Jalen Green hit eight three-pointers and scored 38 points to lead the Houston Rockets to a 109-94 victory against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night, tying the first-round Western Conference series at one game each.
The seventh-seeded Warriors never led and were short-handed for much of the game as Jimmy Butler exited with a pelvic contusion following a hard fall on a foul late in the first quarter.
Green, the No. 2 selection in the 2021 lottery, returned from a disappointing playoff debut in which he scored just seven points on shooting with a strong Game 2.
His eight three-pointers were two more than the Rockets, who hit six of 29 in a 95-85 loss in Game 1.
Stephen Curry recorded 20 points and nine assists for the Warriors, becoming the 11th player in NBA history to surpass 4,000 career postseason points (4,017).
Houston led by 20 with approximately 10 minutes left before the Warriors rallied for a 9-0 run, highlighted by two three-pointers by Quinten Post, to pull within 11. Jalen Green was penalized for a flagrant foul on Draymond Green at the finish of the run after flailing his arm into his face.
The Rockets then utilized an 8-0 run, highlighted by a step-back three by Green, to increase their advantage to 99-80. Draymond Green earned a technical penalty during that span for disagreeing with officials, while Eason received one for tossing a towel in a “unsportsmanlike manner.”
