Green scores 23, VanVleet 22 as the Rockets earn 1st win of the season, beating the Hornets 128-119
HOUSTON (AP) Jalen Green scored 23 and Fred VanVleet added 22 points and 11 assists as the Houston Rockets earned their first win of the season, 128-119 over the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday night.
The Rockets, who dropped their first three games, led by 18 points in the first half before letting the Hornets get back in it. But Houston used a big run in the third quarter to stretch its lead and withstood a late push by the Hornets for the victory.
VanVleet, an eight-year veteran who joined the Rockets this season, said young teams have to learn how to win.
“Especially with the history and the circumstances that have been here the last couple of years, you have to learn how valuable possessions are and how fast things can snowball both ways,” he said. “So just continue to make the right plays and chip away and then once it gets crunch time, you've got to be able to get organized and keep your mind right and make the crucial plays.”
Houston was up by five points late in the fourth quarter when a 3-pointer by Green pushed the lead to 120-112 with less than two minutes left.
LaMelo Ball made 1 of 2 free throws before Green added a driving layup with just more than a minute to go.
Terry Rozier made a basket for Charlotte, before Alperen Sengun made a thundering one-handed dunk a few seconds later, pushing the lead to 124-115.
Green was glad to see the Rockets get their first win after losing a couple of close games after a blowout loss to Orlando in their opener.
“We all knew what we were doing and the growth that we made,” he said. “So it was just good to put this one together.”
All five of Houston’s starters score at least 17 points. Dillon Brooks had 20, Sengun had 19 and seven rebounds and Jabari Smith Jr. added 17.
P.J. Washington scored 23 and Rozier finished with 21 points to lead the Hornets, who fell to 1-3.
“There's things we've got to do better,” Charlotte coach Steve Clifford said. “Actually a lot of the stuff we didn't do well tonight, we've done well in the other games. What we've got to do is put it all together.”
Ball had just six points with about six minutes left before scoring 10 points, with two 3-pointers, to power an 18-9 run that cut the lead to 115-110 with about 2½ minutes to go. He finished with 19 points and five assists.
The Rockets led by three points early in the third before using an 11-2 run to make it 77-65 with eight minutes left in the quarter. Green had a 3-pointer in that stretch and Brooks made two consecutive 3’s to cap the run.
Charlotte ended the quarter with a 7-2 spurt, with the first four points from Nick Richards, cutting the lead to 86-78 entering the fourth.
Houston’s Amen Thompson, the fourth overall pick in this year’s draft, had four points before leaving in the third quarter with a sprained right ankle.
UP NEXT
Hornets: Visit Indiana on Saturday night.
Rockets: Play consecutive home games against Sacramento on Saturday and Monday nights.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Mark Williams vs. Alperen Sengun (Jabari Smith Jr. gains possession) | ||
| 11:41 | | Jalen Green misses two point cutting layup | ||
| 11:41 |  | P.J. Washington defensive rebound | ||
| 11:25 | | +2 | LaMelo Ball makes two point driving finger roll layup | 2-0 |
| 11:04 | | +2 | Alperen Sengun makes two point floating jump shot (Fred VanVleet assists) | 2-2 |
| 10:45 | | Gordon Hayward misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 10:44 | | Alperen Sengun defensive rebound | ||
| 10:35 | | Fred VanVleet turnover (bad pass) (Mark Williams steals) | ||
| 10:31 | | +2 | Gordon Hayward makes two point running layup (Mark Williams assists) | 4-2 |
| 10:09 | | Dillon Brooks turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | ||
| 9:59 | | +2 | Gordon Hayward makes two point jump shot (LaMelo Ball assists) | 6-2 |
