Game ID: 22300957
Washington Wizards @ Houston Rockets
Thursday, March 14, 2024 at 8:00 PM ET
Toyota Center, Houston, TX
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
HOU 33 42 35 25 135WAS 31 25 39 24 119
HOU vs WAS ScoutingHOU vs WAS Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
HOU availability going into 3/06 · back-to-backOUT Tate missed 3 since 2/29, returns tonight: 6 min (36% of 16)
HOU availability going into 3/08 · 1 day's restBACK Tate back 2/27 after 2, 4 min since (26% of 16)
HOU availability going into 3/10 · 1 day's restOUT Je. Green missed 2 since 3/06, returns tonight: 11 min (63% of 17)
BACK Tate back 3/06 after 3, 6 min since (36% of 16)
HOU availability going into 3/12 · 1 day's restOUT Tate missed 2 since 3/08, returns tonight: 13 min (82% of 16)
BACK Je. Green back 3/10 after 2, 11 min since (63% of 17)
HOU availability going into 3/14 · 1 day's restBACK Je. Green back 3/10 after 2, 12 min since (74% of 17)
BACK Tate back 3/06 after 3, 9 min since (59% of 16)
HOU availability going into 3/16 · 1 day's restOUT Whitmore missed 2 since 3/12, out tonight
BACK Je. Green back 3/10 after 2, 13 min since (75% of 17)
BACK Tate back 3/06 after 3, 11 min since (70% of 16)
HOU availability going into 3/19 · 2 days' restOUT Whitmore missed 3 since 3/12, out tonight
BACK Je. Green back 3/10 after 2, 16 min since (95% of 17)
BACK Tate back 3/12 after 2, 13 min since (84% of 16)
NEW Landale 14 to 20 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 3/21 · 1 day's restOUT Whitmore missed 4 since 3/12, out tonight
BACK Je. Green back 3/10 after 2, 16 min since (97% of 17)
BACK Tate back 3/12 after 2, 14 min since (86% of 16)
NEW Landale 14 to 21 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 3/23 · 1 day's restOUT Whitmore missed 5 since 3/12, out tonight
BACK Tate back 3/12 after 2, 12 min since (73% of 16)
NEW Landale 14 to 23 min over the last 5
WAS availability going into 3/06 · 1 day's restOUT Baldwin Jr. missed 4 since 2/27, out tonight
BACK Avdija back 2/29 after 3, 35 min since (116% of 30)
BACK Coulibaly back 3/04 after 3, 33 min since (122% of 27)
BACK Champagnie back 3/01 after 3, 6 min since (41% of 16)
NEW Bagley III 24 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Shamet 16 to 24 min over the last 5
WAS availability going into 3/08 · 1 day's restOUT Champagnie missed 2 since 3/04, out tonight
OUT Butler missed 2 since 3/04, out tonight
OUT Baldwin Jr. missed 5 since 2/27, out tonight
BACK Avdija back 2/29 after 3, 35 min since (117% of 30)
BACK Coulibaly back 3/04 after 3, 31 min since (113% of 27)
NEW Bagley III 24 to 29 min over the last 4
WAS availability going into 3/10 · 1 day's restOUT Bagley III missed 2 since 3/06, out tonight
OUT Champagnie missed 3 since 3/04, out tonight
OUT Butler missed 3 since 3/04, out tonight
OUT Baldwin Jr. missed 6 since 2/27, returns tonight: 11 min (85% of 13)
BACK Avdija back 2/29 after 3, 35 min since (116% of 30)
BACK Coulibaly back 3/04 after 3, 30 min since (108% of 27)
WAS availability going into 3/12 · 1 day's restOUT Bagley III missed 3 since 3/06, out tonight
OUT Champagnie missed 4 since 3/04, out tonight
OUT Butler missed 4 since 3/04, returns tonight: 10 min (72% of 14)
BACK Coulibaly back 3/04 after 3, 31 min since (115% of 27)
BACK Baldwin Jr. back 3/10 after 6, 11 min since (85% of 13)
WAS availability going into 3/14 · 1 day's restOUT Bagley III missed 4 since 3/06, out tonight
OUT Holmes missed 2 since 3/10, out tonight
OUT Champagnie missed 5 since 3/04, returns tonight: 3 min (19% of 16)
BACK Coulibaly back 3/04 after 3, 31 min since (116% of 27)
BACK Butler back 3/12 after 4, 10 min since (72% of 14)
BACK Baldwin Jr. back 3/10 after 6, 11 min since (87% of 13)
NEW Avdija 30 to 35 min over the last 5
WAS availability going into 3/16 · 1 day's restOUT Bagley III missed 5 since 3/06, out tonight
OUT Holmes missed 3 since 3/10, returns tonight: 26 min (139% of 19)
BACK Champagnie back 3/14 after 5, 3 min since (19% of 16)
BACK Butler back 3/12 after 4, 12 min since (85% of 14)
BACK Baldwin Jr. back 3/10 after 6, 11 min since (88% of 13)
NEW Avdija 30 to 36 min over the last 5
