NBA: Rockets beat Cavaliers to stretch winning streak to five

Jalen Green and Fred VanVleet posted double-doubles as the host Houston Rockets extended their winning streak to five games with a 117-103 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday.

Green posted game-highs of 26 points and 11 rebounds and VanVleet added 13 points and 16 assists to guide the Rockets to their seventh victory in eight games. After a back-and-forth first quarter, the Rockets (32-35) seized control behind a balanced scoring attack in the second quarter.

All five starters scored in double figures for Houston. Jabari Smith Jr. chipped in 20 points and seven rebounds while rookie Amen Thompson added 18 points and eight rebounds. Dillon Brooks scored 12 points as the Rockets shot 48 percent overall and made 15 3-pointers.

All five starters also scored in double figures for the Cavaliers (42-25) but the squad was led by Caris LeVert and his 21 points off the bench. Georges Niang scored 14 points while Donovan Mitchell tallied 13 points and Darius Garland 12 for Cleveland. Mitchell and Garland shot a combined 9 for 26.

Green was the ignition for the Rockets in the first period, pouring in 14 points on just seven attempts in the quarter. There were eight lead changes and three ties in the opening frame — Mitchell scored eight points in the first for Cleveland. The Rockets began to pull away in the second, thanks in part to Jae’Sean Tate and his eight points by the 8:41 mark.

The Rockets extended to a 70-54 lead by the intermission. VanVleet was the lone starter not to score in double figures by the break, but he had 12 assists in the first half. Smith and Tate scored eight points in the second quarter for Houston but Thompson had 10 in the period to lead the way.

Thompson started the third quarter with a three-point play. Green scored on a driving layup and Smith added a 3-pointer as Houston went on a 9-2 run that pushed the Rockets’ lead to 79-56. After Cleveland cut a 27-point deficit to 19 early in the fourth, Smith recorded a five-point possession that lifted Houston to a 103-79 advantage.

–Field Level Media/Reuters