PHOENIX (AP) — Jalen Green sccored 30 points to jolt the Houston Rockets’ offense and even managed to slow down the scorching Devin Booker — at least a little.
The result was a stunning 122-121 victory over the Phoenix Suns that featured a 16-point comeback in the second half and a white-knuckle final possession that included four missed shots for the Suns.
“That’s what I want to be known as in this league, a two-way player who is also a scorer,” the 20-year-old Green said. “I’ve got to start somewhere. Tonight was a perfect opportunity and it worked out.”
Houston won after blowing a six-point lead in the final two minutes. Booker and Cameron Payne made back-to-back 3-pointers to tie it at 121, but the Rockets pushed ahead by a point when Green made hit free throw with 28.8 seconds remaining.
That set up a frantic final possession that included four missed shots by the Suns, including a 16-foot jumper by Booker at the buzzer.
“We were able to get good shots,” Suns coach Monty Williams said. “We just weren’t able to convert them.”
It was one of the few blemishes for Booker, who led the Suns with 41 points on 15-of-25 shooting. The three-time All-Star is in the midst of one of the best scoring stretches of his career. He had 44 points at Sacramento on Monday night and 51 against Chicago at home Wednesday night.
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