Rockets Overcome Sluggish First Half in Victory Over Nets
HOUSTON — The Brooklyn Nets sustained an embarrassing defeat to the New Orleans Pelicans 24 hours before traveling to Houston. The 27-point defeat inside the Smoothie King Center forced coach Jacque Vaughn to challenge his team's effort Wednesday night inside the Toyota Center.
The Nets met Vaughn's desire to improve their effort on both ends, but the Houston Rockets prevailed en route to a 112-101 victory.
Alperen Şengün led the Rockets with 30 points on 11 of 17 shooting and eight rebounds. But the third-year Turkish native had another sensational performance during the third quarter. After scoring 14 points during the first half, Şengün scored 12 points in the third, which led to the Rockets holding a 77-68 lead entering the fourth period.
"We've been playing the same game," Şengün said. "They are trusting in me, and I am trying my best to be aggressive. When they come and double-team me, I am looking for my teammates."
Şengün helped the Rockets overcome their subpar play of the first half. They committed 12 turnovers during the first two quarters, which led to the Nets leading 50-49 at the half. Houston outscored Brooklyn 38-25 during the third quarter.
The Rockets had two additional players who scored in double figures other than Şengün. Fred VanVleet added 21 points on 7 of 9 shooting and 10 assists, 6 of 8 from behind the arc, while Jalen Green added 14.
"It was all about taking care of the basketball," VanVleet said. "We had some uncharacteristic turnovers and offensive rebounds. At the rate we were scoring at, we just needed to get more shots and we were able to do that in the third."
Rockets center Alperen Sengun shoots against Brooklyn Nets forward Dorian Finney-Smith (28) during the first quarter at Toyota Center.
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Tari Eason out with ongoing leg injury:
Tari Eason missed his 10th game of the season due to an ongoing "stress reaction" in his left leg. Although he has been doing well, Coach Ime Udoka said his absence against the Nets was to continue their management of his injury, especially with the number of three games in four nights coming up. The Rockets are slated to play Friday (Minnesota Timberwolves) and Saturday (Milwaukee Bucks).
Cam Whitmore receives minutes with no Eason:
Udoka stated that Cam Whitmore was one of a handful of players who could have received additional minutes in the absence of Eason. And with 2:30 left in the first quarter, Udoka replaced Jae'Sean Tate's services with Whitmore. The rookie forward played 17 minutes and added 11 points in the win.
VanVleet's hot 3-point shooting continues:
Following VanVleet's performance against the Nets, the veteran All-Star point guard has been on a 3-point shooting tear over the previous three games. Dating back to the Rockets' four-point defeat to the Philadelphia 76ers, VanVleet has shot 63.9 percent from behind the arc.
