Jalen Green Urges Rockets to 'Get Out and Run' Following Loss to Timberwolves

Jalen Green urges the Houston Rockets to use their athleticism and speed following an embarrassing loss to the Timberwolves.

The Houston Rockets began their four-game road trip with a 111-90 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves inside the Target Center. Led by Alperen Şengün, who finished with a team-high 15 points and 10 rebounds, three players scored in double figures for Houston. Unfortunately, Jalen Green wasn't one of them.

His sizzling scoring came to an appalling halt in Minnesota. Green finished with eight points on 3 of 15 shooting, marking the eighth time during the 2023-24 season he failed to score in double figures.

Green credited the Timberwolves' size and defense for his offensive struggles. However, the lack of pace the Rockets played with in Minnesota left him frustrated Sunday night.

Rockets guard Jalen Green dunks against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the third quarter at Target Center / Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

"With a team like that, we have to get out and run," Green said. "They have two bigs out there. We have athletes on our team. We have to push the pace and get up the court. We had some transition buckets, but we have to play at a fast pace all game."

Green came into Minnesota playing some of the best basketball of his career. He had scored 30 or more points in three of his previous six games, averaging 27.2 points on 51.3 percent shooting from the field.

His best game came during the Rockets' 138-104 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Jan. 26. Green scored a season-high 36 points on 12 of 20 shooting inside the Spectrum Center.

Green was in an offensive rhythm during that stretch, but the Rockets' pace played a significant role in his success. Houston became the second-fastest team in the league, averaging 103.40 in pace. Only the Atlanta Hawks played faster (104.82 pace). The Rockets also led the league in fastbreak points, scoring an average of 21.3 points. 

But against the Timberwolves, the Rockets slowed down. As a result, their slower pace played into the hands of the Timberwolves. When the Rockets faced a 20-point deficit with 30 seconds left in the third quarter, Houston matched Minnesota's pace at 100.2.

"There was no rhythm out there," Green said. "No flow within the offense. It was all sets. That was a big team. It's hard to play against a set defense. There was no rhythm."

Jalen Green Playing Aggressive and Faster to Break Free of Scoring Slump

After falling to the Timberwolves, the Rockets dropped their first of four games amid their current road trip. But more importantly, Houston remains one of the league's worst road teams. They have notched a 5-17 record on the road while dropping six of their previous seven games in Minnesota.

The 2023-24 season has been an up-and-down year for Green. But before the disappointing outing against the Timberwolves, the previous six games illustrated why the 21-year-old guard is still vital to the Rockets' foundation and why they should play an offensive style that allows Green to utilize his athleticism and speed.