Green scores 26 points as Rockets beat Cavaliers 117-103 for their fifth straight victory
HOUSTON (AP) Jalen Green had 26 points and 11 rebounds, and the Houston Rockets beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 117-103 on Saturday for their fifth straight victory.
Jabari Smith Jr. added 20 points, Amen Thompson had 18 and Fred VanVleet finished with 13 points and 16 assists for the Rockets, who made 15 3-pointers and outscored Cleveland 56-46 in the paint.
Green added four assists while hitting 4 of 9 from 3.
“We started off pretty hot and were moving the ball,” Green said. “Once they were falling, it was a confidence builder. We were just doing what we’ve been doing, started hitting shots and did our thing.”
Houston led 70-54 at halftime and entered the fourth quarter with a 25-point lead.
“Early in the ballgame, you could see we were getting outworked and out-scrapped,” Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “For us, the defense sets our tone and when we don’t do that, we don’t give yourself a chance to win.”
The Rockets have won seven of their last eight, pulling within three games of the Golden State Warriors for the final Western Conference play-in spot.
“The common theme is to just play good,” VanVleet said. “Everything else will take care of itself. If we’re playing good basketball and playing together, I think we’ll have a shot down the stretch. It’s right there for us, but we’ve just got to continue to stay on the track that we’re on.”
Caris LeVert scored 21 points for Cleveland. Georges Niang had 14 and Donovan Mitchell added 13.
“I think the switching affected them and forced them to play a lot more 1-on-1,” Rockets coach Ime Udoka said. “We did a good job with all the bodies we had. I loved our effort, defensively, from the start, and specifically in the third quarter to come out with that start and really kind of put it away early there. It was a great win for us.”
Mitchell was playing in his second game back from a seven-game absence with a left knee bruise. Mitchell appeared to sustain a bloody nose in the second half and sat much of the fourth quarter. The Cavs were without Max Strus (right knee sprain) and Evan Mobley (left ankle sprain).
“I mean, no disrespect to some guys, but I’m not really blowing by people right now, and that’s disappointing and it’s affecting me,” Mitchell said.
“I want to be out there, but it’s clear as day, even to myself. I can’t fool myself. We’ll get it right and be ready for when that time comes.”
Mitchell said he will likely rest the next game to allow his knee more time to heal.
“Donovan is giving it what he’s got,” Bickerstaff said. “He’s doing a great job of sharing the ball. Obviously, he missed some time and is working his way back in. I’m not concerned about Donovan’s game because I know when he’s on the floor, he’s giving us a chance to win.”
Cavs veteran center Tristan Thompson made his return from a 25-game NBA suspension for violating the league’s anti-drug policy by testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs. Thompson had five points and five rebounds in 16 minutes.
Cleveland hasn’t won back-to-back games since Feb. 25-27, going 4-6 since. The Cavs fell one game behind Milwaukee for second place in the Eastern Conference.
“This is a marathon,” Niang said. “We’re looking to play our best basketball going into the playoffs. Obviously, we have some injuries and some stuff we need to get figured out. As they say in the Boston Marathon, we’re at Heartbreak Hill. We’re climbing and clawing, and that’s what we’re going to do to keep improving and keep getting better.”
UP NEXT
Cavaliers: At Indiana on Monday night.
Rockets: Visit Washington on Tuesday night.
