HOUSTON — Rockets guard Jalen Green was unhappy after Thursday’s 118-109 loss to the San Antonio Spurs, a team that had lost 11 consecutive games and was not playing good basketball in recent weeks.
Green and his teammates came into that game after a dramatic double-overtime win over the Philadelphia 76ers, and there may have been something of an emotional letdown.
Green took that loss to the Spurs to heart because he was not nearly as effective as he needed to be, scoring just 14 points on 5-of-17 shooting (29.4%) from the field.
“I know we could have played a lot better, including myself,” a dejected Green said in the visiting locker room in San Antonio.
Three nights later, Green bounced back with one of his best performances of the 2022-23 season, scoring 12 of his game-high 30 points in the fourth quarter as Houston defeated Milwaukee, 97-92. It was his sixth 30-point game this season and third in nine games.
Jalen Green will soon be one of the NBA’s best players. pic.twitter.com/oapbGN7FCa
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) December 12, 2022
“I just know that my team depends on me in situations like that,” Green said of Sunday’s fourth-quarter outburst, which included three free throws in the game’s final minute to break open what had been a tie score. “All that hard work I put in is paying off.”
The win was an emotional one for the Rockets, who played without head coach Stephen Silas following the death of his father, Paul Silas, a former NBA player and head coach. Assistant coach John Lucas is filling in as acting head coach and liked the overall effort by his team on Sunday night, and particularly Green’s play.
“I think Jalen had one of his finest games,” Lucas said postgame of Green, who also tied his season-high with 7 rebounds on Sunday night versus the Bucks. “He made his free throws. He attacked. What is even funnier was that his defense was impeccable.”
“I think Jalen had one of his finest games,” said interim Rockets head coach John Lucas about the play of second-year guard Jalen Green against the Milwaukee Bucks. #LightTheFuse @TheRocketsWire pic.twitter.com/zpEMFRM1at
— #SARGE (@BigSargeSportz) December 12, 2022
In this season’s eight wins for the Rockets (8-18), Green is averaging 27.6 points on 50.7% shooting, and he has been instrumental in Houston’s current four-game winning streak at Toyota Center.
“There is nothing like being at home,” a smiling Green said postgame. “I just feel comfortable being at home.”
In Game 2 of a season-long homestand of seven games, Green and the Rockets hope to build on that momentum when Phoenix visits Toyota Center on Tuesday. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. Central.
