Houston Rockets @ Charlotte Hornets
Friday, January 26, 2024 at 7:00 PM ET
Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC | Game ID: 22300635
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
CHA 28 25 25 26 104HOU 30 25 44 39 138
ESPN UpdateESPN Update
Jalen Green scores 36 points to help Rockets rout Hornets 138-104
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- — Jalen Green scored 36 points, rookie Cam Whitmore had a career-high 24 points and 11 rebounds and the Houston Rockets routed the Charlotte Hornets 138-104 on Friday night.
Fred VanVleet had 14 points and Amen Thompson added 13 off the bench for the Rockets. They shot 30 of 40 from the field in the second half and outscored the Hornets 83-51.
Miles Bridges had 21 points for the Hornets. They fell to 5-15 at home.
The Rockets led by two at halftime, then blew it open in the third quarter outscoring the Hornets 44-25 with two of Charlotte’s best scorers in LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller spending the majority of the time on the bench because of foul trouble.
The Rockets put the game away with four straight 3s on their first four possessions to open the fourth quarter — the first three by Whitmore — pushing the lead to 31.
“I mean, it shows that our identity is when we guard at that level, we are in good shape, and so anytime we can get stops and not have to play in the half court every time at a slower pace, it benefits a lot of guys," Rockets coach Ime Udoka said. “We are going to get back to the identity of guarding instead of just getting in track meets up and down with teams like we have lately.”
Whitmore, the No. 20 overall pick in the 2023 draft, started cold from the floor, then began to drive to the basket and make plays. That gave him some confidence, and the onslaught of 3-pointers soon followed.
“I got it going and my teammates and coaches just said keep letting it fly, and if you're open shoot it,” Whitmore said. “So they had the confidence in me.”
The Rockets were 5 of 22 from beyond the arc for the first three quarters, then made 7 of 8 3s to start the fourth quarter.
Hornets coach Steve Clifford said his team had the “wrong attitude” in the third quarter and he didn't like the body language.
“It was the refs' fault, it was my teammate's fault,” Clifford said. “We've got to have the right attitude.”
Houston had lost five of its previous six games, but the Rockets were able to rest their starters for the majority of the fourth quarter after building a 37-point lead which could help them in tomorrow night's game at Brooklyn.
“We needed this one bad,” Whitmore said. “Coach has preached just be tough and take that anger into the next game and that's what we did. So we have to keep this momentum going.”
Green, who came in averaging 17.4 points per game, scored 17 points in the decisive third quarter and finished the game with 12 of 20 from the field and 11 of 12 from the foul line, seemingly scoring at will on strong drivers and jumpers against the lifeless Hornets. He also had nine rebounds and four assists.
The Rockets won despite playing without Jabari Smith , who sat out with an ankle injury.
The Hornets are struggling to find their way after trading away leading scorer Terry Rozier to the Miami Heat .
They received Kyle Lowry in return, but general manager Mitch Kupchak said after the trade the team has no plans to bring him to Charlotte before the trade deadline as he looks to get something in return for the veteran point guard. It's likely the Hornets will reach a buyout with Lowry if they can't trade him.
“We don't have much margin for error,” Clifford said of his team, which continues to play without injured starters Gordon Hayward and Mark Williams .
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BaBrMaMiRi 6 16 -1 7 16 44 2 6 33 0 1 0 2 5 7 4 0 0 0 3
CHA Ball, Bridges, Martin, Miller, Richards
in Ball, Bridges, Martin, Miller, Richards
out ---
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BrMiRiSmWa 1 2 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 2 1 1
CHA Bridges, Miller, Richards, Smith, Washington
in Smith, Washington
out Ball, Martin
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BrMiNtSmWa :58 2 -1 1 2 50 0 1 0 2 2 100 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
CHA Bridges, Miller, Ntilikina, Smith, Washington
in Ntilikina
out Richards
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BaBrNtSmWa 3 8 +2 3 5 60 2 3 67 0 0 0 0 3 3 2 0 0 0 2
CHA Ball, Bridges, Ntilikina, Smith, Washington
in Ball
out Miller
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BlBrNtSmWa 1 0 -2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 2 1
CHA Black, Bridges, Ntilikina, Smith, Washington
in Black
out Ball
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BlRiSmJrWa 4 8 +2 3 4 75 0 0 0 2 4 50 0 4 4 1 0 1 1 1
CHA Black, Richards, Smith, Smith Jr., Washington
in Richards, Smith Jr.
