NBA: Rockets beat East-leading Cavaliers for second time in week

Houston Rockets forward Amen Thompson (1) goes to the basket defended by Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen, right, in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

CLEVELAND — Amen Thompson had his second career triple-double, Alperin Sengun and Jeff Green scored 26 points apiece and the Houston Rockets beat the Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers 135-131 on Saturday night.

Thompson finished with 23 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists, and Fred VanVleet had 20 points and six assists for Houston. The Rockets beat Cleveland for the second time in four days, winning 109-108 at home Wednesday.

Darius Garland scored 27 of his 39 points in the second half for the Cavaliers. They have lost a season-high three in a row and dropped a half-game behind Oklahoma City for the NBA lead. Donovan Mitchell had 25 of his 33 points in the second half.

READ: NBA: Rockets make clutch plays, hold off Cavaliers

ROCKETS STAY RED-HOT 🔥

Sengun: 26p, 8r
Green: 26p, 5 threes
Thompson: 23p, 14r, 10a
VanVleet: 20p, 6a, 6 threes

Winners of 8 of the last 10 and sitting 2nd in the West 📈🚀 pic.twitter.com/OrjhdVrpDd

— NBA (@NBA) January 26, 2025

Cleveland also lost consecutive home games for the first time, but is a league-best 21-3 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

Takeaways

Rockets: Centers Sengun and Steven Adams dominated counterparts Jarrett Allen and Tristan Thompson, combining for 40 points and 12 rebounds.

Cavaliers: Power forward Evan Mobley returned after missing four games with a right calf strain, but was ineffective throughout. He had seven points, eight rebounds and two blocked shots in 29 minutes.

READ: NBA: Cade Cunningham leads Pistons past Rockets

Key moment

After Garland made two free throws to even the score with 1:51 remaining, Houston answered with a 10-2 run to seize a 134-126 lead, fueled by five points from Thompson. Mitchell missed a wide-open, potential tying 3-pointer with 27 seconds left.

Key stat

Mitchell made his first three shots and had Cleveland’s first eight points, then missed 10 straight field goal attempts. The All-Star starter didn’t score again until the third quarter, winding up 11 of 27 from the field and 4 of 11 on 3-pointers.

Up next

Both teams are back in action Monday night. The Rockets are at Boston, and the Cavaliers host Detroit.