rudy Gobert, who had 18 points (66.7% FG) and 11 rebounds while holding Rockets big man Alperen Sengun scoreless for the second half. Houston (10-30) has now lost a season-high seven consecutive games and 12 of their last 13 overall.

Sengun had 18 points and 8 rebounds for the game, but all 18 came in the first half (setting a new career high for points in a half) as Houston built a 20-point lead. With Sengun taken out of the offense, Minnesota turned Sunday’s game upside down against the Rockets.

Kevin Porter Jr. had a team-high 25 points and 5 assists on 9-of-15 shooting (60.0% FG) and 5-of-9 on 3-pointers (55.6%), though he and Sengun each had a game-high five turnovers.

Scroll on for highlights, analysis, and postgame interview reaction. Next up for Houston is a four-game West Coast road trip starting Wednesday in Sacramento, with tipoff set for 9:00 p.m. Central.

Highlights

Analysis and Interviews

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Story originally appeared on Rockets Wire