---
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
Copyright 2024 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Jarrett Allen vs. Jabari Smith Jr. (Georges Niang gains possession) | |||
11:44 | Jarrett Allen turnover (lost ball) (Dillon Brooks steals) | |||
11:40 | +2 | Jabari Smith Jr. makes two point running dunk (Jalen Green assists) | 0-2 | |
11:22 | +3 | Donovan Mitchell makes three point pullup jump shot | 3-2 | |
10:56 | +3 | Dillon Brooks makes three point stepback jump shot (Fred VanVleet assists) | 3-5 | |
10:39 | Fred VanVleet blocks Jarrett Allen's two point turnaround hook shot | |||
10:36 | Fred VanVleet defensive rebound | |||
10:31 | +3 | Jalen Green makes three point running jump shot (Fred VanVleet assists) | 3-8 | |
10:10 | +3 | Isaac Okoro makes three point jump shot (Darius Garland assists) | 6-8 | |
10:03 | Fred VanVleet misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
9:59 | Amen Thompson offensive rebound | |||
9:57 | +2 | Jalen Green makes two point stepback jump shot | 6-10 | |
9:42 | Isaac Okoro misses three point jump shot | |||
9:39 | Jalen Green defensive rebound | |||
9:36 | Jalen Green misses two point running finger roll layup | |||
9:34 | Georges Niang defensive rebound | |||
9:30 | +3 | Donovan Mitchell makes three point running jump shot (Darius Garland assists) | 9-10 | |
9:14 | Dillon Brooks misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | |||
9:14 | Donovan Mitchell defensive rebound | |||
9:07 | Dillon Brooks personal foul (Jarrett Allen draws the foul) | |||
8:58 | +2 | Georges Niang makes two point turnaround bank jump shot | 11-10 | |
8:44 | +2 | Amen Thompson makes two point dunk (Dillon Brooks assists) | 11-12 | |
8:34 | Amen Thompson personal foul (Jarrett Allen draws the foul) | |||
8:23 | +2 | Darius Garland makes two point driving reverse layup | 13-12 | |
8:12 | Jalen Green misses two point driving hook shot | |||
8:11 | Jalen Green offensive rebound | |||
8:07 | +3 | Dillon Brooks makes three point jump shot (Fred VanVleet assists) | 13-15 | |
7:52 | +2 | Jarrett Allen makes two point cutting layup (Georges Niang assists) | 15-15 | |
7:38 | Jabari Smith Jr. turnover (bad pass) (Darius Garland steals) | |||
7:34 | Darius Garland misses three point running pullup jump shot | |||
7:31 | Jalen Green defensive rebound | |||
7:27 | Dillon Brooks misses two point running layup | |||
7:26 | Dillon Brooks offensive rebound | |||
7:24 | Jarrett Allen blocks Amen Thompson's two point layup | |||
7:22 | Amen Thompson offensive rebound | |||
7:21 | +2 | Amen Thompson makes two point putback layup | 15-17 | |
7:12 | Darius Garland misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
7:12 | Fred VanVleet defensive rebound | |||
7:05 | Fred VanVleet misses two point running layup | |||
7:03 | Fred VanVleet offensive rebound | |||
6:59 | +2 | Jabari Smith Jr. makes two point stepback jump shot (Fred VanVleet assists) | 15-19 | |
6:46 | Amen Thompson personal foul (Donovan Mitchell draws the foul) | |||
6:46 | Rockets 60 second timeout | |||
6:37 | Donovan Mitchell misses three point jump shot | |||
6:37 | Rockets defensive rebound | |||
6:25 | Jabari Smith Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
6:25 | Donovan Mitchell defensive rebound | |||
6:14 | +2 | Caris LeVert makes two point driving layup | 17-19 | |
6:00 | Jalen Green misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
5:59 | Jarrett Allen defensive rebound | |||
5:44 | +2 | Donovan Mitchell makes two point driving layup | 19-19 | |
5:31 | +2 | Jeff Green makes two point cutting layup (Fred VanVleet assists) | 19-21 | |
5:09 | +3 | Georges Niang makes three point jump shot (Caris LeVert assists) | 22-21 | |
4:49 | +2 | Dillon Brooks makes two point fadeaway jump shot | 22-23 | |
4:37 | Donovan Mitchell misses two point stepback jump shot | |||
4:36 | Jalen Green defensive rebound | |||
4:32 | Isaac Okoro shooting foul (Jalen Green draws the foul) | |||
4:32 | Jalen Green misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
4:32 | Rockets offensive rebound | |||
4:32 | +1 | Jalen Green makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 22-24 | |
