CLEVELAND — In a thrilling matchup on Saturday night, the Houston Rockets outperformed the Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers, clinching a 135-131 victory. Amen Thompson achieved his second career triple-double while Alperin Sengun and Jalen Green both contributed 26 points to the game. Thompson ended the night with a remarkable tally of 23 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists, while Fred VanVleet added 20 points and six assists to the Rockets’ efforts. This victory marked the second consecutive win over Cleveland in just four days, having narrowly beaten them 109-108 at home on Wednesday.
Darius Garland emerged as a standout performer for the Cavaliers, scoring 27 of his 39 points in a dominant second half. Unfortunately for Cleveland, this loss marked their season’s highest consecutive defeats, now sitting half a game behind Oklahoma City for the top spot in the NBA. Donovan Mitchell also demonstrated his scoring prowess, contributing 33 points, with 25 of those coming in the second half.
Cleveland faced the unusual circumstance of losing back-to-back games on their home court for the first time this season, although they still boast an impressive 21-3 record at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
In terms of player performances, the Rockets’ centers, Sengun and Steven Adams, showcased their prowess, successfully outmatching Cleveland’s big men, Jarrett Allen and Tristan Thompson. The duo combined for an impressive 40 points along with 12 rebounds throughout the game. Evan Mobley returned for the Cavaliers after a four-game absence due to a right calf strain, but his return was less impactful than anticipated. Mobley finished with just seven points, eight rebounds, and two blocked shots over 29 minutes of play.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred when Garland sank two free throws, tying the score at 126 with 1:51 left on the clock. Houston quickly responded with a critical 10-2 scoring run, grabbing a decisive 134-126 lead, largely thanks to five points from Thompson. In a tense final moments, Mitchell had a chance to even the score with a wide-open three-pointer but was unable to convert with just 27 seconds remaining.
In terms of key statistics, Mitchell kicked off the game strong, converting his first three shots and scoring Cleveland’s initial eight points before missing an astounding 10 consecutive attempts. He found the basket again only in the third quarter, wrapping up the game with a shooting performance of 11 of 27 from the field and hitting 4 of 11 from beyond the arc.
Looking ahead, both teams are set to return to the court on Monday evening. The Rockets will travel to face the Boston Celtics, while the Cavaliers will host the Detroit Pistons in their next game.