WAS availability going into 3/17 · back-to-backOUT Bagley III missed 6 since 3/06, out tonight
BACK Holmes back 3/16 after 3, 26 min since (139% of 19)
BACK Champagnie back 3/14 after 5, 14 min since (89% of 16)
BACK Butler back 3/12 after 4, 15 min since (108% of 14)
BACK Baldwin Jr. back 3/10 after 6, 13 min since (97% of 13)
NEW Avdija 30 to 36 min over the last 4
NEW Kispert 26 to 32 min over the last 5
WAS availability going into 3/19 · 1 day's restOUT Avdija missed 2 since 3/16, out tonight
OUT Jones missed 2 since 3/16, out tonight
OUT Bagley III missed 7 since 3/06, out tonight
BACK Holmes back 3/16 after 3, 23 min since (121% of 19)
BACK Champagnie back 3/14 after 5, 21 min since (136% of 16)
BACK Butler back 3/12 after 4, 17 min since (120% of 14)
BACK Baldwin Jr. back 3/10 after 6, 16 min since (126% of 13)
NEW Coulibaly 27 to 33 min over the last 4
WAS availability going into 3/21 · 1 day's restOUT Kuzma missed 2 since 3/17, returns tonight: 37 min (112% of 33)
OUT Avdija missed 3 since 3/16, returns tonight: 32 min (106% of 30)
OUT Jones missed 3 since 3/16, out tonight
OUT Bagley III missed 8 since 3/06, out tonight
BACK Holmes back 3/16 after 3, 24 min since (127% of 19)
BACK Champagnie back 3/14 after 5, 24 min since (152% of 16)
BACK Butler back 3/12 after 4, 20 min since (140% of 14)
NEW Coulibaly 27 to 32 min over the last 3
NEW Baldwin Jr. 13 to 18 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 107, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Sengun at 25 and Ja. Green at 20 a game. That is 3 straight wins. One day's rest. Washington comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 113, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 21 free throws a game; Kuzma at 26 and Poole at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Bagley III (4 straight), Holmes (2 straight), Champagnie (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been minus-2 a night and Washington minus-9 and the turnovers, Washington giving it away 13 times a game to Houston's 9. Call it Houston 117, Washington 109.
3/06 vs LAC 116-122 — HOU notes
HOU lost 116-122. HOU took 14 more shots (94 to 80), fed by 13 offensive rebounds, but shot 48% to LAC's 55%, 16 of 37 from three, and got to the line 17 times to LAC's 26. Sengun led with 23 (10 of 19, 3 of 8 at the line); Smith Jr. added 19, Whitmore 17. Q1 was theirs, 27-19, but the other 3 periods went 103-89 against them. They led by as many as 20. Smith Jr.'s -20 in 29 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/08 @ POR 123-107 — HOU notes
HOU won 123-107. HOU shot 48% (45 of 94) to POR's 42%, 14 of 37 from three. HOU turned it over 7 times to POR's 17. Green led with 27 (11 of 19, 4 of 9 from three); Sengun added 19, VanVleet 18. The hinge was Q3, 37-24: HOU came in trailing by 8 and left it ahead by 5, and the lead reached 18. HOU trailed 55-63 at the half and won the second half 68-44. Thompson was the night's best plus/minus at +24.
3/10 @ SAC 112-104 — HOU notes
HOU won 112-104. HOU shot 46% (39 of 84) to SAC's 45%, 12 of 29 from three. VanVleet led with 22 (5 of 8, 2 of 4 from three, 10 of 10 at the line); Ja. Green added 19, Sengun 14. The hinge was Q3, 32-14: HOU came in trailing by 5 and left it ahead by 13, and the lead reached 17. HOU trailed 54-59 at the half and won the second half 58-45. Smith Jr. was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
3/12 @ SAS 103-101 — HOU notes
HOU won 103-101. HOU shot 46% (37 of 80) to SAS's 48%, 10 of 32 from three, and went to the line 21 times to SAS's 14 — 19 points from the stripe to their 12. VanVleet led with 21 (7 of 16, 3 of 9 from three); Ja. Green added 16, Smith Jr. 15. The hinge was Q3, 32-25: HOU came in trailing by 3 and left it ahead by 4. HOU trailed 44-47 at the half and won the second half 59-54. Landale was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
3/14 vs WAS 135-119 — HOU notes
HOU won 135-119. HOU shot 59% (51 of 87) to WAS's 49%, 12 of 28 from three. The glass went 47-32 for them. Ja. Green led with 37 (15 of 23, 5 of 9 from three); VanVleet added 27, Thompson 20. The hinge was Q2, 42-25: a lead of 2 became 19, and the lead reached 24. Thompson was the night's best plus/minus at +24.
