Victory! Rockets' Five Tigers Score 111+35, Green Scores 22 Points in a Quarter, Thompson Sets Record, League Landscape Changes On January 8, 2025, Beijing time, the Wizards with a record of 6 wins and 27 losses faced off against the Rockets with a record of 23 wins and 12 losses at home. On paper, the Wizards were not considered strong opponents for the Rockets, who had been consistently performing well against weaker teams this season, often securing big victories. Could the Rockets maintain their winning streak today? The Rockets were without Smith and Ison, starting with VanVleet, Jalen Green, Dillon, Thompson, and Shen Jing. The Wizards were missing Poole, starting with Carrington, Culibali, George, Kuzma, and Sar. In the first quarter, Kuzma made 1 of 2 free throws and scored a layup, while Shen Jing and Thompson responded with 4 points. Culibali scored 4 points, giving the Wizards a 7-4 lead. Thompson and VanVleet then took the lead by 2 points. George, Kuzma, and Kispert extended the lead to 5 points. Jalen Green and VanVleet scored, but Valan and Carrington responded, leaving the Wizards ahead by 6 points. VanVleet hit a three-pointer, but Valan scored 6 consecutive points and Kispert added another three-pointer, increasing the lead to 12 points. Thompson made an alley-oop and Whitmore hit a mid-range shot, while Butler made both free throws. At the end of the first quarter, the Wizards led 30-20. In the second quarter, Kispert made 1 of 2 free throws, maintaining an 11-point lead for the Wizards. Whitmore, Jeff Green, Shen Jing, and…

On January 8th, Beijing time, the Rockets defeated the Wizards to secure their second consecutive victory. Jalen Green went on a scoring spree in the second quarter of the game, setting a new career-high with six three-pointers in the third quarter alone. He led a scoring surge that put the game out of reach, and by the fourth quarter, Green only played for three minutes before the game entered garbage time. This marks the 15th time this season that Green has been the top scorer for the Rockets. Green started the game with only two points in the first quarter. However, after making a layup and a buzzer-beating three-pointer in the second quarter, he found his rhythm and hit two three-pointers at the beginning of the third quarter. Jalen Green completed a 30-foot super long three-pointer with 7 minutes and 29 seconds remaining in the third quarter, earning him praise from the media as a master of catch-and-shoot threes. The official Twitter account of the Rockets also praised Green's performance: "One three-pointer, two three-pointers, three three-pointers... In just 12 minutes of the third quarter, Green went 8-for-13 from the field and 6-for-10 from beyond the arc, scoring 22 points, grabbing 3 rebounds, and recording 1 steal. By the end of the third quarter, Jalen Green had already accumulated 29 points and 7 three-pointers." The media outlet Biased Rockets wrote: "In the third quarter of this game, Jalen Green was like Stephen Curry." In the third quarter, Shen Jing scored 14 points while Green added 22, bringing their totals to 22…

New Year, New Beginnings! The Rockets have made a significant change in 2025 that can be described as "closing the barn door after the horse has bolted," as Udoka has started to face reality. VanVleet, with his career-high salary, has delivered his worst performance since his rookie season, which many Rocket fans find unbearable. Udoka claims he doesn't care about social media comments, but he cannot ignore the dissatisfaction from players and management. Despite poor shooting, VanVleet still holds onto the ball, and the label of leadership given by Udoka fails to convince the young players on the team. On the other hand, Stone cannot stand idly by as a mercenary affects the growth of the "Houston Prince." In 2025, Udoka's protégé VanVleet has seen a noticeable decrease in shot attempts, with only 8, 7, and 11 shots respectively. With more ball possession, Jalen Green has scored 22, 27, and 33 points in the last three games. Jalen Green has regained confidence, showcasing his skills against the Celtics and Lakers with drives, mid-range shots, and three-pointers, improving offensive efficiency and defense while significantly reducing turnovers. Jalen Green had only one turnover against the Celtics and zero against the Lakers. Jalen Green once displayed the demeanor of a superstar last season and played well in the first five games this season. However, Udoka still insisted on the basic strategy of pick-and-roll, seeking stability. Although Jalen Green does have technical shortcomings, he is the player with the highest potential on the Rockets. Udoka, in pursuit of stability, could only let Jalen Green…