out Bridges, Ntilikina
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BlBrSmJrWa 1 0 -4 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
CHA Black, Bridges, Smith, Smith Jr., Washington
in Bridges
out Richards
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BrMaRiJrWa 1 8 +6 2 3 67 1 1 100 1 1 100 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0
CHA Bridges, Martin, Richards, Smith Jr., Washington
in Martin, Richards
out Black, Smith
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BlBrMaRiWa 3 5 +2 1 5 20 0 0 0 5 6 83 2 3 5 0 0 1 0 2
CHA Black, Bridges, Martin, Richards, Washington
in Black
out Smith Jr.
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BrMaRiJrWa 2 2 -5 1 4 25 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 0 0 1 1 2
CHA Bridges, Martin, Richards, Smith Jr., Washington
in Smith Jr.
out Black
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BaBrMaMiRi 3 9 -6 4 7 57 1 3 33 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2
CHA Ball, Bridges, Martin, Miller, Richards
in Ball, Miller
out Smith Jr., Washington
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BrMaMiRiSm 1 0 -2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 2
CHA Bridges, Martin, Miller, Richards, Smith
in Smith
out Ball
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BlBrMaRiSm 2 2 -7 1 2 50 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 0
CHA Black, Bridges, Martin, Richards, Smith
in Black
out Miller
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BaBlBrRiWa 1 5 +1 1 1 100 1 1 100 2 2 100 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
CHA Ball, Black, Bridges, Richards, Washington
in Ball, Washington
out Martin, Smith
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BaBrNtSmWa 2 3 -6 1 2 50 0 1 0 3 5 60 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 1
CHA Ball, Bridges, Ntilikina, Smith, Washington
in Ntilikina, Smith
out Black, Richards
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BaBrMiNtWa 2 4 +1 0 3 0 0 3 0 2 2 100 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 2
CHA Ball, Bridges, Miller, Ntilikina, Washington
in Miller
out Smith
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BaMiRiJrWa 2 2 -10 2 6 33 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0
CHA Ball, Miller, Richards, Smith Jr., Washington
in Richards, Smith Jr.
out Bridges, Ntilikina
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BaBrMiJrWa 3 9 -6 3 5 60 1 1 100 2 2 100 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 1
CHA Ball, Bridges, Miller, Smith Jr., Washington
in Bridges
out Richards
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BoMcMeSmTh 4 4 -3 2 9 22 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0
CHA Bouknight, McGowens, Mensah, Smith, Thor
in Bouknight, McGowens, Mensah, Smith, Thor
out Ball, Bridges, Miller, Smith Jr., Washington
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BoMcMeJrTh 3 11 +6 3 5 60 1 3 33 4 4 100 0 2 2 2 2 0 1 3
CHA Bouknight, McGowens, Mensah, Smith Jr., Thor
in Smith Jr.
