It's difficult to guess the outcome of this meeting between Charlotte and Houston as the Rockets maintained their lead until halftime. Carried by a very good Jalen Green at 28 points and a huge effort from Alperen Sengun (25 points and 18 rebounds), Ime Udoka's men scored up to 18 points in front of an ultra enthusiastic audience. And then, they finally fell into the trap set by the Hornets and their false rhythm, to the point of collapsing and losing 110-105 at home!
Thanks to an electric Jalen Green and a gluttonous Alperen Sengun, the Rockets had the best start. Hyperactive in defense, with a superb counter on Tre Mann, and effective in attack, Amen Thompson is the X factor of the first quarter to allow the Rockets to take control (26-21). The Hornets have already lost Brandon Miller, and above all a lot of balls. After a good passage from Seth Curry, clumsiness takes over, and the Rockets take off: 46 – 31 after two caviars from Sengun for Cam Whitmore. At the break, the gap was 11 points ahead for Houston (60-49).
A Ball-Mann duo in great shape
We think the Rockets will manage their 2nd half, but they are leaving big air holes in defense. Nick Richards takes advantage, then imitated by Moussa Diabaté. Slowly, but surely, the Hornets are chipping away at their deficit, and LaMelo Ball takes the match into his own hands. Her “drives” and her aggressiveness break the first curtain, and here Charlotte is back at -4 twelve minutes from the end (83-79). The crowd at the Toyota Center died down, and the Ball-Mann duo even allowed the Rockets to go ahead (85-83).
Good news for the show, we then witness a superb last quarter with an almost permanent back and forth, and numerous ties. Tre Mann and LaMelo Ball are levitating, and they give a five-point lead (103-98) with 100 seconds remaining. Jalen Green then pulls out all the stops with a basket with the foul, then he equalizes (103-103). The Rockets think they have done the hardest part, but it is Grant Williams who will knock them out with a 3-pointer which he had the secret with the Celtics: a little feint to catch the defender's cold, and then, with his feet in the cement, he hits. Houston is KO, and the Hornets offer their coach a first victory.
What to remember
– Where did Tidjane Salaün go? Yes, the Frenchman didn't play last night, and… he wasn't injured! Oddly enough, Charles Lee decided to do without him, and even when Brandon Miller was injured, he did not call on Salaün. Strange after his great preseason.
– Already one injured! Already deprived of Josh Green and Mark Williams, the Hornets lost Brandon Miller, injured in the left thigh, at the start of the match. He tried to come back into play, but he quickly threw in the towel.
– Sengun above the fray. To celebrate his contract extension, the Turk put out a mammoth game with 25 points, 18 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 interceptions! We will especially remember his first quarter with 11 rebounds!
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
