NBA
Rockets Reach 5–0 With Dominant 132–100 Win Over Bucks
Fred VanVleet scored 24 points and Amen Thompson added 23 as Houston stayed unbeaten despite missing Alperen Şengün and other rotation players.
The Houston Rockets remained unbeaten Wednesday, defeating the Milwaukee Bucks 132–100 at Fiserv Forum behind 24 points from Fred VanVleet and 23 from Amen Thompson.
Houston improved to 5–0 while Milwaukee dropped to 1–4. The Rockets won despite missing leading scorer Alperen Şengün because of lower-back soreness, along with other unavailable rotation players.
VanVleet’s third-quarter scoring burst
The Associated Press game account records VanVleet’s scoring burst during the third quarter, when he supplied 15 consecutive Houston points. His contribution helped keep the visitors well ahead after they had established a substantial halftime advantage.
Houston led 23–21 after the first quarter, then outscored Milwaukee 34–14 in the second. That 20-point swing produced a 57–35 lead at the break and changed the shape of the contest.
Thompson made 10 of 16 shots from the field. Kevin Durant added 18 points, while Bogdan Bogdanović provided 16 in 15 minutes, giving the Rockets scoring beyond their starting backcourt.
The Dream Shake’s recap also identified Jabari Smith Jr.’s 14 points and Clint Capela’s 10 points with eight rebounds. Smith worked at center with Şengün and Steven Adams unavailable, changing the frontcourt configuration without preventing a decisive win.
Houston’s supporting contributions
VanVleet also finished with six rebounds and five assists, while Thompson contributed four rebounds to Houston’s work across the floor.
Houston’s shooting advantage extended outside the arc. The Rockets made 17 of 38 three-pointers and converted 23 of 26 free throws. Milwaukee could not match that efficiency despite generating additional attempts through its work on the offensive glass.
Tyler Herro led the Bucks with 23 points and Jaime Jaquez Jr. added 19. Their scoring was not enough to offset the second-quarter deficit or Houston’s continued production after halftime.
The Rockets’ unbeaten record is an early-season result rather than a completed assessment of their schedule. They next face Dallas before a meeting with Oklahoma City, bringing another immediate test for the rotation that handled Wednesday’s absences.
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