Green scores 41, Rockets beat Jazz 147-119 for eighth straight victory
HOUSTON (AP) Jalen Green scored 41 points, Fred VanVleet added 10 3-pointers and a season-high 34 and the Houston Rockets made a season-best 27 3-pointers to beat the Utah Jazz 147-119 on Saturday night for their eighth straight win.
The Rockets’ win streak is their longest since winning eight in a row in November 2019. Houston closed within 1 ½ games of idle Golden State for 10th place and the last play-in spot in the Western Conference.
“It won’t really mean anything if we don’t make the playoffs,” Green said. “That’s the goal everyone has right now. I’m just trying to go out there and be the best version of myself for my teammates.”
Jabari Smith Jr. and Kris Dunn were ejected five seconds into the second quarter after both were assessed technical fouls for fighting. The two threw punches at each other after they got tangled up while the ball was being brought up the court. Players and officials got between them before the scuffle could escalate further.
Dunn said the two “exchanged a couple words, a couple pushes and the next thing you know we’re ejected.”
“For me, I take responsibility for my actions and whatever the league decides for me, I have to respect that,” Dunn said of possible punishment.
Smith was not made available postgame.
Houston coach Ime Udoka said he thought the altercation was a carryover from when the teams played on Jan. 20 and both players got into it then and were issued technical fouls.
“I think Dunn hit him with a shot, and then, they got wrapped up and threw a few punches,” Udoka said. “Basically, nothing landed, but as soon as you throw a punch, you’re going to be ejected.”
VanVleet scored 23 points on seven 3-pointers, and Green had 21 points on 9-of-12 shooting in the first half as the Rockets built an 85-55 halftime lead. Houston shot 65% in the first half and was 15 of 24 on 3s.
VanVleet tied James Harden and Chandler Parsons for the single-game franchise record for 3s. Green finished 15 of 22 from the field and was 7 of 11 on 3-pointers.
“I felt good after the first shot,” VanVleet said. “Got a couple more clean looks. When it’s going in like that, and you get good looks, teammates find you in good spots. We got it going a little bit there, and we were trying to ride that wave a little there.”
Jeff Green scored a season-high 21 points, and Dillon Brooks added 12 points for Houston, which shot 56% for the game. The Rockets improved to 35-35, marking the first time they were at .500 since Jan. 13, when they were 19-19.
John Collins scored a season high-tying 25 points, and Collin Sexton added 20 points and eight assists for the Jazz, who tied a season high with their fifth straight loss.
Utah shot 45% but was 11 of 37 on 3-pointers.
“Credit to Houston, 27 3s is pretty outstanding,” Utah coach Will Hardy said. “A lot of those were deep. Fred’s a hell of a player. Jalen’s a hell of a player. They both got really hot.”
UP NEXT
Jazz: Host Dallas on Monday night.
