TEXAS – Jalen Green of the Houston Rockets got the better of Jordan Clarkson of Utah Jazz in the first encounter of the two Filipino-American players in the 2022-2023 NBA Season on Monday night (Tuesday morning in the Philippines).
Green drilled 25 points, including four triples, to go with three rebounds and three assists as the Rockets cruised to a 114-108 triumph over the Jazz at the Toyota Center in Houston.
But it was rookie forward Jabari Smith Jr. who carried the fight for the Rockets in the endgame as they scored their first win of the season after losing their first three games.
With the score tied at 108-all, Eric Gordon broke the deadlock for Houston with a short jumper before Smith sealed the win for the Rockets by connecting four free throws in the final minute of the game.
Smith finished with 21 points and nine rebounds, Kevin Porter Jr. had double-double 26 points and 10 boards as Gordon and Tari Eason contributed 13 and 10 markers for the Rockets.
Clarkson led the way for the 3-1 Jazz with 17 points. Lauri Markkanen added 14 markers. Kelly Olynyk, Jarred Vanderbilt and Simone Fontecchio had 13 each, while Malik Beasley and Collin Sexton had 12 and 10.
Meanwhile, Philadelphia 76ers finally scored its first win in four matches after a 120-105 rout of Indiana Pacers at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The 76ers went to work early behind Tobias Harris and James Harden to take a 33-23 lead. The lead grew further in the second period behind inside shots by Joel Embiid for a 64-46 halftime lead.
Philadelphia went on to dominate in the second half with conversions from Harden, Embiid, Georges Niang and De’Anthony Melton to take the fight away from the youth-laden Pacers.
Harden flirted with triple-double 29 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds, Embiid added 26 markers, while Harris, Niang and Melton contributed 18, 13 and 11 markers, respectively, for Philadelphia.
BOX SCORE:
HOUSTON 114 — Porter 26, Green 25, Smith 21, Gordon 13, Eason 10, Nix 7, Martin 3, Mathews 3, Garuba 2, Christopher 2, Marjanovic 1.
UTAH 108 — Clarkson 17, Markkanen 14, Olynyk 13, Vanderbilt 13, Fontecchio 13, Beasley 12, Sexton 10, Horton-Tucker 9, Conley 7, Gay 0, Kessler 0, Alexander-Walker 0.
Quarterscores: 21-18, 51-45, 77-73, 114-108./PN
