HOUSTON, Dec. 12 (BNA): Jalen Green scored 30 points and seven rebounds, Kevin Porter Jr. added 18 points and seven assists, and the Houston Rockets beat the Milwaukee Bucks 97-92 Sunday night to extend their winning streak at home. Four games.
Houston’s coaching was overseen by assistant coach John Lucas with coach Stephen Silas away from the team following the death of father, longtime basketball player and coach Paul Silas, according to the Associated Press.
“This is for the coach,” said Lucas. “This is him.”
Green was 12 of 21 shooting, including 3 of 6 on 3-pointers.
“I work with him every day,” said Lucas. “I know how good he is. The problem is you have patience and he has patience, but he grows.”
Kenyon Martin scored 10 points and five rebounds for the Rockets. Houston shot 44% and made 6 of 27 three-pointers.
“This is a good win for us,” said Lucas. “We had a good day of training that day. We talked about accountability, we talked about being a professional and starting to grow. We’re better than the guys. We’re not great, but we’re better than the guys. We’re going to make some mistakes, but I think we did a great job.”
The Rockets made 11 of 12 free throws and went 5 of 6 in the last minute to put the game away.
“From the beginning we preached about being a defensive team and making that our identity,” said Porter. “Every game we were improving on moments and aspects of the game, but tonight it was our defensive end, spinning that low guy and just helping out. I saw a lot of that tonight, and we were consistent tonight.”
Junior Holiday scored 25 points and eight assists for Milwaukee, Bobby Portis added 17 points and 15 rebounds, and Giannis Antetokounmpo had 16 points and 18 rebounds. The Bucks have won four in a row.
Antetokounmpo scored his 15,000th point in the second quarter.
The Bucks shot 37% and made 12 of 43 three-pointers. Milwaukee committed 16 turnovers. Houston edged Milwaukee 56-36 on points.
“We didn’t shoot well enough tonight,” Bucks coach Mike Bodenholzer said. “We got a lot of 3s. We like it. We think that’s good. Overall, we think this is going to be good for us in the long run, but tonight, we couldn’t make enough 3s to pull off their urge to put in several bodies and people.” in paint.”
Green made two free throws with 34 seconds left to give Houston a two-point lead. After a Milwaukee timeout, Grayson Allen converted it to Antetokounmpo, and Antetokounmpo fouled Green, who made one of two free throws with 27 seconds left in the game.
Antetokounmpo missed a layup and Jabri Smith Jr. missed the rebound. Smith made two free throws with 19 seconds left to give Houston a 97-92 lead. Portis missed a three-pointer with 14 seconds left, and Martin got the rebound back to the ice.
“I don’t think it’s anything out of the ordinary or unusual,” Budenholzer said of the Rockets’ late defense, “everyone is focused on Giannis.” “We had a couple of chances and didn’t play, didn’t take care of the ball, didn’t take the shots. We didn’t play well enough to get the win.”
Tip-ins
Bucks: F Khris Middleton left early in the second quarter with a sprained left ankle and did not return. He was aimless in six minutes. Allen scored 11 points.
Rockets: Houston has called up Josh Christopher, Trevor Hudgens and Darius Day from the NBA G League club Rio Grande Valley. Smith caught Houston’s first free throws with 7:59 left in the third.
Remember Paul Silas
The Rockets observed a minute’s silence before the game in honor of Paul Silas.
“From the team, the coaching staff, and the entire basketball community, all of our prayers and thoughts are with the coach and his family right now,” Lucas said to begin his pregame preparation. “Paul Silas has done a lot for basketball.”
next one
Bucks: Host Golden State on Tuesday night.
Rockets: Phoenix host Tuesday night.