Jalen

Green

Outside of Game 2, Green’s first postseason experience was a disappointment. Remove that 38-point effort, and the Rockets guard totaled 47 points on 16-of-53 shooting in the other six games. Green has long been a better option for points leagues than category leagues, but he has been worthy of a top-100 pick. Whether that remains the case ahead of the 2025-26 season depends on what the Rockets’ front office does this offseason. There’s a clear need for consistent perimeter shooting, especially with two starters (Green and Fred VanVleet) who shot below 43 percent from the field during the regular season.

While Brooks was the lone Rockets starter to shoot at least 50 percent from the field in Game 3, he struggled with foul trouble throughout. The veteran defender would pick up four fouls in the first half and foul out with 3:47 remaining and the Rockets trailing by four. Houston would go on to lose by 11, falling behind the Warriors two games to one. With Fred VanVleet and Jalen Green (9/6/5/1 with one three-pointer in 39 minutes) being inconsistent scorers, any production the Rockets receive from Brooks will be welcome. Game 4 is on Monday.

After struggling mightily in his playoff debut on Sunday, Green looked far more comfortable in Game 2. He became the fifth Rockets player in franchise history to score 30 points or more in a playoff game, aged 23 years or younger, and Green also tied the Rockets’ record for three-pointers in a playoff game. While Green can’t be expected to threaten 40 points every night in this series, the Rockets will need a consistently productive version of him to advance. Game 3 is on Saturday in San Francisco.

Sunday’s series opener was brutal for the Rockets’ starting guards. VanVleet and Jalen Green (7/8/2 in 31 minutes) combined to shoot 7-of-34 from the field overall and 2-of-17 from beyond the arc. Neither was an efficient shooter during the regular season, with VanVleet making 37.8 percent of his attempts and Green slightly better at 42.3 percent. That said, neither reached those levels in Game 1, which was a significant reason why Houston lost. VanVleet and Green will look to bounce back in Game 2 on Wednesday.

Thankfully, this was a meaningless game for the Rockets. Though head coach Ime Udoka treated it like any other game, Houston had already clinched the second seed in the West. Green played more than he did in each of their last two games, as he only played 15 minutes in each of those and was up to 21 minutes this afternoon. However, he did even less scoring on Sunday and set a new season-low for points. Green will make his playoff debut next weekend, though their matchup will depend on who makes it out of the Play-In Tournament.

Once again, the Rockets decided to rest four starters, and Jalen Green (7/4/3/1 with one three-pointer) was shut down at halftime. Having secured the two-seed in the West, the Rockets have prioritized rest for their key players. The approach has freed additional minutes for Whitmore, who could not earn consistent playing time this season. The former first-round pick was rolling on Friday, shooting well over 50 percent from the field and recording a career-high point total. Fantasy managers in active leagues seeking a player who could potentially go off on Sunday should look no further than Whitmore, especially if the Rockets hold their starters out of the matchup with the Nuggets.

Green has scored 21 points or more in seven of his last eight appearances, with Houston’s March 31 loss to the Lakers being the exception. And he’s been more efficient, shooting 47 percent from the field over the past two weeks. The improved efficiency is why Green was a top-60 player in eight-cat formats during that stretch. Excellent timing for category league managers who had him rostered. For those whose leagues run through Week 23, the Rockets play three games, starting with the Clippers on Wednesday.

Green has now scored at least 30 points four times over his last seven games. The 23-year-old shooting guard is one of the best scorers in the league when his shot is falling. That wasn’t totally the case on Friday as Green benefitted greatly from a friendly whistle. He got to the foul line 10 times and made nine free throws, which inflated his scoring total. We’ll see if Green can put up another big number Sunday against the Warriors.

After shooting 4-of-13 from the field and scoring nine points in Monday’s loss to the Lakers, Green took advantage of an overmatched opponent and got back on track on Wednesday. He’s scored 20 points or more in 10 of his last 12 outings, but the two exceptions have been poor. The good news for fantasy managers is that the highs have outweighed the lows, with Green providing top-75 value in eight- and nine-cat formats over the past three weeks. Houston’s final two games of Week 22, Oklahoma City at home and Golden State on the road, will be far more challenging for Green and the Rockets.

After missing all four shot attempts during the first quarter, Green encountered far less resistance from the Suns defensively, making nine of his final 13 attempts from the field. A steady diet of straight-line drives to the basket led to recording his third 30-point line in four games. Over the past two weeks, he has provided seventh-round value in eight-cat formats. Green not playing during the fourth quarter should ensure he’s well-rested for Monday’s game against the Lakers. The Rockets play four games during Week 22.