4:14 | Jalen Green blocks Isaac Okoro's two point driving layup | |||
4:11 | Jalen Green defensive rebound | |||
4:07 | Dillon Brooks misses three point jump shot | |||
4:04 | Darius Garland defensive rebound | |||
4:00 | Jarrett Allen offensive foul (Dillon Brooks draws the foul) | |||
4:00 | Jarrett Allen turnover (offensive foul) | |||
3:46 | Jeff Green misses three point jump shot | |||
3:43 | Damian Jones defensive rebound | |||
3:36 | +2 | Darius Garland makes two point driving floating jump shot | 24-24 | |
3:24 | Dillon Brooks misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
3:19 | Isaac Okoro defensive rebound | |||
3:16 | Jump ball. Isaac Okoro vs. Jalen Green (Caris LeVert gains possession) | |||
3:00 | Isaac Okoro misses three point jump shot | |||
2:58 | Tristan Thompson offensive rebound | |||
2:53 | Caris LeVert misses two point driving layup | |||
2:51 | Fred VanVleet defensive rebound | |||
2:44 | +2 | Dillon Brooks makes two point running finger roll layup (Fred VanVleet assists) | 24-26 | |
2:25 | Darius Garland misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
2:22 | Damian Jones offensive rebound | |||
2:15 | Jock Landale blocks Damian Jones's two point cutting dunk | |||
2:11 | Jeff Green defensive rebound | |||
2:10 | Jeff Green turnover (bad pass) (Caris LeVert steals) | |||
2:02 | Tristan Thompson turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | |||
2:02 | Cavaliers 60 second timeout | |||
1:53 | +3 | Jalen Green makes three point pullup jump shot (Aaron Holiday assists) | 24-29 | |
1:23 | Damian Jones misses three point jump shot | |||
1:21 | Damian Jones offensive rebound | |||
1:15 | Aaron Holiday personal foul (Damian Jones draws the foul) | |||
1:05 | +2 | Caris LeVert makes two point driving finger roll layup (Sam Merrill assists) | 26-29 | |
0:51 | +3 | Jalen Green makes three point stepback jump shot | 26-32 | |
0:40 | Aaron Holiday shooting foul (Darius Garland draws the foul) | |||
0:40 | +1 | Darius Garland makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 27-32 | |
0:40 | Darius Garland misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
0:40 | Jalen Green defensive rebound | |||
0:33 | Caris LeVert personal foul (Jalen Green draws the foul) | |||
0:27 | Tristan Thompson personal foul (Jalen Green draws the foul) | |||
0:27 | +1 | Jalen Green makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 27-33 | |
0:27 | Jalen Green technical foul (Double) | |||
0:27 | Georges Niang technical foul (Double) | |||
0:27 | +1 | Jalen Green makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 27-34 | |
0:04 | Jalen Green blocks Darius Garland's two point driving floating jump shot | |||
0:02 | Jeff Green defensive rebound | |||
0:01 | Dillon Brooks turnover (lost ball) | |||
0:01 | Dillon Brooks personal foul (Sam Merrill draws the foul) | |||
0:01 | +1 | Sam Merrill makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 28-34 | |
0:01 | +1 | Sam Merrill makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 29-34 | |
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:41 | Georges Niang shooting foul (Jae'Sean Tate draws the foul) | |||
11:41 | Jae'Sean Tate misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
11:41 | Rockets offensive rebound | |||
11:41 | +1 | Jae'Sean Tate makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 29-35 | |
11:21 | Sam Merrill misses three point jump shot | |||
11:21 | Jae'Sean Tate defensive rebound | |||
11:12 | +2 | Jae'Sean Tate makes two point driving layup | 29-37 | |
10:56 | Georges Niang turnover (lost ball) (Jabari Smith Jr. steals) | |||
10:41 | Caris LeVert blocks Jabari Smith Jr.'s two point driving layup | |||
10:38 | Tristan Thompson defensive rebound | |||
10:36 | +3 | Georges Niang makes three point running jump shot (Sam Merrill assists) | 32-37 | |
10:18 | +3 | Jeff Green makes three point jump shot (Aaron Holiday assists) | 32-40 | |
9:57 | Jabari Smith Jr. shooting foul (Georges Niang draws the foul) | |||
9:57 | +1 | Georges Niang makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 33-40 | |
