The Rockets broke open a tight start with a 34-14 second quarter and rolled past Milwaukee, 132-100.
Houston turned a two-point first-quarter edge into a rout, beating Milwaukee 132-100 after a 34-14 second quarter built a 57-35 halftime lead. The Rockets kept pulling away after the break, taking the third quarter 38-34 and the fourth 37-31. Fred VanVleet led Houston with 24 points on 7-of-14 shooting, including 4-of-9 from three, plus six rebounds, five assists, two steals, no blocks and three turnovers. Amen Thompson added 23 points on 10-of-16 shooting, with four rebounds, three assists, one steal, no blocks and one turnover. Kevin Durant scored 18 on 5-of-9 from the field and 6-of-7 at the line, adding five rebounds, four assists, three blocks, no steals and three turnovers. Bogdan Bogdanovic provided 16 points on 5-of-6 shooting, including 4-of-5 from deep, alongside two rebounds, three assists, two steals, no blocks and one turnover. Tyler Herro paced Milwaukee with 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting, three rebounds, no assists, one steal, no blocks and two turnovers, but his scoring could not offset the Bucks’ second-quarter collapse.
Key Performers
Fred VanVleet, Houston: 24 PTS, 6 REB, 5 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK, 3 TO; 7-14 FG, 4-9 3PT Amen Thompson, Houston: 23 PTS, 4 REB, 3 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO; 10-16 FG Tyler Herro, Milwaukee: 23 PTS, 3 REB, 0 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO; 9-13 FG, 4-6 3PT
Standings Impact
Houston improved from 4-0 to 5-0. Milwaukee fell from 1-3 to 1-4.
DYMA Insight
The decisive gap came in the second quarter: Houston outscored Milwaukee 34-14, turning a two-point lead into a 22-point halftime cushion. The Rockets then won both halves after the break to secure a 32-point margin.