Jalen Green scores 22 points to lead Rockets to 50th win of the season

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HOUSTON (AP) — Jalen Green scored 22 points, Dillon Brooks added 21 and the Houston Rockets beat the Utah Jazz 143-105 on Wednesday night for their 50th win of the season.

Jabari Smith Jr. finished with 15 points and 14 rebounds off the bench, Tari Eason had 15 points and nine rebounds and Alperen Sengun had 15 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists for Houston, which shot 54% and was 19 of 45 on 3-pointers.

Isaiah Collier had 22 points and 10 assists, Collin Sexton finished with 18 points and Keyonte George had 14 points, for the Jazz, who lost their seventh straight game. Walker Kessler added 11 points and 12 rebounds. Utah shot 43% and were 10 of 40 on 3-pointers.

Brooks was issued a technical foul with seven minutes left in the first quarter after appearing to kick Sexton in the groin on a loose ball. If the technical is not rescinded, it would be Brooks’ 16th of the season, and he would be suspended for the Rockets’ game Friday night against Oklahoma City.

Houston's Fred VanVleet missed the game with soreness in his knee and right ankle.

Jazz: Utah dropped to 1-17 since the end of February.

Rockets: Houston, which last won 50 games in the 2018-19 season, clinched a top six seed in the Western Conference.

Trailing 20-16, Green made a layup with four minutes left in the first quarter to begin a 17-6 Houston run to end the quarter. The Rockets built a 70-46 lead at halftime.

Houston outrebounded Utah 63-39 and had a 23-6 advantage in second-chance points.

Utah travels to Indiana to face the Pacers on Friday night, while Houston hosts the Thunder that same night.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba