Jalen Green Lifts Houston Rockets over Minnesota Timberwolves

The Houston Rockets' promising young star Jalen Green had his greatest game yet on Monday night. The second overall pick of the 2021 NBA Draft scored a career-high 42 points in a 119-114 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Highlights from @JalenGreen's career night! pic.twitter.com/sDBlknXogs
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) January 24, 2023

Green hit 15 of his 25 field goal attempts, including six of 12 from three. He also added four rebounds, four assists, one steal, and one block. The 42 points exceed Green's previous personal best of 41, set less than a week ago in a 122-117 loss to the Charlotte Hornets. For the season, he's averaging a solid 22.1 points per game, but his .416 field-goal percentage remains a cause for concern.

Green has emerged as the silver lining in a dismal era for the Houston Rockets. Since James Harden left the team in 2020, the Rockets have finished last in their division twice and are all but certain to do it again this season: they sport an NBA-worst 11-36 record. They'll have a great shot at a top pick in what could be a franchise-altering 2023 NBA Draft.

The Rockets host the Washington Wizards this coming Wednesday night.