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Rockets' 47 points in third quarter leads to 136-113 demolition of Detroit
POSTED: January 1, 2024 -- 11:25 p.m. CT
HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- The Houston Rockets demolished the Detroit Pistons 136-113 Monday night. Houston (16-15) blew open a 4 point halftime lead with a 47-point explosion in the third quarter to pulverize the Pistons. Houston's win ended a 3-game skid at home.
The 47 points in the third quarter tied for the seventh-highest scoring quarter in franchise history.
Houston made 13 of their first 17 field goal attempts in the third quarter before finishing the third 15 for 22 (68.2 fg%) from the floor.
"They took it took to heart and came out, played dominant in the third quarter," Ime Udoka, Rockets Head Coach, said after the game.
Alperen Sengun (20 points) and Jalen Green (17 points) combined to score 37 of Houston's 47 third quarter points. Sengun schooled Detroit's big men in the quarter making all six of his field goal attempts and 8 of his 9 foul shots.
"I wasn't playing like myself first half," Sengun said in the locker room after the game.
Sengun scored a game-high 26 points in only 27 minutes. Alpi has scored 20 or more points in six straight games for the first time in his career and is averaging 27.8 ppg on 60.0% shooting over that span.
Jalen Green made 5 of his 7 field goal tries in the third including 4 of 6 three-point attempts. He also made 3 of his 4 free throw attempts in the third for good measure.
"Basically, just go out and take it," Jalen said to summarize Coach Udoka's halftime message to the team.
Jalen finished the game with 22 points (6 for 12 fgs - 5 for 9 threes and 5 for 6 fts). He has scored 20+ points in each of the past three games while averaging 25.3 ppg on 51.0% shooting over that span after scoring below 20 in each of the nine games prior, which was the second-longest streak of his career.
With the win tonight, the Rockets have won four straight against the Pistons after losing four of the previous five meetings. Houston snaps a season-high tying three-game losing streak to move back over .500 for the season while Detroit loses its 15th straight on the road.
NOTES:
Houston had 34 assists, marking its second straight game recording 30+. The Rockets have recorded 30+ assists seven times this season after doing so three times in 2022-23. That is the most times Houston has recorded 30+ assists within the first 31 games of a season since doing so nine times in 1989-90.
Jalen Green and has hit 5 or more threes in 3 straight games for the second time in his career (5 games from 3/25-4/1/22).
Rockets' rookie Amen Thompson had career highs of 12 points and 6 assists along with 4 rebounds and 2 steals.
NEXT:The Rockets' next game is Wednesday, January 3, at home, against the Brooklyn Nets. Tip is set for 7 p.m. Central Time.
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