3/16 vs CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 111, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 23 free throws a game; Ja. Green at 23 and VanVleet at 21 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Whitmore (2 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 110, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 19 free throws a game; Garland at 24 and Allen at 20 a game. Without Strus (6 straight), Eva. Mobley (5 straight), Wade (3 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the arc, Houston at 39 percent from three to Cleveland's 35. Call it Houston 114, Cleveland 110, Cleveland keeping it close.
3/19 @ WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 122, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 19 free throws a game; Kuzma at 22 and Avdija at 19 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 15 a night. Without Avdija (2 straight), Jones (2 straight), Bagley III (7 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 107, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; Ja. Green at 25 and VanVleet at 20 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Whitmore (3 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-2 a night and Washington minus-15 and the defense, Houston allowing 107 a night to Washington's 122. Call it Houston 118, Washington 111.
3/21 vs CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 108, shooting 50 percent and 36 from three, 24 free throws a game; Ja. Green at 28 and VanVleet at 18 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Whitmore (4 straight). One day's rest. Chicago comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 117, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 24 free throws a game; DeRozan at 24 and Vučević at 19 a game. Without White (3 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the defense, Houston allowing 108 a night to Chicago's 117. Call it Houston 118, Chicago 110.
3/23 vs UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 111, shooting 51 percent and 36 from three, 23 free throws a game; Ja. Green at 29 and Thompson at 17 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Whitmore (5 straight). One day's rest. Utah comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 117, shooting 47 percent and 30 from three, 18 free throws a game; Sexton at 22 and George at 17 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Clarkson (5 straight), Lofton Jr. (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the arc, Houston at 36 percent from three to Utah's 30 and the turnovers, Utah giving it away 15 times a game to Houston's 12. Call it Houston 120, Utah 111.
3/06 vs ORL 109-119 — WAS notes
WAS lost 109-119. WAS shot 45% (40 of 88) to ORL's 54%, 12 of 38 from three. WAS turned it over 9 times to ORL's 15. Poole led with 26 (9 of 19, 4 of 12 from three); Kuzma added 25, Avdija 14. Q1 was theirs, 34-23, but the other 3 periods went 96-75 against them. They led by as many as 21. Kuzma's -24 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/08 vs CHA 112-100 — WAS notes
WAS won 112-100. WAS shot 49% (43 of 87) to CHA's 40%, 6 of 33 from three, and went to the line 23 times to CHA's 15 — 20 points from the stripe to their 11. Kuzma led with 28 (11 of 23, 0 of 7 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Avdija added 18, Poole 15. The hinge was Q4, 44-24: WAS came in trailing by 8 and left it ahead by 12, and the lead reached 15. Holmes was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
3/10 @ MIA 110-108 — WAS notes
WAS won 110-108. WAS shot 48% (39 of 81) to MIA's 45%, 16 of 39 from three. The glass went 40-51 against them. Kuzma led with 32 (9 of 23, 2 of 7 from three, 12 of 16 at the line); Kispert added 22, Avdija 16. The hinge was Q3, 33-28: the deficit went from 6 to 1. WAS trailed 48-54 at the half and won the second half 62-54. Coulibaly was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
3/12 @ MEM 97-109 — WAS notes
WAS lost 97-109. WAS shot 45% (37 of 82) to MEM's 45%, 11 of 36 from three. The glass went 28-53 against them. Kuzma led with 24 (10 of 18, 1 of 4 from three); Kispert added 22, Avdija 16. Q3 was theirs, 33-25, the deficit cut from 25 to 17, but the other 3 periods went 84-64 against them. Jones's -17 in 34 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/14 @ HOU 119-135 — WAS notes
WAS lost 119-135. WAS shot 49% (46 of 93) to HOU's 59%, 12 of 38 from three. The glass went 32-47 against them. Poole led with 25 (10 of 19, 5 of 12 from three); Avdija added 24, Kuzma 23. Q3 was theirs, 39-35, the deficit cut from 19 to 15, but the other 3 periods went 100-80 against them. Jones's -19 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/16 @ CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Chicago comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 123, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 22 free throws a game; DeRozan at 27 and Vučević at 20 a game. One day's rest. Washington comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 114, shooting 48 percent and 31 from three, 20 free throws a game; Kuzma at 26 and Avdija at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 10 a night. Without Bagley III (5 straight), Holmes (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Chicago wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Chicago has been minus-4 a night and Washington minus-10 and the defense, Washington allowing 114 a night to Chicago's 123. Call it Chicago 117, Washington 114, Washington keeping it close.
