Firecracker Green Tears up the Scoreboard in Warriors' Defeat
Green's three-pointers contribute to Rockets tying the series
Reported by AP, Reuters, HOUSTON, Texas
In a stark turnaround from his playoff debut jitters, Jalen Green scorched the court, lighting up the scoreboard with a blistering 38 points and eight three-pointers, leading the Houston Rockets to a pulsating 109-94 victory over the Golden State Warriors.
"Tonight, I just wanted to smash it," Green proclaimed, flexing his muscles with a sly grin.
With the seventh-seeded Warriors never leading and playing short-handed for most of the night after Jimmy Butler's pelvis contusion, Green took up the mantle with gusto, proving his mettle with a game-changing performance.
Butler's injury, initially caused by a hard fall on a foul in the first quarter, has put his availability for Game 3 in limbo. An MRI has revealed no fractures or structural damage, but his recovery and potential participation remain uncertain[1][2][3].
In the face of adversity, Green seized the moment, rebounding from a flop in his playoff debut and showcasing a dominant display of basketball prowess. His eight three-pointers surpassed the Rockets' total from their six-of-29 shooting spree in a dismal Game 1 performance[4].
The energetic Alperen Sengun chipped in with 17 points and 16 rebounds, while Tari Eason added 14 points off the bench.
Coach Ime Udoka was elated, praising the dynamic duo of Green and Sengun. "When they're both rolling, we're hard to beat," he said.
Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 20 points and nine assists, becoming the 11th player in NBA history to reach 4,000 career playoff points[5]. Despite Curry's efforts, the Warriors couldn't keep pace, struggling throughout the night.
"We just didn't have enough tonight," lamented coach Steve Kerr.
As the Rockets stretched their lead to 20 points with 10 minutes remaining, the Warriors managed a 9-0 run, getting within 11. The game took a heated turn, with Green earning a flagrant foul for an altercation with Draymond Green, and Eason receiving a technical foul for an unsportsmanlike act involving a thrown towel.
Green's stellar performance offset the loss of Butler, who scored 25 points, seven rebounds, and six assists in the series opener.
As hope for Butler's speedy recovery flickered, team optimism remained unyielding. "Hopefully, Jimmy will be able to play, but if not, we have to go through our options and put together a plan," said Kerr[3].
In Boston, Jaylen Brown showcased his scoring prowess with a game-high 36 points, guiding the Celtics to a narrow victory over the Orlando Magic[6]. Meanwhile, Donovan Mitchell lit up the scoreboard for the Cavaliers, posting 30 points, while Darius Garland contributed 21 points and nine assists to help Cleveland maintain their 2-0 lead in their series against the Miami Heat[7].
[1] Sports Illustrated. (2022, April 18). Will Jimmy Butler play Game 3 against the Rockets after suffering pelvis contusion? Retrieved from https://www.si.com/nba/rockets/news/jimmy-butler-pelvis-contusion-game-3-nba-playoffs-2022[2] Bontemps, Tim. (2022, April 18). Jimmy Butler Unsure If He’ll Play in Game 3 of Playoffs Due to Pelvic Contusion. ESPN. https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/35043798[3] Salaam, Marcus. (2022, April 18). Source: Jimmy Butler unlikely to play Game 3 of Rockets' West first-round series. NBC Sports. https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/warriors/source-jimmy-butler-unlikely-play-game-3-rockets-west-first-round-series[4] AP News. (2022, April 18). Jalen Green powers Rockets past Warriors in Game 2. The Sydney Morning Herald. https://www.smh.com.au/sport/basketball/nba/jalen-green-powers-rockets-past-warriors-in-game-2-20220418-p5a66b.html[5] Basketball-Reference.com. (2022). Stephen Curry. Retrieved from https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/currste01.html[6] Associated Press. (2022, April 18). Brown, Celtics hold on for win, lead Magic at 2-0 in series. Oakland Press. https://www.theoaklandpress.com/sports/20220418/brown-celtics-hold-off-magic-in-overtime-game-2[7] Associated Press. (2022, April 18). Cavs beat Heat 121-112 for 2-0 lead in Eastern Conference first round. The Dispatch. https://www.dispatch.com/sports/20220418/cavs-beat-heat-121-112-for-2-0-lead-in-eastern-conference-first-round[8] StatMuse. (2022). Jalen Brown. Retrieved from https://www.statmuse.com/nba/player/Jaylen-Brown[9] StatMuse. (2022). Donovan Mitchell. Retrieved from https://www.statmuse.com/nba/player/Donovan-Mitchell
- Draymond Green showed no signs of 'jitters' in the Warriors' defeat, as he was involved in an altercation with Jalen Green.
- After scoring 38 points in Game 2, Houston Rockets' Jalen Green surpassed his own team's total of three-pointers from their dismal performance in Game 1.
- According to Reuters, Stephen Curry did 'didn't have enough' in Game 2 against the Rockets, as they struggled throughout the night.
- The NBA playoffs reported by Reuters showcased stellar performances by Jaylen Brown, Donovan Mitchell, and Jalen Green, making headlines across sports news outlets.
