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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Jabari Smith Jr. showcased his talent with a double-double of 21 points and 11 rebounds, while Fred VanVleet contributed 20 points, leading the Houston Rockets to a 114-101 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Monday night. This triumph marks the Rockets’ third consecutive win.
The Rockets displayed impressive depth, with Amen Thompson adding 19 points and matching Smith with 11 rebounds, and Cam Whitmore coming off the bench to score 17 points. Houston built a substantial lead, at one point leading by as many as 34 points in the second half, fueled by the strong performance of their emerging young players.
For the Hornets, Miles Bridges led the scoring with 24 points, and LaMelo Ball also contributed significantly with 23 points. Unfortunately for Charlotte, this loss extends their struggles, marking their 13th defeat in 14 games this season.
The first quarter saw Houston put the clamps on Charlotte’s offense, limiting them to just 15 points and holding the Hornets to a dismal 1-for-11 shooting from three-point range. By halftime, the Rockets had bolstered their lead to 62-31, highlighted by VanVleet sinking a three-pointer just before the halftime buzzer. The home crowd expressed their discontent as the Hornets exited the court, met with boos.
Key takeaways from the game include the Rockets’ dominance on the boards. In the first half, Houston out-rebounded Charlotte 25-14. At one moment in the game, the Rockets showcased their tenacity by attempting three three-point shots on a single possession after securing two offensive rebounds. Notably, Aaron Holliday was ejected early in the game after just three minutes due to an altercation with the officials.
On the other hand, the Hornets struggled immensely from long range, shooting only 2-for-20 from three-point territory in the first half. While Houston’s defense played a part in this shooting slump, a majority of the misses can be attributed to Charlotte failing to convert on open looks.
A highlight moment came from Thompson early in the fourth quarter when he made an impressive play that energized the Rockets, driving the length of the court, sidestepping Bridges in the lane, and finishing with a powerful two-handed dunk.
In terms of statistics, the Rockets clearly dominated the rebounding battle, finishing with a 59-44 advantage over the Hornets.
Looking ahead, both teams will be on the road on Thursday night, with Houston set to face the New Orleans Pelicans and Charlotte traveling to play against the Washington Wizards.
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