Rockets Romp Lakers, 135-119, En Route to Dominant Win
Track Stars. Intensity Surge. Better Together.
Cam Whitmore turned this game into a track meet near the end of the first quarter. And the Lakers couldn’t run with the Rockets, as Houston ousted L.A., 135-119, on Monday night. Whitmore scored all 12 points to fuel a 12-2 run to end the first period that essentially broke the game open for the Rockets. Houston would lead by as many as 30 points. The Lakers went on a run late to cut the lead to 10, but that’s as close as they would get to topping the Rockets on this night. Dillon Brooks once again got in the head of LeBron James, causing a late flop by King James, which resulted in LeBron calling for Brooks to be ejected. The refs were smart enough to realize Brooks didn’t make a dirty play. L.A.’s forward Jarred Vanderbilt was ejected in the first half for getting into a scuffle with Brooks. He poked Brooks, pleading for a reaction from “The Villain.” However, Brooks just laughed as the officials tossed Vanderbilt from the game. Houston out-hustled and out-played the Lakers on Monday night, and the Rockets’ swagger irritated LeBron and co., who are desperately trying to stay in playoff contention.
Alperen Sengun and Jalen Green led the offensive charge for the Rockets against the Lakers. Sengun recorded 31 points, 12 boards, and 7 assists in another All-Star caliber performance. Green had arguably his best game of the season. Jalen scored a season-high 34 points on a very efficient 12-for-23 shooting from the floor, including an improved 4-for-10 from beyond the arc. Cam Whitmore produced 20 points off the bench in only 18 minutes of action. There seems to be something out Cam’s play that has brought out the best in Green. Jalen’s recent intensity surge may be tied to Whitmore threatening Green’s spot for playing time. Whatever is motivating Green, it’s been a relief to watch for Rockets fans, as Green was mired in the worst slump of his career earlier this season. Green has scored 29 or more points in three of his last four games, and he’s grabbed 32 rebounds over the past three contests, unheard of numbers on the glass for Jalen. On Monday night Green had a career-high 12 rebounds. Jabari Smith Jr. scored 18 points and grabbed 9 boards, and Dillon Brooks added 17 points, as the Rockets used a balanced attack to down the Lakers. On a rare night, Fred VanVleet failed to make a shot, but he did manage to dish out 14 assists, as the veteran doesn’t need to score to be productive on the court.
Houston simply used more energy and hustle to beat the L.A. The Rockets out-rebounded the Lakers by 10 on the offensive glass, and scored 13 more second-chance points than L.A. Up next, Houston hosts the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night. The Pels are a few games ahead of the Rockets, and Houston can continue striving on their goal of sneaking into the Play-In by taking down New Orleans on Wednesday night.