HOUSTON — In their final home game of their 2022-23 season, the young and rebuilding Rockets (20-60) pulled off perhaps their best win to date in Tuesday’s 124-103 blowout (box score) of Denver. The Nuggets (53-26) hold the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.
The Rockets were led by second-year guard Jalen Green, who had 32 points on 12-of-27 shooting (44.4%) while going 4-of-8 from 3-point range (50.0%). After missing all seven of his shots in the third quarter and picking up a technical due to his frustration with not getting calls from officials, Green responded with 16 points and 4 assists in a dominant fourth quarter as Houston pulled away.
“The shots weren’t falling, he wasn’t as efficient as he’s been lately, but he didn’t stop,” head coach Stephen Silas said postgame. “He didn’t let that deter him. He stayed within his game. He can really, really score, and once he gets it going, it’s usually pretty good for us.”
The Rockets were a team-best +27 in Green’s minutes, and the 21-year-old was focused postgame on the result. Despite having one of the NBA’s worst records, the Rockets have defeated each of the top four teams (Milwaukee, Boston, Philadelphia, and Denver) by record.
“A bunch of our wins are against the best in the NBA right now,” Green said. “That’s when we play at our best. That’s hope for the future.”
Playing against back-to-back NBA MVP Nikola Jokic (14 points, 10 rebounds, 8 turnovers), young Rockets center Alperen Sengun (20 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists) had a fourth straight double-double in a performance that Silas called the best of his career on defense.
Rookie forward Jabari Smith Jr. (16 points, 13 rebounds) had a double-double for the Rockets, as well, while Kevin Porter Jr. had 20 points to go with a team-high five 3-pointers and 9 assists.
Scroll on for highlights, postgame interviews with players and head coach Stephen Silas, and reaction from Houston fans and media members. The Rockets close out their 2022-23 schedule with road games on Friday and Sunday versus Charlotte and Washington.
Highlights
Analysis and Interviews
I asked Stephen Silas about Jalen Green shaking off an 0-7 third quarter and officiating gripes to finish with 16 points and 4 assists in the fourth:
“It says a lot about him. The shots weren’t falling, he wasn’t as efficient as he’s been lately, but he didn’t stop.” #Rockets pic.twitter.com/Q8FhJijElI
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) April 5, 2023
More Green on Silas: "We gotta play hard for him, just like he's breaking his back for us." https://t.co/UK6RT2KnjK
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) April 5, 2023
The Rockets, at 20-60, have wins against the four teams with the best records in the NBA, Milwaukee, Boston, Philadelphia and Denver. Jalen Green: "A bunch of our wins are against the best in the NBA right now. That's when we play at our best. That's hope for the future."
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) April 5, 2023
Here’s Stephen Silas on KPJ asking for Josh Christopher to stay in (over Kevin):
“That’s big-time maturity and growth from Scoot. That’s caring about his brother, caring about his team, and helping his coach. Moments like that are a coach’s dream.” #Rockets https://t.co/AtXZKSZQ0G pic.twitter.com/iHXo9rFMor
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) April 5, 2023
Silas: "These guys are young, but they care and they are starting to understand what's important. They're starting to understand that the togetherness part is a big part of it, but they're also proud to be Houston Rockets, and they're proud to play in front of these fans."
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) April 5, 2023
Alperen Sengun (20 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists) had a big game versus back-to-back NBA MVP Nikola Jokic as the #Rockets crushed top-seeded Denver.
Stephen Silas: “I thought Alpi had the best defensive game of his career tonight. He did an amazing job. I was proud of him.” pic.twitter.com/0jQoHGfiNH
— SportsTalk 790 (@SportsTalk790) April 5, 2023
The Rockets absolutely washed the Denver Nuggets in the 4th quarter, winning it 38-18.
Whew.
Jalen Green had 32, Sengun 20 points, 7 assists, 3 Steals and 2 blocks, Porter with another 5 triples and 9 assists, 16 points & 13 rebounds for Jabari Smith. They got their 20th win!
