Horrific Sleight: Rockets Ambushed, Crushed By Clippers, 120-105
Wake-Up Call. Bad Taste. Final Warning.
From the opening tip, it was clear who the better team would be on Thursday night. And it wasn’t the Rockets. Houston got crushed from start to finish by the Clippers, 120-105 at Toyota Center, in the final meeting of the rivalry this season. The Rockets couldn’t connect from distance, going only 7-for-42 from long-range, their worst three-point percentage in a game since 2017. And the Clippers were the hungrier team. Los Angeles neutralized Houston’s small-ball style, thanks in part to the Rockets inability to knock down a wide-open jumper. Russell Westbrook led the Rockets with 29 points and 15 boards, but Brodie along with the rest of the squad, couldn’t knock down an open shot. James Harden didn’t make a single three, going 0-for-8 from distance, finishing with an apathetically lethargic 16 points.
This final regular season meeting with their rivals certainly leaves a bad taste in Houston’s mouth. The Rockets can only control their own destiny from here on out, and if they meet the Clippers in the playoffs, they’ll need to display more hungry get than they did on Thursday… or they’ll be ousted. The Clips dominated the Rockets inside, specifically Ivica Zubac and Montrezl Harrell. Zubac had 17 points and 12 boards, while Harrell scored 19 and grabbed 10 rebounds. Houston finishes the season 2-2 against the Clippers. And on Thursday, they were never prepared to play on L.A.’s level. They got beat by the better team, the Clippers. The Rockets have time to change that, and burst through the final quarter of the season (21 games). However, Houston has no more room for excuses. They’ve done enough of that this season.
Only 21 games remain in the regular season. The Rockets are now three games behind the Clippers, and two behind the Nuggets, the teams Houston’s chasing for the second and their spots. Thursday night was the final warning for the Rockets. There’s no more time for bad losses. The playoffs are on the horizon… only a little over a month away. Despite Thursday night’s outcome, the debate between who ultimately reigns supreme between these contenders won’t exactly be clear until April… when the most anticipated playoffs in NBA history begin.