| 9:47 | | +2 | Jalen Green makes two point jump shot (Fred VanVleet assists) | 6-4 |
| 9:28 | | +3 | P.J. Washington makes three point jump shot (Terry Rozier assists) | 9-4 |
| 9:08 | | Jabari Smith Jr. misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:07 | | Rockets offensive rebound | ||
| 9:07 | | LaMelo Ball personal foul (Loose ball) (Alperen Sengun draws the foul) | ||
| 9:01 | | +2 | Fred VanVleet makes two point pullup jump shot | 9-6 |
| 8:45 | | +3 | P.J. Washington makes three point stepback jump shot | 12-6 |
| 8:25 | | +2 | Dillon Brooks makes two point jump shot (Fred VanVleet assists) | 12-8 |
| 8:13 | | Terry Rozier misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 8:13 | | Jabari Smith Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 8:06 | | +3 | Fred VanVleet makes three point pullup jump shot | 12-11 |
| 7:45 | | +2 | Terry Rozier makes two point turnaround jump shot | 14-11 |
| 7:27 | | +3 | Jalen Green makes three point jump shot (Dillon Brooks assists) | 14-14 |
| 7:07 | | +2 | Gordon Hayward makes two point driving layup (LaMelo Ball assists) | 16-14 |
| 7:07 | | Jabari Smith Jr. shooting foul (Gordon Hayward draws the foul) | ||
| 7:07 | | Gordon Hayward misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | ||
| 7:07 | | P.J. Washington offensive rebound | ||
| 7:07 | | +2 | P.J. Washington makes two point tip dunk | 18-14 |
| 6:52 | | +3 | Fred VanVleet makes three point pullup jump shot | 18-17 |
| 6:39 | | Terry Rozier misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 6:36 | | Jabari Smith Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 6:32 | | +2 | Dillon Brooks makes two point cutting layup (Jabari Smith Jr. assists) | 18-19 |
| 6:14 | | Terry Rozier misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:11 | | Jabari Smith Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 5:59 | | Rockets 60 second timeout | ||
| 5:54 | | +2 | Fred VanVleet makes two point pullup jump shot (Alperen Sengun assists) | 18-21 |
| 5:28 | | Brandon Miller misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 5:27 | | Dillon Brooks defensive rebound | ||
| 5:16 | | Fred VanVleet misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:15 | | Gordon Hayward defensive rebound | ||
| 4:55 | | Terry Rozier turnover (bad pass) (Dillon Brooks steals) | ||
| 4:53 | | Dillon Brooks turnover (lost ball) (JT Thor steals) | ||
| 4:49 | | JT Thor turnover (lost ball) (Dillon Brooks steals) | ||
| 4:45 | | +2 | Alperen Sengun makes two point jump shot (Jae'Sean Tate assists) | 18-23 |
| 4:33 | | Terry Rozier turnover (bad pass) (Alperen Sengun steals) | ||
| 4:27 | | +2 | Amen Thompson makes two point running alley-oop dunk (Jae'Sean Tate assists) | 18-25 |
| 4:27 | | Hornets 60 second timeout | ||
| 4:12 | | +2 | JT Thor makes two point jump shot (Brandon Miller assists) | 20-25 |
| 3:50 | | +2 | Alperen Sengun makes two point reverse layup | 20-27 |
| 3:31 | | Brandon Miller offensive foul (Fred VanVleet draws the foul) | ||
| 3:31 | | Brandon Miller turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 3:17 | | Jae'Sean Tate misses three point jump shot | ||
| 3:16 | | Brandon Miller defensive rebound | ||
| 3:09 | | +2 | Brandon Miller makes two point driving finger roll layup | 22-27 |
| 2:52 | | +3 | Fred VanVleet makes three point pullup jump shot | 22-30 |
| 2:31 | | JT Thor misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:28 | | Fred VanVleet defensive rebound | ||
| 2:23 | | Dillon Brooks misses two point running reverse layup | ||
| 2:20 | | Jae'Sean Tate offensive rebound | ||
| 2:19 | | Jock Landale misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:15 | | Brandon Miller defensive rebound | ||
| 2:09 | | +3 | JT Thor makes three point jump shot (Brandon Miller assists) | 25-30 |
| 1:55 | | Fred VanVleet misses three point jump shot | ||
| 1:52 | | Theo Maledon defensive rebound | ||
| 1:43 | | Terry Rozier turnover (bad pass) (Dillon Brooks steals) | ||
