Jalen Green posted a 32-point double-double, Fred VanVleet added 21 points and the Houston Rockets fended off a fourth-quarter charge from the visiting Atlanta Hawks to win 121-114 on Tuesday.
Green added 11 rebounds and repeatedly delivered when the Rockets needed his production. Hawks reserve Terance Mann scored eight points in a 20-4 surge that opened the final period and shaved a 25-point deficit to 98-94, but Green scored a pair of baskets to help steady the ship.
Jabari Smith Jr. (17 points) tallied two 3-pointers that stretched the lead to 108-97 with 5:01 left before the Hawks (35-37) rallied again. Dyson Daniels hit two treys that helped close the deficit to 117-114. But VanVleet nailed four free throws to secure the win. He went 8 for 8 at the line.
Tari Eason added 10 points and 14 rebounds, while Alperen Sengun tallied 18 points, nine boards and five assists for the Rockets (47-26), who have won 10 of 11.
Trae Young (19 points, 12 assists), Onyeka Okongwu (14 points, 15 rebounds) and Daniels (19 points, 10 assists, four steals) recorded double-doubles for the Hawks. Rookie Zaccharie Risacher tallied 18 points, while Mann scored 12 of his 16 points off the bench in the fourth quarter.
The Hawks erased an early deficit with a 14-0 run that featured eight points from Risacher and yielded a 16-9 lead midway through the opening period. Green got the Rockets back on track with a dunk that ended the Atlanta run. He then closed the frame with a steal and a three-point play that helped Houston take a 30-23 lead into the second.
The Rockets extended the lead to 49-29 early in the second courtesy of a 16-6 run ignited by a VanVleet 3-pointer and a three-point play from Sengun.
Steven Adams and Eason added second-chance baskets during the rally before Young caught fire and pulled the Hawks to within 56-44 with a trio of 3-pointers, a driving layup and an assist. Young added another assist and two free throws before the half ended, but the Rockets maintained a 65-48 lead at the break.
The Rockets turned nine Atlanta turnovers into 13 points and converted 11 offensive rebounds into 20 second-chance points in the first half.
–Field Level Media