Rockets: Host Portland on Monday night.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | John Collins vs. Jabari Smith Jr. (Keyonte George gains possession) | ||
| 11:43 |  | +2 | John Collins makes two point turnaround hook shot (Keyonte George assists) | 2-0 |
| 11:26 | | Jalen Green misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:24 | | Keyonte George defensive rebound | ||
| 11:10 | | Keyonte George misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 11:09 | | Jalen Green defensive rebound | ||
| 11:04 | | Johnny Juzang shooting foul (Fred VanVleet draws the foul) | ||
| 11:04 | | +1 | Fred VanVleet makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 2-1 |
| 11:04 | | +1 | Fred VanVleet makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 2-2 |
| 10:49 | | Johnny Juzang misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:47 | | John Collins offensive rebound | ||
| 10:44 | | John Collins turnover (bad pass) (Fred VanVleet steals) | ||
| 10:40 | | +2 | Jalen Green makes two point running alley-oop dunk (Amen Thompson assists) | 2-4 |
| 10:22 | | +3 | Taylor Hendricks makes three point jump shot (Collin Sexton assists) | 5-4 |
| 10:04 | | +2 | Jabari Smith Jr. makes two point turnaround jump shot | 5-6 |
| 10:04 | | Taylor Hendricks shooting foul (Jabari Smith Jr. draws the foul) | ||
| 10:04 | | +1 | Jabari Smith Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 5-7 |
| 9:47 | | Collin Sexton misses two point floating jump shot | ||
| 9:47 | | Jazz offensive rebound | ||
| 9:40 | | +2 | Collin Sexton makes two point driving layup (John Collins assists) | 7-7 |
| 9:30 | | +3 | Fred VanVleet makes three point jump shot (Amen Thompson assists) | 7-10 |
| 9:11 | | John Collins misses two point jump shot | ||
| 9:10 | | Fred VanVleet defensive rebound | ||
| 9:04 | | +2 | Jalen Green makes two point running layup | 7-12 |
| 8:48 | | Fred VanVleet shooting foul (Collin Sexton draws the foul) | ||
| 8:48 | | Collin Sexton misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 8:48 | | Jazz offensive rebound | ||
| 8:48 | | +1 | Collin Sexton makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 8-12 |
| 8:37 | | Jalen Green misses two point driving finger roll layup | ||
| 8:36 | | Amen Thompson offensive rebound | ||
| 8:36 | | +2 | Amen Thompson makes two point tip dunk | 8-14 |
| 8:36 | | Jazz 60 second timeout | ||
| 8:15 | | Taylor Hendricks misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 8:13 | | Jabari Smith Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 8:10 | | +2 | Dillon Brooks makes two point running layup (Fred VanVleet assists) | 8-16 |
| 7:58 | | Taylor Hendricks misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:55 | | Dillon Brooks defensive rebound | ||
| 7:40 | | Jabari Smith Jr. misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 7:40 | | Taylor Hendricks defensive rebound | ||
| 7:33 | | +3 | Johnny Juzang makes three point running jump shot (Collin Sexton assists) | 11-16 |
| 7:12 | | +2 | Dillon Brooks makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot (Fred VanVleet assists) | 11-18 |
| 7:01 | | Collin Sexton misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 6:58 | | Dillon Brooks defensive rebound | ||
| 6:52 | | +2 | Jalen Green makes two point running finger roll layup (Fred VanVleet assists) | 11-20 |
| 6:38 | | +3 | Johnny Juzang makes three point jump shot (Keyonte George assists) | 14-20 |
| 6:23 | | Fred VanVleet turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 6:03 | | +2 | Keyonte George makes two point driving floating bank jump shot | 16-20 |
| 5:41 | | +2 | Jalen Green makes two point stepback jump shot | 16-22 |
| 5:31 | | Dillon Brooks personal foul (John Collins draws the foul) | ||
| 5:24 | | Keyonte George misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 5:23 | | Kris Dunn offensive rebound | ||
| 5:17 | | John Collins offensive foul (Fred VanVleet draws the foul) | ||
| 5:17 | | John Collins turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 5:08 | | +3 | Fred VanVleet makes three point pullup jump shot | 16-25 |
| 4:53 | | +3 | John Collins makes three point jump shot (Collin Sexton assists) | 19-25 |