| 1:39 | | JT Thor shooting foul (Jae'Sean Tate draws the foul) | ||
| 1:39 | | +1 | Jae'Sean Tate makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 25-31 |
| 1:39 | | Jae'Sean Tate misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 1:39 | | Brandon Miller defensive rebound | ||
| 1:23 | | Theo Maledon misses three point jump shot | ||
| 1:19 | | Theo Maledon offensive rebound | ||
| 1:17 | | Theo Maledon turnover (lost ball) (Amen Thompson steals) | ||
| 1:00 | | +3 | Jalen Green makes three point jump shot (Jabari Smith Jr. assists) | 25-34 |
| 0:49 | | LaMelo Ball misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:48 | | Jalen Green defensive rebound | ||
| 0:43 | | +2 | Jabari Smith Jr. makes two point cutting finger roll layup (Jalen Green assists) | 25-36 |
| 0:26 | | Theo Maledon turnover (bad pass) (Jalen Green steals) | ||
| 0:07 | | Brandon Miller shooting foul (Jalen Green draws the foul) | ||
| 0:07 | | +1 | Jalen Green makes regular free throw 1 of 3 | 25-37 |
| 0:07 | | +1 | Jalen Green makes regular free throw 2 of 3 | 25-38 |
| 0:07 | | +1 | Jalen Green makes regular free throw 3 of 3 | 25-39 |
| 0:01 | | Theo Maledon misses two point driving reverse layup | ||
| 0:01 | | Nick Richards offensive rebound | ||
| 0:01 | | +2 | Nick Richards makes two point tip dunk | 27-39 |
| 0:00 | | Amen Thompson misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:00 | | Rockets offensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | End of period |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:51 | | Jae'Sean Tate shooting foul (Nick Richards draws the foul) | ||
| 11:51 | | +1 | Nick Richards makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 28-39 |
| 11:51 | | +1 | Nick Richards makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 29-39 |
| 11:39 | | +2 | Jabari Smith Jr. makes two point jump shot (Jae'Sean Tate assists) | 29-41 |
| 11:26 | | Brandon Miller misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 11:25 | | Jae'Sean Tate defensive rebound | ||
| 11:10 | | Amen Thompson turnover (bad pass) (LaMelo Ball steals) | ||
| 11:03 | | +2 | Nick Richards makes two point running layup (LaMelo Ball assists) | 31-41 |
| 10:59 | | Brandon Miller personal foul (Jae'Sean Tate draws the foul) | ||
| 10:53 | | Jock Landale misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:51 | | JT Thor defensive rebound | ||
| 10:29 | | LaMelo Ball misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 10:27 | | Fred VanVleet defensive rebound | ||
| 10:21 | | LaMelo Ball personal foul (Fred VanVleet draws the foul) | ||
| 10:06 | | +2 | Jock Landale makes two point pullup jump shot (Fred VanVleet assists) | 31-43 |
| 9:57 | | Amen Thompson personal foul (P.J. Washington draws the foul) | ||
| 9:52 | | JT Thor misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:50 | | Amen Thompson defensive rebound | ||
| 9:35 | | Jock Landale misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:34 | | JT Thor defensive rebound | ||
| 9:22 | | +2 | LaMelo Ball makes two point fadeaway jump shot | 33-43 |
| 9:03 | | Fred VanVleet misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:02 | | JT Thor defensive rebound | ||
| 8:49 | | P.J. Washington turnover (lost ball) (Jock Landale steals) | ||
| 8:45 | | Nick Richards shooting foul (Amen Thompson draws the foul) | ||
| 8:45 | | +1 | Amen Thompson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 33-44 |
| 8:45 | | +1 | Amen Thompson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 33-45 |
| 8:28 | | +2 | Theo Maledon makes two point driving floating jump shot (LaMelo Ball assists) | 35-45 |
| 8:10 | | JT Thor shooting foul (Jeff Green draws the foul) | ||
| 8:10 | | +1 | Jeff Green makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 35-46 |
| 8:10 | | +1 | Jeff Green makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 35-47 |
| 7:56 | | Gordon Hayward turnover (lost ball) (Dillon Brooks steals) | ||
