Jalen Green delivered an incredible performance on Wednesday night, hitting 8 of 18 shots three-point shots and racking up 38 points to help the Houston Rockets defeat the Golden State Warriors 109-94.
The Game 2 win sees the Rockets level the Western Conference first-round series at one game apiece, heading back to Golden State.
The Rockets, who are the No.2 seed controlled the game from the opening tip and never trailed. They extended their lead to as many as 20 points during the second half.
Green was particularly crucial in the third quarter, where he scored 15 points – including three clutch three-pointers – to stifle a Warriors rally. Overall, Houston hit 15 of their 40 attempts from deep, with Green accounting for more than half of those.
Houston’s offensive rhythm showed noticeable improvement from Game 1, where they shot poorly in a 95-85 loss. On Wednesday, they went 39-for-86 from the field, a much more efficient level than in Game 1.
Golden State, meanwhile, suffered a major blow early in the game. Jimmy Butler exited late in the first quarter with what the team described as a pelvic contusion. He did not return and is set to undergo an MRI.
A playoff win for the home crowd 👏 pic.twitter.com/XqI8kRUkGd
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) April 24, 2025
In Butler’s absence, the seventh-seeded Warriors leaned heavily on their perimeter game, finishing 17-for-43 from three-point range.
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Celtics Take 2-0 Lead
In the Eastern Conference, the Boston Celtics continued their strong postseason start, earning a 109-100 win over the Orlando Magic in Game 2. Despite missing their top scorer, Jayson Tatum, the Celtics found their rhythm thanks to Jaylen Brown’s dominant performance.
Brown shot 12-of-19 from the floor and 5-of-7 from three, finishing with 36 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists.
Kristaps Porzingis provided strong support with a 20-point, 10-rebound double-double. Boston’s well-rounded attack also featured double-digit scoring from Derrick White (17), Payton Pritchard (14), and Jrue Holiday (11).
The Magic, ranked seventh in the East, were led by Paolo Banchero with 32 points. Franz Wagner added 25 points, while Wendell Carter Jr. chipped in with 16.
Shoutout to Celtics Nation for turning UP tonight 🔊 pic.twitter.com/nSVcsiEsD9
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) April 24, 2025
Cavaliers too hot to handle
The Cleveland Cavaliers protected home court once again, beating Miami Heat 121-112 to take a 2-0 lead in their first-round matchup.
Donovan Mitchell caught fire in the fourth quarter, scoring 17 of his 30 points in the final frame to seal the win.
Mitchell was lethal from long range, knocking down 7 of his 10 three-point attempts. The Cavaliers exploded in the second quarter with 11 made threes- a franchise playoff record for a single period. Darius Garland tallied 21 points and dished out nine assists, while Evan Mobley added 20 points and six rebounds.
Miami’s offense was led by Tyler Herro, who posted 33 points along with six rebounds and five assists. Bam Adebayo nearly recorded a triple-double with 11 points, 14 rebounds, and nine assists.
Haywood Highsmith contributed 17 points and nailed five of his six threes.
CAVS WIN!@KayJewelers | #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/5fSkkXCBvp
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) April 24, 2025