3/17 vs BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 116, shooting 47 percent and 33 from three, 20 free throws a game; Kuzma at 24 and Avdija at 18 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 13 a night. Without Bagley III (6 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 108, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 16 free throws a game; Brown at 33 and Tatum at 27 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Porziņģis (4 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-0 a night and Washington minus-13 and the arc, Boston at 40 percent from three to Washington's 33. Call it Boston 120, Washington 110, Boston by 10.
3/19 vs HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 122, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 19 free throws a game; Kuzma at 22 and Avdija at 19 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 15 a night. Without Avdija (2 straight), Jones (2 straight), Bagley III (7 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 107, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; Ja. Green at 25 and VanVleet at 20 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Whitmore (3 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-2 a night and Washington minus-15 and the defense, Houston allowing 107 a night to Washington's 122. Call it Houston 118, Washington 111.
3/21 vs SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 128, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 18 free throws a game; Kuzma at 19 and Poole at 18 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 13 a night. Without Kuzma (2 straight), Avdija (3 straight), Jones (3 straight). One day's rest. Sacramento comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 100, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Fox at 23 and Sabonis at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Lyles (4 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Sacramento wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-7 a night and Washington minus-13 and the defense, Sacramento allowing 100 a night to Washington's 128. Call it Sacramento 120, Washington 111.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
HOUAH A. Holiday
AT A. Thompson
DB D. Brooks
FV F. VanVleet
JG J. Green
JL J. Landale
JS J. Smith Jr.
JT J. Tate
JG Ja. Green
JG Je. Green
NW N. Williams
RB R. Bullock Jr.
WASBC B. Coulibaly
CK C. Kispert
DA D. Avdija
EO E. Omoruyi
JB J. Bernard
JB J. Butler
JC J. Champagnie
JD J. Davis
JP J. Poole
KK K. Kuzma
PB P. Baldwin Jr.
TJ T. Jones
HOU/WAS 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
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
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
Green scores season-high 37 points as Rockets get 135-119 win over Wizards
HOUSTON -- — Jalen Green scored a season-high 37 points as the Houston Rockets built a big lead early and cruised to a 135-119 win over the Washington Wizards on Thursday night.
Fred VanVleet added 27 points for the Rockets, who won their fourth straight game.
All of Houston’s starters scored in double figures in the second game since Alperen Sengun injured his knee and ankle Sunday. The Rockets outrebounded Washington 46-32 despite being without the star big man.
“We’ve been playing really good,” Green said. “Defense has been our main priority because we’re very talented offensively. When we get out in transition and run it's very hard to guard us. So it all starts with defense and that's been really good.”
Jordan Poole scored 25 points off the bench for the Wizards, who dropped their second game in a row after winning their previous two. Deni Avdija added 24 points and Kyle Kuzma had 23 for Washington.
“I thought we started well (but) it got away from us a little bit in the second quarter, ” Washington interim coach Brian Keefe said. “We never really got our defense in the game. The ball was getting in the paint way too easily.”
The Rockets led by as many as 24 points and were up by 15 points to open the fourth quarter.
Green talked about how they're adjusting to playing without Sengun, who is out indefinitely with his injuries.
“When it's just the small unit in, we play a lot faster and get out and run,” he said.
A 6-0 run by the Wizards, with four points from Avdija, cut Houston’s lead to 112-101 early in the fourth. But the Rockets recovered and pushed their advantage to 121-105 midway through the quarter, powered by two 3-pointers from Green.
Washington trailed by 13 later in the fourth before Houston scored the next eight points, with four from rookie Amen Thompson , to make it 133-112 with about two minutes left.
The Rockets were up by 22 with about four minutes left in the third quarter before Washington cut the lead to 110-95 entering the fourth. Poole made three 3-pointers in that stretch for the Wizards.