Jalen Green scored 41 points, Fred VanVleet added 10 3-pointers and a season-high 34 and the Houston Rockets made a season-high 27 3-pointers to beat the Utah Jazz 147-119 on Saturday evening for their eighth consecutive victory.
The Rockets’ winning streak is their longest since winning eight in a row in November 2019. Houston closed within a game and a half of idle Golden State for 10th place and the final play-in spot in the Western Conference.
“It really won’t mean anything if we don’t make the playoffs,” Green said. “That’s the goal everyone has right now. I just try 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 receiving technical fouls for fighting. The two men threw punches at each other after tangling as the ball moved up the field. Players and officials stood between themselves before the fight escalated further.
Dunn said the two “exchanged a few words, a few pushes and the next thing you know, we’re kicked out.”
“For me, I take responsibility for my actions and no matter what the league decides for me, I have to respect that,” Dunn said of possible punishment.
Smith was not made available after the game.
Houston coach Ime Udoka said he believed the altercation was a postponement of the teams’ Jan. 20 game and that both players then got involved and received technical fouls.
“I think Dunn hit him with a shot, and then they wrapped up and threw a few punches,” Udoka said. “Basically nothing landed, but as soon as you throw a punch, you’re going to get thrown out.”
VanVleet scored 23 points on seven 3-pointers and Green scored 21 points on 9-of-12 shooting in the first half as the Rockets took an 85-55 halftime lead. Houston shot 65% in the first half and finished 15 of 24 from 3.
VanVleet tied James Harden and Chandler Parsons for the franchise single-game record for 3 seconds. Green finished 15 of 22 from the field and 7 of 11 from 3-point range.
“I felt good after the first shot,” VanVleet said. “I still have a few clean looks. When it goes like that and you look good, your teammates find you in the right places. We started a little bit there, and we tried to ride that wave a little bit there.
Jeff Green scored a season-high 21 points and Dillon Brooks added 12 points for Houston, which shot 56 percent 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 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 from 3-point range.
“Credit to Houston, 27 3s, that’s pretty outstanding,” Utah coach Will Hardy said. “A lot of them were deep. Fred is a hell of a player. Jalen is a hell of a player. They both felt very hot.
FOLLOWING
Jazz: Host Dallas Monday night.
Rockets: Host Portland Monday night.
