NBA: Big third quarter sends Rockets past Wizards

Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun combined for 36 points in a runaway third quarter and the visiting Houston Rockets erased an early double-digit deficit to beat the Washington Wizards 135-112 on Tuesday.

Green scored 22 of his game-high 29 points while Sengun added 14 points, four rebounds and four assists in the Rockets' 40-point quarter to complete a remarkable turnaround, both for that tandem and the Rockets collectively.

Green drilled six 3-pointers in the period and combined with Sengun to shoot 15 of 23 in the third period, after they missed 14 of 20 shots in the first half while totaling 15 points.

Fred VanVleet added 19 points, 12 assists and four steals, and Amen Thompson chipped in 20 points, 15 rebounds, five assists and three steals for the Rockets. Sengun totaled 26 points, 10 boards and six assists. Green added eight rebounds.

Houston turned 18 Washington turnovers into 35 points and led by as many as 26.

Corey Kispert scored 23 points and made five 3-pointers, while fellow reserve Jonas Valanciunas posted 18 points for the Wizards, who lost Kyle Kuzma (10 points, six rebounds) to a right calf contusion late in the first half.

The Wizards capitalized on the Rockets' slow start and darted to a 28-16 lead when Kispert followed a Valanciunas floater with a transition 3-pointer with one minute left in the first period. Houston shot 29.2 percent in the quarter and missed seven consecutive shots, while Washington assumed its largest lead.

The Rocket quickly found their rhythm in the second, using a 10-0 run capped by a Thompson fastbreak dunk to slice the deficit to 31-30.

Kuzma stalled that rally with a 3-pointer and teamed with Kispert to help the Wizards stretch their lead to 44-38 at the 5:20 mark when Kispert completed a three-point play.

But Houston answered consecutive treys from Wizards rookie Carlton Carrington with a 7-0 spurt to close the first half, a rally capped by a Green 3-pointer just before the buzzer. Houston led 57-55 at the break. — Field Level Media/Reuters