The Houston Rockets narrowly defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 119-115 in a thrilling home game. The Rockets dominated the Lakers in the first half, but the Lakers fought back in the second half. Fortunately, the Rockets managed to hold on in the final moments, securing a hard-fought victory. After the game, the Rockets experienced three joys and one concern. Green, who had been struggling, finally stepped up in the closing moments of the game. He scored crucial points to maintain the lead and finished with an impressive stat line of 33 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 block. His newfound defensive intensity was also a pleasant surprise. Adams played a pivotal role as a surprise asset, grabbing 7 offensive rebounds and drawing several fouls while battling for rebounds. His presence in the paint was crucial, and his ability to protect the rim greatly benefited the team. Without him, the Rockets would not have won. Amen's performance was also outstanding. He drew an offensive foul on James at a critical moment, stopping the Lakers' momentum. With 16 rebounds, including 6 offensive rebounds, and a shooting efficiency of 11 out of 19, he demonstrated his versatility on both ends of the court. He has solidified his position as a key player for the Rockets' future. However, Shen Jing's performance was disappointing. He struggled offensively, getting repeatedly blocked by Davis and lacking a reliable shot. Defensively, he was unable to contain the opposition's attacks and had difficulty controlling rebounds. His inability to defend effectively made him a liability on the court. It…

The Houston Rockets narrowly defeated the Los Angeles Lakers at home with a final score of 119-115. In this game, Ethan continued to sit out, while Amen Thompson returned from suspension due to an injury that will keep Smith out for at least 4-8 weeks. Thompson was immediately promoted to the starting lineup at the power forward position. The Lakers have been on a good run recently, while the Rockets have only won one game against the Mavericks in their last four home games. They have also experienced comebacks from the Timberwolves and Heat after leading them. Against the Celtics, the Rockets were completely overwhelmed. However, there is a positive sign for the Rockets as Jalen Green's shooting touch has improved. In the previous game against the Celtics, Green was the team's saving grace. Today, he exploded against the Lakers, scoring 18 points in a single quarter with an impressive 8-of-7 shooting. Under Green's leadership, the Rockets led by 14 points in the first quarter. In the second quarter, Amen Thompson continued the momentum, using his 2.03-meter height and physique to aggressively attack Reeves and even call out Hachimura for a one-on-one matchup, leaving the Lakers with no solution as the lead extended to 24 points. But then the Rockets' old problems resurfaced; they struggled to maintain their lead, and their shooting cooled down. The Lakers began to exploit the Rockets' weakness, which was Shen Jing's inability to protect the paint and switch defenses. The Lakers repeatedly attacked Shen Jing, forcing the Rockets to bring in Thompson to assist in…

The Houston Rockets defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 119-115, despite almost being overturned after leading by 24 points. However, winning is ultimately a good thing, and there is no difference between winning by 24 points or 4 points. The Rockets just need to improve on some details. Considering the absence of Smith and Ison, it was impressive that the Rockets could win against the Lakers without their two frontline players from 2022. Amen Thompson was undoubtedly the key to the Rockets' victory today, while Jalen Green was the go-to scorer, and Adams was the unexpected hero. Jalen Green's scoring was crucial for the Rockets in the final moments of the game. Adams' offensive rebounds forced the Lakers to slow down, preventing them from launching counterattacks and holding on during a tough stretch. Meanwhile, Amen Thompson was the absolute foundation for the Rockets at both ends of the court. Defensively, he locked down James and assisted Shen Jing with defense. Offensively, he aggressively attacked the basket, finishing layups, and made second-chance putbacks. You could truly say that Amen Thompson was everywhere on the court. After serving a two-game suspension, Amen returned to start and played 41 minutes, with Udoka not daring to take him off the court for even a minute. He had an impressive shooting record of 11 out of 19, scoring 23 points, grabbing 16 rebounds, dishing out 3 assists, and making 1 steal. In fact, James found it challenging to play one-on-one against Amen today, as the young player is incredibly skilled defensively. James faced the best defender…

