4 Studs, 1 Dud from Rockets' decisive win over Hornets

If you're a Houston Rockets fan, every win counts. For years, you endured a lot of losses.

So, celebrate Monday's 114-101 win over the Hornets. Sure, the Hornets have been dreadful in 2024-25. They're still an NBA team that poses a challenge. The Rockets learned that lesson the night before.

This team barely escaped the Raptors. It stood to reason that they might have trouble with a comparable team on the tail end of a back-to-back. Instead, the Rockets won dominantly.

The score in this contest doesn't reflect the competition level. The Rockets led by as much as 34. They took their foot off the gas when the game seemed out of hand - this one was seldom in question.

Here are four studs and one dud from the contest.

Stud: Jabari Smith Jr.

If you hadn't noticed, Smith Jr. is becoming a fixture in the stud category. This game was no exception. Smith Jr. finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds while shooting 7/14 from the field.

Smith Jr.'s continued development is vital for the Rockets. As impactful as Tari Eason has been, questions about his health are beginning to arise. Smith Jr. is the only true option at the 4 when he's absent. The Rockets have been forced to insert an otherwise-inactive Jae'Sean Tate into the rotation.

That's fine. Tate is a suitable backup. Still, Smith Jr.'s production is crucial. Against the Hornets, he was able to produce offensively while thriving on defense - both on the perimeter and as a weakside rim protector.

Here's hoping his 2024-25 turnaround is permanent.

Stud: Cam Whitmore

Cam Whitmore minutes were not guaranteed in 2024-25. He's spent much of the season with the Rio Grande Vipers. In the Rockets' last two games, he's looked like he belongs with the main roster.

Against the Hornets, he had 17 points in 27 minutes of action. Whitmore was 7/15 from the field.

Sure, some of his flaws were on display. Whitmore can be prone to tunnel vision. Some Rockets fans surely winced when he grabbed a rebound to run a one-man fastbreak and airball a layup with three defenders in the paint.

Still, Whitmore's natural talent as a scorer is undeniable. Even if the Rockets don't see a future with him, they must give him minutes to bolster his trade value. Alternatively, he may usurp Jalen Green as this team's primary scorer in due time:

Consider that a spoiler alert.

Stud: Fred VanVleet

VanVleet's regression in 2024-25 is well-documented. He's struggling. Last night, he reminded Rockets fans why he makes the big bucks. VanVleet had 20 points on 7/14 shooting from the line. He also chipped in 6 dimes with just 2 turnovers.

VanVleet's game isn't complicated. When his shot falls, he's a game-managing point guard who spaces the floor and sets up teammates without turning the ball over. His ball security becomes a moot point when the shot isn't falling - every missed shot feels like a turnover.

The Rockets need a succession plan for life after VanVleet. Either he'll pass the torch to Reed Sheppard, or the Rockets will acquire a point guard via trade.

Against the Hornets, it didn't seem like either option was on the immediate horizon.

Stud: Amen Thompson

Tari Eason wasn't the only key Rocket missing in this game. Dillon Brooks was also absent. That meant a starting spot was available for Amen Thompson.

Thompson responded with 19 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks and a steal. He stuffed the stat sheet. Put Thompson on the floor for 30 or more minutes, and he usually will. Still, there was an even more significant stat for Rockets fans to celebrate.

Thompson was 2/6 from three-point range. That's not an elite mark, but the volume should be particularly encouraging to Rockets fans. Thompson looked comfortable letting it fly, and he was solid in the midrange area as well.

If Thompson is a viable shooter, it changes everything. His franchise player potential becomes undeniable. For the time being, his insertion into the starting lineup feels like a foregone conclusion:

Consider that another spoiler.

Dud: Jalen Green

In a sense, Green's subpart performance was out of his control. He only played 24 minutes in this game.

In those minutes, he had 6 points on 3/8 shooting from the field. Green made some nice drives to the basket. Why did Udoka limit his minutes?

Well, Green doesn't do much if he isn't scoring. This is a more macro issue. Udoka doesn't trust Green. Who could blame him?

He finds himself in the dud category far too often.