9:57 | +1 | Georges Niang makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 34-40 | |
9:44 | +3 | Jabari Smith Jr. makes three point jump shot (Aaron Holiday assists) | 34-43 | |
9:26 | Aaron Holiday personal foul (Darius Garland draws the foul) | |||
9:21 | Darius Garland misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
9:19 | Aaron Holiday defensive rebound | |||
9:13 | +2 | Jae'Sean Tate makes two point running layup | 34-45 | |
8:59 | +3 | Sam Merrill makes three point jump shot (Caris LeVert assists) | 37-45 | |
8:46 | Jae'Sean Tate misses three point jump shot | |||
8:43 | Jabari Smith Jr. offensive rebound | |||
8:41 | +3 | Jae'Sean Tate makes three point jump shot (Jabari Smith Jr. assists) | 37-48 | |
8:24 | Georges Niang turnover (lost ball) (Jae'Sean Tate steals) | |||
8:14 | Aaron Holiday misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
8:12 | Sam Merrill defensive rebound | |||
8:03 | Caris LeVert misses three point jump shot | |||
8:02 | Reggie Bullock Jr. defensive rebound | |||
7:53 | Jabari Smith Jr. misses two point running layup | |||
7:51 | Darius Garland defensive rebound | |||
7:47 | +2 | Tristan Thompson makes two point running layup (Caris LeVert assists) | 39-48 | |
7:47 | Rockets 60 second timeout | |||
7:31 | Reggie Bullock Jr. turnover (bad pass) (Donovan Mitchell steals) | |||
7:28 | Isaac Okoro misses two point running layup | |||
7:26 | Jabari Smith Jr. defensive rebound | |||
7:18 | +3 | Reggie Bullock Jr. makes three point pullup jump shot (Fred VanVleet assists) | 39-51 | |
7:02 | +2 | Caris LeVert makes two point driving layup | 41-51 | |
6:49 | Jock Landale misses three point jump shot | |||
6:47 | Jabari Smith Jr. offensive rebound | |||
6:46 | +2 | Jabari Smith Jr. makes two point putback layup | 41-53 | |
6:24 | +2 | Caris LeVert makes two point driving layup | 43-53 | |
6:09 | +2 | Jock Landale makes two point layup (Fred VanVleet assists) | 43-55 | |
5:51 | Jarrett Allen misses two point alley-oop dunk | |||
5:51 | Cavaliers offensive rebound | |||
5:42 | Donovan Mitchell turnover (lost ball) (Jalen Green steals) | |||
5:37 | +2 | Amen Thompson makes two point running dunk (Jalen Green assists) | 43-57 | |
5:18 | +3 | Donovan Mitchell makes three point stepback jump shot | 46-57 | |
4:58 | +2 | Fred VanVleet makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 46-59 | |
4:40 | Jock Landale shooting foul (Jarrett Allen draws the foul) | |||
4:40 | +1 | Jarrett Allen makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 47-59 | |
4:40 | +1 | Jarrett Allen makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 48-59 | |
4:22 | Jock Landale misses three point jump shot | |||
4:21 | Isaac Okoro defensive rebound | |||
4:06 | +2 | Isaac Okoro makes two point driving layup (Donovan Mitchell assists) | 50-59 | |
3:55 | Fred VanVleet misses three point jump shot | |||
3:53 | Sam Merrill defensive rebound | |||
3:42 | Donovan Mitchell misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
3:41 | Fred VanVleet defensive rebound | |||
3:36 | +2 | Amen Thompson makes two point running layup (Fred VanVleet assists) | 50-61 | |
3:13 | +2 | Jarrett Allen makes two point driving hook shot | 52-61 | |
3:02 | Jalen Green misses three point jump shot | |||
3:02 | Jarrett Allen defensive rebound | |||
2:54 | Sam Merrill turnover (traveling) | |||
2:54 | Cavaliers 60 second timeout | |||
2:43 | +2 | Amen Thompson makes two point cutting dunk (Fred VanVleet assists) | 52-63 | |
2:28 | Jarrett Allen turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
2:15 | +3 | Jabari Smith Jr. makes three point jump shot (Jalen Green assists) | 52-66 | |
1:51 | +2 | Jarrett Allen makes two point layup (Isaac Okoro assists) | 54-66 | |
1:42 | Isaac Okoro personal foul (Jalen Green draws the foul) | |||
1:30 | +2 | Amen Thompson makes two point alley-oop dunk (Fred VanVleet assists) | 54-68 | |
1:14 | Donovan Mitchell misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
1:14 | Jalen Green defensive rebound | |||
1:00 | +2 | Amen Thompson makes two point dunk (Fred VanVleet assists) | 54-70 | |
0:46 | Georges Niang misses three point jump shot | |||