On January 6th, Beijing time, the NBA regular season continued, with the Los Angeles Lakers visiting the Houston Rockets. In the first quarter, Jalen Green stepped up to help the Rockets seize the initiative, as the team scored an impressive 36 points in the opening period, quickly establishing a double-digit lead. In the second quarter, the Rockets extended their lead to 22 points at one point, before the Lakers' starters returned to the court and launched a counterattack. However, the Rockets still held an 18-point advantage at halftime. After the break, the game took a dramatic turn as the Lakers unleashed a 21-8 scoring spree to catch up. In the critical moments, Green and Amen worked together to stabilize the situation for the Rockets, who once again widened the gap to over 10 points. In the final quarter, the Lakers made a desperate comeback, closing the gap, but the game's suspense remained until the end. The Lakers made several crucial mistakes, allowing the Rockets to narrowly secure the victory. Ultimately, the Lakers fell short to the Rockets with a score of 115-119. The young and fearless Rockets, known for their aggressive play, were not intimidated by the Lakers led by James and Davis. They played to their strengths with full vigor! Throughout the game, the Rockets dominated the boards with a 49-39 rebounding advantage over the Lakers, including an 18-10 edge in offensive rebounds and a 52-40 lead in points in the paint. The Lakers, who went from trailing by 22 points to seeing a glimmer of hope for victory,…

In the lead-up to the new season's early renewal deadline, the Rockets have offered two young players in their squad contracts worth hundreds of millions of yuan. The contract amounts are approximately 33 million yuan per year for Green and 36 million yuan per year for Shen Jing, with Green's contract lasting for 3 years and Shen Jing's for 5. It is understandable that the Rockets' strategy was to retain these two young players, who were selected by the team. Last season, Green did show some impressive performances at certain stages, but he still lacked consistency. However, in order to successfully keep this second overall pick, the team provided him with a player option for the final year. This is probably an acceptable outcome for both parties. As the flames of the new NBA season are about to ignite, the Rockets have completed a last-minute signing: the team has successfully renewed the contracts of two promising young stars - Jalen Green and Shen Jing. Jalen Green, the second overall pick from 2021, has been regarded as a core player to be cultivated for the future since being selected by the Rockets. The Rockets have signed a three-year, $106 million early renewal contract with Green, with the third year being a player option. Unlike many high draft picks from the same year who signed five-year long-term contracts, Green's choice appears particularly wise. This not only provides him with short-term financial security but also leaves ample room for his future career development. Green demonstrated remarkable scoring ability last season, especially during the…

NBA regular season continues, the Rockets, who have suffered two consecutive defeats, have dropped to third place in the Western Conference, with teams like the Mavericks, Lakers, Clippers, Nuggets, Timberwolves, Spurs, Warriors, and Suns all in hot pursuit. Any misstep could see them exit the playoff race. Fred VanVleet has become one of the most disappointing players for the Rockets this season, earning $42.85 million but averaging only 15.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 6 assists per game, with a shooting percentage of just 37.9% and a three-point percentage of 32.7%. The Rockets management holds his team option for next summer, and it is expected that General Manager Rafael Stone will not continue to execute his final year's max contract. To ensure securing a playoff spot, GM Rafael Stone hopes to strengthen the team through the trade market, aiming to find an All-Star level player to further enhance the overall strength of the Rockets. Recently, Jake Fischer, a reporter for American media outlet "Bleacher Report," suggested that the Rockets should target 76ers' All-Star small forward Paul George as their top priority for recruitment. The 76ers have had a poor record this season, currently ranking 11th in the Eastern Conference, and even if they manage to enter the playoffs, it is unlikely they will make significant progress. George's performance this season has been subpar, and his four-year, $212 million contract has already severely limited the 76ers' salary cap space. The journalist provided a 3-for-1 trade offer to both the Rockets and the 76ers, and if negotiations go smoothly, VanVleet and Tari Eason…

The Houston Rockets achieved a significant victory over the Dallas Mavericks, with a final score of 110-99. The Rockets' performance was led by Jalen Green with 22 points and 5 rebounds, and Whitmore with 18 points and 3 rebounds. After the game, Whitmore exchanged jerseys with Lively from the Mavericks, indicating a good personal relationship or mutual admiration between the two players. During the first half, the Rockets led by 9 points with a score of 61-52. Notably, the Rockets' free-throw opportunities outnumbered the Mavericks', with 19 attempts compared to the Mavericks' 3. This advantage helped the Rockets maintain their lead despite struggling with three-point shots in the first quarter. In the second half, the Rockets continued to dominate, with multiple players contributing to the score. By the end of the third quarter, the Rockets had extended their lead to 14 points. Despite the Mavericks' efforts to rally in the fourth quarter, the Rockets remained in control, with Whitmore's efficient scoring playing a key role in securing the win. The Rockets' young players are showing signs of growth and development, suggesting that the team could be a consistent playoff contender in the coming years. However, to become a championship-contending team, they may need to see further improvement from players like Green, Whitmore, and others, or potentially acquire an established superstar through a trade.