| 7:52 | | +2 | Alperen Sengun makes two point cutting dunk (Jalen Green assists) | 35-49 |
| 7:38 | | P.J. Washington misses two point layup | ||
| 7:37 | | Jeff Green defensive rebound | ||
| 7:29 | | Theo Maledon shooting foul (Dillon Brooks draws the foul) | ||
| 7:29 | | Dillon Brooks misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 7:29 | | Rockets offensive rebound | ||
| 7:29 | | +1 | Dillon Brooks makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 35-50 |
| 7:08 | | P.J. Washington misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 7:04 | | Nick Richards offensive rebound | ||
| 7:04 | | Nick Richards misses two point layup | ||
| 7:02 | | Alperen Sengun defensive rebound | ||
| 6:55 | | Jeff Green offensive foul (Theo Maledon draws the foul) | ||
| 6:55 | | Jeff Green turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 6:55 | | Rockets 60 second timeout | ||
| 6:39 | | Amen Thompson personal foul (Gordon Hayward draws the foul) | ||
| 6:35 | | Nick Richards offensive foul (Dillon Brooks draws the foul) | ||
| 6:35 | | Nick Richards turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 6:24 | | +3 | Jeff Green makes three point jump shot (Amen Thompson assists) | 35-53 |
| 6:06 | | Amen Thompson personal foul (Theo Maledon draws the foul) | ||
| 5:59 | | +3 | Theo Maledon makes three point jump shot (Gordon Hayward assists) | 38-53 |
| 5:45 | | Jalen Green misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:44 | | Mark Williams defensive rebound | ||
| 5:33 | | Terry Rozier misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 5:30 | | Jeff Green defensive rebound | ||
| 5:23 | | Alperen Sengun turnover (bad pass) (Terry Rozier steals) | ||
| 5:17 | | +3 | P.J. Washington makes three point pullup jump shot (Terry Rozier assists) | 41-53 |
| 5:16 | | Rockets 60 second timeout | ||
| 5:00 | | Jalen Green misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 5:00 | | Hornets defensive rebound | ||
| 4:48 | | Gordon Hayward misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 4:47 | | Mark Williams offensive rebound | ||
| 4:47 | | Mark Williams misses two point tip layup | ||
| 4:47 | | Hornets offensive rebound | ||
| 4:47 | | Dillon Brooks personal foul (Loose ball) (Mark Williams draws the foul) | ||
| 4:47 | | +1 | Mark Williams makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 42-53 |
| 4:47 | | Mark Williams misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 4:47 | | Alperen Sengun defensive rebound | ||
| 4:27 | | Alperen Sengun misses two point driving hook shot | ||
| 4:27 | | Alperen Sengun offensive rebound | ||
| 4:16 | | +2 | Alperen Sengun makes two point turnaround hook shot | 42-55 |
| 3:59 | | +2 | Mark Williams makes two point cutting layup (Gordon Hayward assists) | 44-55 |
| 3:42 | | Jalen Green turnover (lost ball) (Theo Maledon steals) | ||
| 3:38 | | Theo Maledon misses two point running layup | ||
| 3:38 | | Gordon Hayward offensive rebound | ||
| 3:38 | | +2 | Gordon Hayward makes two point tip dunk | 46-55 |
| 3:16 | | Mark Williams blocks Alperen Sengun's two point turnaround hook shot | ||
| 3:16 | | Hornets defensive rebound | ||
| 3:05 | | +2 | Gordon Hayward makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot (Terry Rozier assists) | 48-55 |
| 2:48 | | +3 | Fred VanVleet makes three point jump shot (Alperen Sengun assists) | 48-58 |
| 2:41 | | Dillon Brooks shooting foul (Mark Williams draws the foul) | ||
| 2:41 | | Mark Williams misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 2:41 | | Hornets offensive rebound | ||
| 2:41 | | +1 | Mark Williams makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 49-58 |
| 2:28 | | Fred VanVleet turnover (bad pass) (Mark Williams steals) | ||
| 2:22 | | +3 | P.J. Washington makes three point jump shot (Theo Maledon assists) | 52-58 |
| 2:15 | | Jock Landale offensive foul (Theo Maledon draws the foul) | ||
| 2:15 | | Jock Landale turnover (offensive foul) |