The Houston Rockets bounced back from a disappointing playoff opener with a convincing 109-94 win over the Golden State Warriors, evening the series at 1-1. Jalen Green led the charge, scoring 38 points, grabbing 4 rebounds, and dishing out 6 assists. His performance was a stark contrast to his 7-point effort in Game 1, where he struggled with just 3-of-15 shooting from the field.
Green’s confidence was clearly shaken after the first game. “The lights were brighter, and the court looked huge,” he said. “My legs were shaking a bit.” But he bounced back strong in Game 2. “This time, I think I did a good job responding. I tried to be aggressive and be myself.”
Historic Night for Jalen Green
Green’s 38 points included eight three-pointers, more than double the total made by the entire Rockets team in Game 1. At 23 years and 74 days, he became the youngest player in Rockets history to score at least 35 points in a playoff game, breaking Hakeem Olajuwon’s record by 21 days.
Alperen Sengun also had a standout performance, contributing 17 points and 16 rebounds. The Rockets dominated from the start, taking a 28-18 lead in the first quarter and extending it to 60-46 at halftime. They maintained their momentum in the second half, outscoring the Warriors 27-25 in the third quarter to take a 87-71 lead.
Stephen Curry Shines Despite Loss
For the Warriors, Stephen Curry was a bright spot, scoring 20 points, dishing out 9 assists, and grabbing 5 rebounds. He became the 11th player in NBA history to reach 4,000 playoff points, finishing the night with 4,017. However, Jimmy Butler’s injury overshadowed Curry’s achievement. Butler suffered a pelvic bruise after a nasty fall in the first quarter and didn’t return to the game.
The Warriors announced that Butler would undergo an MRI on Thursday to assess the extent of the injury. Coach Steve Kerr remained hopeful that Butler could play in Game 3. “I hope he’s okay. Jimmy always says he’s fine, but we have to wait,” Kerr said, downplaying the incident as an accident.
- Jalen Green’s stats: 38 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 8 three-pointers
- Alperen Sengun’s stats: 17 points, 16 rebounds
- Stephen Curry’s stats: 20 points, 9 assists, 5 rebounds
- Jimmy Butler’s injury: pelvic bruise, out for Game 2
IT WAS THE JALEN GREEN SHOW IN HOUSTON TONIGHT!!!
38 PTS
8 3PM
6 AST
4 REB
3 STLThe Rockets even the series 1-1 pic.twitter.com/wAQerA4sKw
— NBA (@NBA) April 24, 2025