| 4:38 | | +3 | Fred VanVleet makes three point jump shot (Dillon Brooks assists) | 19-28 |
| 4:26 | | Keyonte George turnover (lost ball) (Amen Thompson steals) | ||
| 4:23 | | John Collins shooting foul (Amen Thompson draws the foul) | ||
| 4:23 | | Amen Thompson misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 4:23 | | Rockets offensive rebound | ||
| 4:23 | | Amen Thompson misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 4:23 | | Jock Landale offensive rebound | ||
| 4:19 | | +2 | Jock Landale makes two point putback layup | 19-30 |
| 4:00 | | Collin Sexton misses two point driving layup | ||
| 3:58 | | Dillon Brooks defensive rebound | ||
| 3:49 | | Fred VanVleet misses three point jump shot | ||
| 3:44 | | Jock Landale offensive rebound | ||
| 3:44 | | +2 | Jock Landale makes two point putback layup | 19-32 |
| 3:28 | | Keyonte George misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 3:27 | | Jalen Green defensive rebound | ||
| 3:19 | | Jock Landale offensive foul (Keyonte George draws the foul) | ||
| 3:19 | | Jock Landale turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 3:09 | | Keyonte George misses three point jump shot | ||
| 3:07 | | Rockets defensive rebound | ||
| 2:55 | | +3 | Jalen Green makes three point stepback jump shot (Dillon Brooks assists) | 19-35 |
| 2:41 | | Walker Kessler misses two point alley-oop layup | ||
| 2:39 | | Jeff Green defensive rebound | ||
| 2:28 | | +3 | Fred VanVleet makes three point jump shot (Jalen Green assists) | 19-38 |
| 2:26 | | Jazz 60 second timeout | ||
| 2:10 | | Micah Potter misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:08 | | Kira Lewis Jr. offensive rebound | ||
| 2:02 | | Kris Dunn misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 2:02 | | Micah Potter offensive rebound | ||
| 1:54 | | Brice Sensabaugh turnover (lost ball) (Fred VanVleet steals) | ||
| 1:50 | | +2 | Jalen Green makes two point running alley-oop dunk (Fred VanVleet assists) | 19-40 |
| 1:31 | | Kira Lewis Jr. misses three point bank jump shot | ||
| 1:29 | | Micah Potter offensive rebound | ||
| 1:24 | | +2 | Kris Dunn makes two point driving layup | 21-40 |
| 1:08 | | +3 | Fred VanVleet makes three point jump shot (Jabari Smith Jr. assists) | 21-43 |
| 0:55 | | Fred VanVleet personal foul (Walker Kessler draws the foul) | ||
| 0:46 | | Brice Sensabaugh misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:44 | | Walker Kessler offensive rebound | ||
| 0:31 | | Brice Sensabaugh misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:29 | | Jeff Green defensive rebound | ||
| 0:25 | | +2 | Jabari Smith Jr. makes two point running finger roll layup (Jeff Green assists) | 21-45 |
| 0:15 | | Kris Dunn misses two point driving layup | ||
| 0:15 | | Jabari Smith Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 0:11 | | +2 | Jeff Green makes two point running dunk (Jabari Smith Jr. assists) | 21-47 |
| 0:00 | | Brice Sensabaugh misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:00 | | Jazz offensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | End of period |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:55 | | Kris Dunn technical foul (Double) | ||
| 11:55 | | Jabari Smith Jr. technical foul (Double) | ||
| 11:37 | | Jeff Green misses two point driving dunk | ||
| 11:34 | | Reggie Bullock Jr. offensive rebound | ||
| 11:28 | | Aaron Holiday misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:27 | | Kira Lewis Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 11:21 | | +2 | Kira Lewis Jr. makes two point running layup | 23-47 |
| 10:56 | | +2 | Jeff Green makes two point driving layup | 23-49 |
| 10:51 | | Walker Kessler turnover (bad pass) (Reggie Bullock Jr. steals) | ||
| 10:49 | | Amen Thompson misses two point cutting layup | ||
| 10:49 | | Jazz defensive rebound | ||
| 10:37 | | Jeff Green shooting foul (Kira Lewis Jr. draws the foul) | ||
| 10:37 | | +1 | Kira Lewis Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 24-49 |
| 10:37 | | +1 | Kira Lewis Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 25-49 |
| 10:24 | | +2 | Aaron Holiday makes two point driving floating jump shot | 25-51 |
