Filipino-American rookie Jalen Green lived up to the hype in his NBA Summer League debut as he led the Houston Rockets to an 84-76 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday, August 8 (Monday, August 9, Manila time) at the Thomas & Mack center in Las Vegas.

Green, the second overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, finished with a game-high 23 points on 9-of-18 shooting, along with 5 rebounds and 2 assists in the victory.

The 6-foot-6 high-flying guard Green displayed his soft shooting touch, going 4-of-9 from downtown in his first game in a Rockets uniform.

“I feel like I can go higher than that level, but I got to my level today and I just got to keep going,” said Green.

Trailing by a point, 40-41, at halftime, Green hit back-to-back three-pointers early in the third period to set the tone for the Rockets’ huge second half.

It was all the Rockets from there on as the Cavaliers never regained the lead in the rest of the ball game.

“Coming out at the start of the third [quarter], I just felt it and it felt exciting to start hitting shots and we just got that running,” added Green.

KJ Martin added 17 points for the Rockets, while rookie Alperen Sengun came up with a big double-double of 15 points and 15 rebounds.

Isaac Okoro led the way for the Cavaliers with 17 points, while rookie Evan Mobley, the third pick in this year’s draft, put up 12 points and 5 rebounds in the loss.

Green and the rest of the Rockets will get a one-day break before the highly anticipated Summer League matchup against top overall pick Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday, Manila time. –Rappler.com