One night after a much stronger-than-expected performance in Phoenix, the young and road-weary Houston Rockets weren’t able to replicate that showing in Thursday’s 142-111 loss (box score) at Los Angeles. Luke Kennard scored 25 points off the bench and hit a stunning 8-of-9 from 3-point range (88.9%), which fueled an ambush by the Clippers.
The Clippers (30-31) enter the All-Star break at the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference standings and in position for a home game in the play-in tournament for the playoffs. The rebuilding Rockets (15-43), who were on night two of a back-to-back and a third road game in four nights, enter with seven straight losses and the West’s worst record.
Rookie guard Jalen Green continued his run of strong efficiency in February, scoring a team-high 21 points on 8-of-15 shooting (53.3%), including 5-of-10 on 3-pointers (50.0%). Second-year forward Jae’Sean Tate, who joins Green at Friday’s Rising Stars tournament for the NBA’s All-Star Weekend, added 19 points (70% FG) and 4 assists for Houston.
But they did not have nearly enough help or cumulative defense on a night when Clippers shot over 50% from the field and on 3-pointers.
Christian Wood returned to his usual spot as Houston’s starting center after a one-game illness absence and had 13 points (50.0% FG), 7 rebounds, and 2 steals in 25 minutes. He did not play in the fourth quarter due to the blowout. Kevin Porter Jr. missed a second straight game with his own illness, while veteran guard Eric Gordon sat out night two of a back-to-back for planned maintenance, as he has for most of this season.
Dennis Schroder (9 points, 9 assists) again started in place of Porter at point guard, while Garrison Mathews (8 points, 4 rebounds) took the starting wing spot that typically belongs to Gordon.
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Highlights
Stephen Silas on fatigue
What’s next
Both the Rockets and Clippers are headed into the All-Star break and will not play again until Friday, Feb. 25. Houston has three players (Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, and Jae’Sean Tate) taking part in this Friday’s Rising Stars tournament, while Green is one of four contestants in the NBA’s flagship slam dunk contest on Saturday from Cleveland.
After his blistering showing on Thursday, Kennard is an appropriate representative for the Clippers in Saturday’s 3-point shootout.
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