| 10:07 | | Jeff Green blocks Collin Sexton's two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 10:04 | | Walker Kessler offensive rebound | ||
| 10:03 | | +2 | Walker Kessler makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 27-51 |
| 9:53 | | Aaron Holiday misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 9:51 | | Jazz defensive rebound | ||
| 9:49 | | Jazz 60 second timeout | ||
| 9:42 | | +2 | Kira Lewis Jr. makes two point driving finger roll layup (Collin Sexton assists) | 29-51 |
| 9:21 | | Aaron Holiday misses two point driving bank hook shot | ||
| 9:21 | | Amen Thompson offensive rebound | ||
| 9:21 | | Amen Thompson turnover (out of bounds step) | ||
| 9:09 | | +3 | Brice Sensabaugh makes three point jump shot (Kira Lewis Jr. assists) | 32-51 |
| 8:56 | | +2 | Jae'Sean Tate makes two point driving layup | 32-53 |
| 8:45 | | Reggie Bullock Jr. personal foul (Collin Sexton draws the foul) | ||
| 8:28 | | Collin Sexton misses two point fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 8:27 | | Jeff Green defensive rebound | ||
| 8:22 | | Aaron Holiday misses two point turnaround jump shot | ||
| 8:22 | | Brice Sensabaugh defensive rebound | ||
| 7:58 | | Micah Potter misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:56 | | Rockets defensive rebound | ||
| 7:46 | | +3 | Jeff Green makes three point jump shot (Amen Thompson assists) | 32-56 |
| 7:25 | | Brice Sensabaugh misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 7:23 | | Aaron Holiday defensive rebound | ||
| 7:16 | | Reggie Bullock Jr. misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:14 | | Amen Thompson offensive rebound | ||
| 7:11 | | Reggie Bullock Jr. misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:10 | | Kira Lewis Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 7:02 | | +3 | Kira Lewis Jr. makes three point pullup jump shot | 35-56 |
| 6:49 | | Amen Thompson turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | ||
| 6:39 | | Jock Landale personal foul (Walker Kessler draws the foul) | ||
| 6:28 | | Kira Lewis Jr. misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 6:28 | | Jazz offensive rebound | ||
| 6:28 | | Jock Landale personal foul (Loose ball) (Walker Kessler draws the foul) | ||
| 6:25 | | Taylor Hendricks misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:23 | | Reggie Bullock Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 6:12 | | +3 | Dillon Brooks makes three point jump shot (Jock Landale assists) | 35-59 |
| 5:46 | | +2 | Keyonte George makes two point driving floating jump shot (Kira Lewis Jr. assists) | 37-59 |
| 5:30 | | Walker Kessler blocks Dillon Brooks's two point driving layup | ||
| 5:30 | | Rockets offensive rebound | ||
| 5:28 | | +3 | Fred VanVleet makes three point jump shot (Jalen Green assists) | 37-62 |
| 5:02 | | Kira Lewis Jr. turnover (bad pass) (Dillon Brooks steals) | ||
| 4:57 | | Dillon Brooks misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 4:56 | | John Collins defensive rebound | ||
| 4:47 | | Jae'Sean Tate blocks John Collins's two point layup | ||
| 4:43 | | John Collins offensive rebound | ||
| 4:43 | | +2 | John Collins makes two point layup | 39-62 |
| 4:35 | | +3 | Jeff Green makes three point jump shot (Dillon Brooks assists) | 39-65 |
| 4:22 | | Jae'Sean Tate personal foul (John Collins draws the foul) | ||
| 4:22 | | +1 | John Collins makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 40-65 |
| 4:22 | | +1 | John Collins makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 41-65 |
| 4:07 | | +2 | Jalen Green makes two point driving layup | 41-67 |
| 3:57 | | Collin Sexton misses two point driving floating bank jump shot | ||
| 3:57 | | Jazz offensive rebound | ||
| 3:57 | | Fred VanVleet personal foul (Loose ball) (John Collins draws the foul) | ||
| 3:57 | | +1 | John Collins makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 42-67 |
| 3:57 | | +1 | John Collins makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 43-67 |
| 3:43 | | +2 | Jeff Green makes two point cutting layup (Fred VanVleet assists) | 43-69 |
| 3:43 | | Taylor Hendricks personal foul (Jeff Green draws the foul) | ||
| 3:43 | | +1 | Jeff Green makes regular free throw 1 of 1 |