out Smith
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BrGrGrSeVa 6 17 +1 4 9 44 1 3 33 5 5 100 0 6 6 2 0 2 1 1
HOU Brooks, Ja. Green, Je. Green, Sengun, VanVleet
in Brooks, Ja. Green, Je. Green, Sengun, VanVleet
out ---
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BrGrGrSeTh 1 2 0 2 4 50 0 0 0 1 1 100 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 0
HOU Brooks, Ja. Green, Je. Green, Sengun, Thompson
in Thompson
out VanVleet
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BrGrSeTaTh :58 3 +1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1
HOU Brooks, Ja. Green, Sengun, Tate, Thompson
in Tate
out Je. Green
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
GrSeTaThWh 1 4 -1 2 3 67 1 2 50 1 1 100 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
HOU Ja. Green, Sengun, Tate, Thompson, Whitmore
in Whitmore
out Brooks
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
SeTaThVaWh 1 2 -1 1 1 100 0 0 0 1 2 50 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0
HOU Sengun, Tate, Thompson, VanVleet, Whitmore
in VanVleet
out Ja. Green
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
LaTaThVaWh 1 2 +2 0 4 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 1 1 2 0 0 1 0 0
HOU Landale, Tate, Thompson, VanVleet, Whitmore
in Landale
out Sengun
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
HoLaThVaWh 4 6 -2 3 9 33 0 3 0 2 2 100 1 3 4 2 1 0 0 3
HOU Holiday, Landale, Thompson, VanVleet, Whitmore
in Holiday
out Tate
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BrHoLaThWh 1 4 +4 2 3 67 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 3 2 0 0 0 0
HOU Brooks, Holiday, Landale, Thompson, Whitmore
in Brooks
out VanVleet
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BrHoGrLaVa 1 2 -6 1 2 50 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 1
HOU Brooks, Holiday, Ja. Green, Landale, VanVleet
in Ja. Green, VanVleet
out Thompson, Whitmore
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BrGrGrSeVa 3 3 -4 1 5 20 0 3 0 1 1 100 0 2 2 1 0 1 0 3
HOU Brooks, Ja. Green, Je. Green, Sengun, VanVleet
in Je. Green, Sengun
out Holiday, Landale
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BrGrSeVaWh 3 7 +5 3 7 43 0 2 0 1 1 100 2 2 4 1 0 0 0 1
HOU Brooks, Ja. Green, Sengun, VanVleet, Whitmore
in Whitmore
out Je. Green
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BrGrGrSeVa 6 26 +15 9 9 100 2 2 100 4 6 67 0 4 4 6 2 2 1 1
HOU Brooks, Ja. Green, Je. Green, Sengun, VanVleet
in Je. Green
out Whitmore
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BrGrSeTaTh 1 8 +5 1 1 100 0 0 0 4 4 100 0 1 1 1 2 0 0 2
HOU Brooks, Ja. Green, Sengun, Tate, Thompson
in Tate, Thompson
out Je. Green, VanVleet
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
GrSeTaThWh :48 2 +2 1 2 50 0 0 0 2 2 100 1 1 2 1 0 0 0 1
HOU Ja. Green, Sengun, Tate, Thompson, Whitmore
in Whitmore
out Brooks
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
GrLaTaThWh 3 8 +1 3 7 43 0 1 0 2 2 100 2 3 5 2 1 0 2 4
HOU Ja. Green, Landale, Tate, Thompson, Whitmore
in Landale
out Sengun
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
HoLaThVaWh 4 22 +13 8 8 100 6 6 100 0 0 0 0 6 6 7 0 2 0 1
HOU Holiday, Landale, Thompson, VanVleet, Whitmore
in Holiday, VanVleet
out Ja. Green, Tate
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
JrHoTaThWh :54 5 +3 2 3 67 1 2 50 0 0 0 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 1
HOU Bullock Jr., Holiday, Tate, Thompson, Whitmore
in Bullock Jr., Tate
out Landale, VanVleet
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
JrHiHoMaTh :46 2 +2 1 1 100 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 0
HOU Bullock Jr., Hinton, Holiday, Marjanović, Thompson
in Hinton, Marjanović
out Tate, Whitmore
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
JrHiHoMaJr 6 10 -5 4 8 50 1 3 33 1 2 50 1 5 6 3 1 1 6 2
HOU Bullock Jr., Hinton, Holiday, Marjanović, Samuels Jr.
in Samuels Jr.
out Thompson
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
CHABM B. McGowens
BM B. Miller
CM C. Martin
FN F. Ntilikina
IS I. Smith
JB J. Bouknight
JT J. Thor
LB L. Ball
LB L. Black
MB M. Bridges
NM N. Mensah
NR N. Richards
NS N. Smith Jr.
PW P. Washington
HOUAH A. Holiday
AS A. Sengun
AT A. Thompson
BM B. Marjanović
CW C. Whitmore
DB D. Brooks
FV F. VanVleet
JG J. Green
JL J. Landale
JS J. Samuels Jr.
JT J. Tate
JG Ja. Green
NH N. Hinton
RB R. Bullock Jr.
CHA/HOU the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur