Rockets edge Wizards as sidelined Trae Young is tossed from bench
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The Houston Rockets held off the Washington Wizards 123-118 on Monday night at Capital One Arena, but most of the buzz centered on a player who never checked in. Guard Trae Young, still recovering from knee and quad injuries, was ejected from the bench after stepping onto the court to dispute a call during a second-half altercation. Houston forward Tari Eason was also thrown out.
Young is scheduled to make his Wizards debut Thursday against the Utah Jazz. Monday marked his first game in uniform since being acquired, though he last played in December.
On the floor, Alperen Şengün powered Houston with 32 points and 13 rebounds, while Kevin Durant—playing his lone game this season near his Maryland hometown—added 30 points. The victory pushed the Rockets to 38-22, one game ahead of last season’s pace through 60 contests. Houston is 5-2 since the All-Star break.
Bilal Coulibaly led Washington with 23 points. The game also featured the first NBA appearance for rookie center Julian Reese, younger brother of WNBA standout Angel Reese; he started and logged 28 minutes.
Washington trimmed a double-digit deficit in the closing minutes, but Houston sealed the outcome at the free-throw line, leaving anticipation to build for Young’s expected debut later in the week.
Source: Hoops Wire
