Jalen Green scores 30 in breakout game; Celtics rally past Rockets

In his first two NBA regular-season contests, cold shooting limited No. 2 overall draft pick Jalen Green to an average of 9 points per game. That was not the case for the Houston Rockets rookie on Sunday.

Green scored a career-high 30 points on 8-of-10 shooting (80%) from 3-point range in Sunday’s 107-97 loss to Boston (box score). Led by 31 points (50% FG) and 9 points from two-time All-Star Jayson Tatum, the veteran-laden Celtics eventually pulled away at Toyota Center — but Green and the rebuilding Rockets certainly made them work.

After leading for most of Sunday’s first half, Houston tied the game at 55 early in the second half. From there, led by Tatum’s brilliance, the Celtics (1-2) methodically pulled away. But Green certainly made an impression in a relatively competitive game versus a perennial playoff team.

“It seemed like tonight, he didn’t put as much pressure on himself,” head coach Stephen Silas said postgame of Green, who set a Rockets rookie record with eight made 3-pointers. “He just played.”

Other Houston standouts included Christian Wood (20 points, 9 rebounds) and Kevin Porter Jr. (15 points, 3 assists). However, they were far less efficient than Green, shooting a combined 10-of-26 from the field (38.5% FG). Porter also had 8 turnovers. Dennis Scroder, Grant Williams, and Al Horford added 18, 18, and 17 points for Boston, respectively.

The Rockets (1-2) return to action on Tuesday night in Dallas, with tipoff set for 7:30 p.m. Central from the American Airlines Center.

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2021-22 Houston Rockets roster