In Houston, Dillon Brooks tallied 19 points, with Jalen Green contributing 18, as the Houston Rockets, playing with a depleted lineup, halted a six-game losing streak with a gritty 94-87 triumph over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday. The Raptors held a four-point advantage early in the fourth quarter, but the Rockets mounted a fierce 14-2 surge to establish a 77-69 lead with approximately 7 minutes remaining. Building on this momentum, Houston extended their lead to 86-76 after Jalen Green sank two crucial 3-pointers during a 9-3 scoring burst.
Fred VanVleet missed his fifth consecutive game due to an ankle injury, while Steven Adams was sidelined following the previous day’s game. The Rockets were further hampered when All-Star Alperen Sengun exited the game in the first quarter due to back spasms. Jeff Green and Jock Landale stepped up admirably in Sengun’s absence, with Green recording a season-high 14 points and Landale chipping in with 11 points and a season-best 10 rebounds.
Immanuel Quickley led the charge for the Raptors with 20 points, but it wasn’t enough to prevent their fourth consecutive defeat. In the second half, Toronto sorely missed Gradey Dick, who sustained a neck bruise following a collision with Amen Thompson just before halftime. Dick, averaging 15.6 points per game, failed to contribute to the scoreline before exiting the game.
Despite clinching the victory, the Rockets are eagerly awaiting VanVleet’s return to bolster their offense and help steer them back on course. A pivotal moment in the game came in the fourth quarter when Jamison Battle was called for a foul on Jeff Green, which was subsequently reviewed and upgraded to a flagrant 1 foul after it was deemed that Battle made contact with Green in the groin area. Green capitalized on the ensuing free throws to kickstart the game-changing run that ultimately secured the win for Houston.
An important statistical takeaway was the Raptors’ struggle from beyond the arc, as they only managed to convert 8 of their 42 attempted 3-pointers. Looking ahead, the Raptors are set to face the 76ers on Tuesday night, while the Rockets will host the Suns on Wednesday.
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