Dillon Brooks led the way with 19 points, Jalen Green added 18, and the Houston Rockets ended their six-game losing streak with a 94-87 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday night.
Toronto held a four-point lead early in the fourth quarter before Houston responded with a 14-2 run, surging ahead 77-69 with about seven minutes remaining.
The Raptors attempted to stay within striking distance, but Green buried two clutch three-pointers as part of a 9-3 run, extending Houston’s advantage to 86-76 and sealing the win.
The Rockets played without Fred VanVleet, who missed his fifth straight game with an ankle injury, and Steven Adams, who sat out on the second night of a back-to-back. All-Star center Alperen Sengun exited in the first quarter due to back spasms, forcing Houston to rely on its depth.
Jeff Green and Jock Landale stepped up in Sengun’s absence, with Green scoring a season-high 14 points and Landale contributing 11 points and a season-best 10 rebounds.
Immanuel Quickley led Toronto with 20 points, but the Raptors suffered their fourth straight loss.
Takeaways
Raptors: Toronto was forced to play without rookie Gradey Dick in the second half after he left the game with a neck bruise following a collision with Amen Thompson late in the second quarter. Dick, averaging 15.6 points per game, was held scoreless before exiting.
Rockets: While Houston escaped with a much-needed win, the team continues to miss VanVleet’s presence as a floor general. His return will be crucial in helping stabilize their struggling offense.
Key Moment
Trailing by four early in the fourth quarter, the Rockets gained momentum after a foul on Jeff Green by Toronto’s Jamison Battle was reviewed and upgraded to a flagrant 1. Green sank both free throws, igniting Houston’s game-changing run that put them ahead for good.
Key Stat
Toronto struggled mightily from beyond the arc, making just 8-of-42 three-point attempts.
Up Next
The Raptors will visit the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday night, while the Rockets return home to host the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday.
