The Houston Rockets defeated the Charlotte Hornets, 138-104, at Spectrum Center on Friday night.

The game would turn out to truly be a tale of two halves, with the Rockets (21-23) unable to shake a feisty Hornets (10-33) squad during the first two quarters. Houston went into intermission ahead by only two points, but the tide would turn for good during a third quarter when the visitors outscored Charlotte by 44-25 margin. That essentially made the final period a formality, but the Rockets kept coming in the fourth quarter and ultimately added another 13 points to their margin of victory.

Jalen Green led the Rockets with 36 points, adding nine rebounds, four assists and two steals. Cam Whitmore generated a 24-point, 11-rebound double-double that included two assists. Fred VanVleet furnished 14 points, three rebounds, three assists, five blocks and one steal. Amen Thompson registered 13 points, eight assists, six rebounds and two steals. Dillon Brooks netted 12 points, while Alperen Sengun registered 11 points, seven assists, six boards and one block.

Miles Bridges paced the Hornets with 21 points, complementing them with seven rebounds, three assists and one steal. LaMelo Ball finished with 15 points, eight assists, two rebounds and two steals. Nick Richards delivered 14 points, seven rebounds, one assist and three blocks. P.J. Washington posted 12 points, two rebounds, two assists and three blocks. Nick Smith Jr. netted 10 points.

The Rockets remain on the road and visit the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday evening, while the Hornets host the Utah Jazz on Saturday night.