Nets win consecutive games for 1st time since November with 110-98 victory over Rockets

HOUSTON (AP) — Ziaire Williams had 21 points, D’Angelo Russell added 18 and the Brooklyn Nets won consecutive games for the first time since November with a 110-98 victory over the short-handed Houston Rockets on Saturday night.

The Nets, who beat Charlotte on Wednesday night, won two games in a row for the first time since a three-game winning streak from Nov. 24-27.

The Rockets were playing without Alperen Sengun, who missed a second straight game with a bruised calf, and lost Fred VanVleet to an ankle injury in the second quarter.

Brooklyn led by double digits for most of the night and used a big run early in the third quarter to push its advantage to 18 and cruise to the win.

Jalen Green had 29 to lead the Rockets, who lost a second straight after winning their previous four games.

Nets: Brooklyn used a balanced scoring attack to get the win with all five starters scoring at least 13 points.

Rockets: Houston’s offense struggled without Sengun and VanVleet, who are second and third on the team by averaging 19.1 and 14.9 points a game. VanVleet had three points before leaving with the injury.

The Nets were up by nine early in the third quarter before using a 11-2 run, with 3-pointers from Williams and Keon Johnson, to make it 66-48 with 7 1/2 minutes left in the quarter.

Houston’s Amen Thompson and Dillon Brooks combined to make just 11 of 30 shots.

Houston begins a four-game road trip against the New York Knicks on Monday night before playing the Nets again Tuesday night in Brooklyn's next game.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green (4) shoots against Brooklyn Nets forward Ziaire Williams (8) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Houston, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green (4) loses control of the ball while defended by Brooklyn Nets center Day'Ron Sharpe (20) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Houston, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Brooklyn Nets forward Ziaire Williams (8) shoots against Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green (4) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Houston, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Brooklyn Nets guard Keon Johnson (45) reaches for a loose ball while defended by Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Houston, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Houston Rockets forward Dillon Brooks (9) defends against Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Simmons (10) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Houston, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Houston Rockets forward Amen Thompson (1) passes against Brooklyn Nets forward Ziaire Williams (8) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Houston, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Brooklyn Nets forward Ziaire Williams (8) dunks during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets in Houston, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A shooting outside a church building in Salt Lake City killed two people and injured six others Wednesday, police said.

The shooting took place in the parking lot of a meetinghouse of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, widely known as the Mormon church.

Dozens of people were attending a funeral inside at the time. All the victims were adults.

Police said they do not believe the shooter had any animus toward a particular faith.

“We don’t believe this was a targeted attack against a religion or anything like that,” Salt Lake City Police Chief Brian Redd said.

Police also do not believe the shooting was random. Authorities said no suspect was in custody.

About 100 law enforcement vehicles were at the scene in the aftermath, and helicopters flew overhead.

“This should never have happened outside a place of worship. This should never have happened outside a celebration of life,” Mayor Erin Mendenhall said.

The church was cooperating with law enforcement and was grateful for efforts first responders' efforts, a spokesperson said.

“We extend prayers for all who have been impacted by this tragedy and express deep concern that any sacred space intended for worship should be subjected to violence of any kind,” Sam Penrod said in a statement.

The church is headquartered in Salt Lake City, and about half of Utah’s 3.5 million residents are members of the faith. Churches like the one where the shooting occurred can be found in towns throughout the city and state.

The faith has been on heightened alert since four people were killed when a former Marine opened fire in a Michigan church last month and set it ablaze. The FBI found that he was motivated by “anti-religious beliefs” against the church.

Police respond to a fatal shooting in a parking lot of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Hannah Schoenbaum)

Police respond to a fatal shooting in a parking lot of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Hannah Schoenbaum)

Police respond to a fatal shooting in a parking lot of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Laura Seitz/The Deseret News via AP)

People hug each other after a fatal shooting in a parking lot of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Laura Seitz/The Deseret News via AP)

Funeral attendees leave a meetinghouse of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints after a fatal shooting in the parking lot in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Laura Seitz/The Deseret News via AP)

Police respond to a fatal shooting in a parking lot of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Rio Giancarlo/The Deseret News via AP)