— Itamar (@Itamar_17_10) April 5, 2023
I'm shocked how well they defended Jokic tonight, thought he was going to go crazy once Murray went down and the opposite happened
— Abel (@AbelGe87) April 5, 2023
#Rockets beat Denver 124-103 in their final home game of the year
Jalen Green led the @HoustonRockets with 32 points and talked with the media after the win pic.twitter.com/gzgwlcnfKh
— AT&T SportsNet™ | SW (@ATTSportsNetSW) April 5, 2023
Jalen Green 30 piece in the Rockets W 👀
32 PTS
6 REB
4 AST
4 3PM— NBA (@NBA) April 5, 2023
Josh Christopher provided lots of energy off the bench sparking the #Rockets 124-103 win over the Nuggets@Jaygup23 10 PTS / 4-8 FG / 3 REB / 3 STL@HoustonRockets on AT&T SportsNet pic.twitter.com/qWDDmSRVo4
— AT&T SportsNet™ | SW (@ATTSportsNetSW) April 5, 2023
we love y’all ❤️ pic.twitter.com/OOEACdeeM5
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) April 5, 2023
Alperen Sengun vs Nikola Jokic tonight:
Sengun:
20 PTS – 10 REB – 7 AST – 50% FGNikola Jokic
14 PTS – 10 REB – 8 TOV – -21Rockets win by 21 🤯 pic.twitter.com/ZDtKUteeP9
— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) April 5, 2023
#Rockets highlight of the night courtesy of Alperen Sengun & Jabari Smith Jr@alperennsengun 20 PTS / 10 REB / 7 AST@jabarismithjr 16 PTS / 13 REB@HoustonRockets BEAT DENVER 124-103 pic.twitter.com/Ko7mMoJSS4
— AT&T SportsNet™ | SW (@ATTSportsNetSW) April 5, 2023
Tari Eason provided a huge spark off the bench in the 2nd half as the #Rockets beat the West leading Nuggets 124-103@TAR13ASON 11 PTS / 5-9 FG / 7 REB / 2 STL @HoustonRockets pic.twitter.com/g8Kn23VAwd
— AT&T SportsNet™ | SW (@ATTSportsNetSW) April 5, 2023
#Rockets WIN !!!!!!
Alperen Sengun vs DEN
🏀20 PTS🏀10 REB🏀7 AST🏀3 STL🏀@alperennsengun talked with our @SportsVanessa after the @HoustonRockets 124-103 win over the Nuggets pic.twitter.com/trSRcyttt4— AT&T SportsNet™ | SW (@ATTSportsNetSW) April 5, 2023
The #Rockets have had some impressive wins at home this season.
Bucks 97-92 (1st seed)
Nuggets 124-103 (1st seed)
Celtics 111-109 (2nd seed)
Sixers 132-123 (3rd seed) pic.twitter.com/HuXxGxU35d— Bradeaux (@BradeauxNBA) April 5, 2023
Stephen Silas says he has no update on KJ Martin, but thinks, hopes he’s okay.
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) April 5, 2023
What a win for the #Rockets in their final home game of the season with a win over the #1 seed Denver Nuggets!
Jalen Green with 32pts, 4ast, 6rbs and team leading +27 to lead the way.
— Chris A. White 🐻 (@fyrebear) April 5, 2023
With every ounce of my being, for our entire @HoustonRockets family! #RocketsWin 🚀 Thank you for being so amazing H-Town 🤘 See you next season! pic.twitter.com/mWLkioFBiA
— Jonathan Sanford (@TheJSanford) April 5, 2023
Jalen Green just used one dribble to push the ball ahead of two defenders at the free throw line in aggressive gap defense and was at the rim laying it up a split second later. That's why if you don't see his superstar offensive potential you are a moron.
— Nathan Fogg (@NathanFogg1) April 5, 2023
These Rockets aren’t shutting it down like you might imagine. 1-2-3 Cancun? No.
— Jerome Solomon (@JeromeSolomon) April 5, 2023
Hell of a way to close out the final home game.#Rockets held the Nuggets to just 7 points before Denver pulled their starters in the fourth.
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) April 5, 2023
Jalen literally plays his best basketball with Sengun, there’s a chemistry brewing. The DHO, scoop/dump off passes, the Rockets should build off of this next year
— DJ Stevo (@DJ_StevO_) April 5, 2023
Josh Christopher with a massive fourth quarter, and Silas is letting him stay in after previously having KPJ at the scorer's table. KPJ standing and cheering him on from the bench.
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) April 5, 2023
It was super cool to see. The team called a timeout and Josh was starting to wander and stand over Silas who was sitting and drawing a play for the players and KPJ went, grabbed Gup, and sat him down in front of coach to see the play that was being drawn up. KPJ rocks.
— Pat LN (@Patrickln) April 5, 2023
Jabari Smith on how Sengun went right at two time MVP Nikola Jokic
“He didn’t play against him like he is idol he played against him like he was his enemy” pic.twitter.com/FNVTS5h9iB— Lachard Binkley (@BinkleyHoops) April 5, 2023
Jabari Smith Jr: "I feel like we're a whole different team as a whole. We're closer, we're brothers, I just feel like the improvement has been noticeable."
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) April 5, 2023
I asked Coach Silas about Josh Christopher and how hard he has worked this season
“ He is just a worker he is like tireless when it comes to the work” pic.twitter.com/nveXoYXOU8
— Lachard Binkley (@BinkleyHoops) April 5, 2023
Jalen Green talking about what Coach Silas means to the players and on staying together
“Hearing that out of his mouth makes us just come together even more” pic.twitter.com/QkJRCtUsNZ— Lachard Binkley (@BinkleyHoops) April 5, 2023
More Silas: "For Jalen Green to play 38 minutes in game 80 and these guys to play as hard as they did in game 80 just shows who they are." https://t.co/kvZzsCnCTk
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) April 5, 2023
