Inglewood, California — Jalen Green had a stellar performance, scoring 31 points, while Amen Thompson contributed 22 points as the Houston Rockets triumphed over the Los Angeles Clippers with a score of 117-106 on Sunday evening.
The victory allowed the Rockets to snap a two-game losing streak, which was compounded by the absence of starting player Fred VanVleet. VanVleet was sidelined due to a contusion on his right knee, marking his first missed game this season.
For the Clippers, Bones Hyland came off the bench to lead the team with 22 points, showcasing his shooting skills by hitting five three-pointers, the most for the team. Ivica Zubac played a significant role as well, putting up 21 points while grabbing 12 rebounds. In his first-ever start for the Rockets, Kevin Porter Jr. scored 19 points.
The Clippers faced their second consecutive defeat at home after suffering a heavy 28-point loss to Minnesota during the week. Although they managed to stay competitive in the opening quarter, the Rockets quickly took charge of the game.
Key players for the Rockets included six athletes who reached double figures in scoring, particularly Jabari Smith Jr., who logged 13 points along with 13 rebounds. Alperen Sengun also contributed with an impressive stat line of 11 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists.
On the other hand, the Clippers were already down one key player, James Harden, who was dealing with a sore right groin. Their situation worsened when Amir Coffey suffered a contusion on his right shoulder during pre-game warmups and starter Derrick Jones Jr. left the game after the first quarter due to hamstring soreness. Despite their challenges, the Clippers’ bench outscored the Houston reserves, totaling 38-21, but lost the rebounding battle 50-33.
A pivotal moment in the matchup occurred when the Rockets went on a 12-point run at the end of the second quarter, with Green scoring seven consecutive points, allowing Houston to take a 64-52 lead at halftime. From that point on, the Clippers were forced to chase the game, as Houston extended its lead to 16 points during the third quarter.
Statistically, the Rockets had a strong showing from the field, converting 49% of their shots and impressively sinking 22 of 26 attempts from the free-throw line.
Looking ahead, the Rockets will face the Golden State Warriors in an NBA Cup West quarterfinal on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Clippers will make their way to Denver for a matchup on Friday.
