The Houston Rockets have achieved a four-game winning streak, with new stars exploding collectively, and Jalen Green and Amon Thompson setting records together. Last season, the Rockets ranked 11th in the Western Conference and were unable to participate in the playoffs. However, this season, they have consistently remained at the forefront of the Western Conference. After defeating the third-ranked Memphis Grizzlies again, the Rockets have solidified their position as second in the West, only behind the Oklahoma City Thunder, leading other teams by a wide margin. The Rockets' recent four-game winning streak was achieved even with the absence of Jabari Smith and Tari Eason due to injuries.
The absence of two defensive stalwarts, Smith and Eason, undoubtedly had an impact on the Rockets. Fortunately, Udoka arranged for Amon Thompson to enter the starting lineup, where he performed exceptionally well. Whitmore, playing off the bench, also continued to steadily explode, helping the Rockets win games. In the game against the Grizzlies, Jalen Green went wild, shooting 13-of-18 from the field, including 5-of-6 from three-point range, scoring 42 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal. Jalen Green's recent performance has been remarkable and widely recognized throughout the league. Such a Green represents the ceiling of the Rockets, making championship aspirations a possibility.
Amon Thompson scored efficiently with 19 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 5 blocks, with both rebounding and blocking stats being the highest in the game. Grizzlies center Zach Edey had only 7 rebounds (height 2.26 meters), while power forward Jaren Jackson had only 2 rebounds (height 2.12 meters). Amon Thompson, a guard standing at 2.01 meters, dominated the boards against the Grizzlies' twin towers. ESPN experts commented after the game that Amon Thompson's offensive scoring was efficient, his rebounding ability was exceptional, and his defensive blocking ability was even stronger. The entire Grizzlies team had only 2 blocks, while Amon Thompson contributed 5 blocks himself.
The young trio of Jalen Green, Amon Thompson, and Sengun led the Rockets to victory over the Grizzlies, combining for 88 points, 24 rebounds, and 14 assists. The Rockets currently have a record of 26 wins and 12 losses, further consolidating their second-place position in the West. Last season, the Rockets had a record of 19 wins and 19 losses at the same stage, showing significant improvement this season. According to official reports from the Rockets' journalists, Jalen Green scored 42 points with a shooting percentage of 72.2%, setting a career-high for 40+ point games in terms of shooting percentage. Throughout his career, Jalen Green has maintained a shooting percentage above 50% in all his 40+ point games.
Jalen Green has already recorded 44 games with at least 30 points, ranking first among the NBA's 2021 rookie class. Since January, Jalen Green has averaged 30 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.2 steals per game, with a shooting percentage of 51.2% and a three-point percentage of 45.6%. Against the Grizzlies this season, Jalen Green has averaged 30.7 points, with a shooting percentage of 53.7% and a three-point percentage of 59.1%. This is the ninth time in his career that Jalen Green has scored 40+ points, which is also the most among the 2021 rookie class.
Amon Thompson matched his personal best with 5 blocks in a single game. He has now recorded 5 blocks in a game three times in his career, demonstrating significant defensive dominance. This season, when Amon Thompson started, the team had a record of 8 wins and 1 loss. In his last 4 games, Amon Thompson has averaged 18 points, 12.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.8 steals, and 1.5 blocks, with a shooting percentage of 56.3%. Whitmore has contributed an average of 13.2 points since January, with a three-point percentage as high as 44.1%.
The young players of the Rockets have been performing exceptionally well recently, with remarkable stability and efficiency. It is hoped that they will continue to strive for excellence and reach new heights.