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With his 38-point performance tonight, Jalen Green became the youngest Rockets’ player to score 35+ points in an NBA playoff game.
Jalen Green also became just the third Rocket to score 35+ in a playoff game before turning 25 — right after Hakeem Olajuwon and James Harden. (AFP)
Houston Rockets’ Jalen Green let it fly, scoring a record eight three-pointers en route to his dominant 38-point night against the Golden State Warriors, who were on the receiving end of a beatdown in a 109-94 loss in Game 2 of the NBA Playoffs.
With his performance tonight, Jalen Green became just the youngest Rockets player to score 35+ points in a playoff game. He also became just the third Rocket to achieve the feat before turning 25 — right after Hakeem Olajuwon and James Harden.
Green’s onslaught was sparked by the early dominance of Alperen Sengun, who put up 17 points, 16 rebounds, and 7 assists and became the 2nd youngest center in NBA history to record a playoff game with 15/15/5.
It was also a night to forget for Steph Curry, who put up 20 points on 6-15 shooting while being hounded by the young bucks of the Rockets.
The rest of the Warriors, barring Pat Spencer in the first two quarters, lacked any real fight to stay in the hunt, with Ime Udoka’s Rockets dominating the paint to keep the pressure on their opponents.
The series now stays level at 1-1, with Game 3 taking the Rockets on the road.
It was a complete brawl all the way, with tensions flaring up as early as just three minutes into the game when Warriors’ Draymond Green and Rockets’ Dillon Brooks embarked on the first of their many tussles.
Yet, there was no real fight from the Warriors in their play, who were outscored in every quarter except the fourth (when they scored a mere point more in garbage time).
To add insult to injury, the Warriors were also dealt a massive injury scare, as veteran Jimmy Butler was ruled out of the game after incurring a pelvis contusion in the first quarter.
Butler was injured when Amen Thompson was pushed into his legs as he jumped to try and grab a rebound. Both players crashed to the court in the collision, but Butler stayed down longer than Thompson.
He eventually got up and slowly walked to the other end of the court to shoot free throws. Butler made 1 of 2 FTs and was soon taken out of the game, following which he immediately headed to the locker room.
The team announced his injury and said that he wouldn’t return. A team official said at halftime that Butler would have an MRI exam on Thursday.
Butler, who had three points and two rebounds before leaving, had 25 points, seven rebounds, and six assists in Golden State’s 95-85 win in Game 1.
Game 3 is set to take place at the Chase Center, where the Warriors will look to build on the split start.
(with agency inputs)
