Rockets Finish L.A. Series with Battle Against Lakers
L.A. Part Two. Front Half. Pretend Playoffs.
Coming off their most heartbreaking loss of the season, at the hands of James Harden and the new-look Clippers, the Rockets close their L.A. weekend series with a matchup against LeBron James and the Lakers. This is the second game in a row Houston will play in L.A., and it’s also the second time these two teams are squaring off this season. The Rockets won the first matchup in blowout fashion, 128-94, back on November 8th in Houston. Expect tonight’s contest to be much more competitive, as the Lakers are 4-1 since the Rockets crushed them nearly two weeks ago. L.A. is also an impressive 5-1 at home, and will be looking for some revenge after Houston throttled them in the first matchup.
Tonight is also the front half of the Rockets’ first back-to-back of the season. Houston’s in the middle of a tough three games in four nights stretch. After facing the Lakers, they’ll meet a desperate Golden State Warriors team who has lost six straight games. Hopefully the young squad learned from their previous loss to the Clips on Friday night. It was a game the Rockets handed over to the Clippers. Houston outplayed L.A., but made some poor decisions down the stretch that cost them the game. The officials didn’t help, and don’t expect them to be any kinder in LeBron’s house tonight. Jalen Green played well throughout his young career against the Lakers. Hopefully that trend continues tonight as Green seeks to become a more consistent player on a nightly basis.
Friday night’s game, as most In-Season Tournament games this season, had the atmosphere of playoff game. And while tonight’s contest isn’t an In-Season Tourney matchup, the Lakers are playing with a renewed sense of urgency since the Rockets last saw them. If Houston can match this sense of desperation and play harder than the Lakers, the squad has a chance to come out of this L.A. series with a victory. Anthony Davis, who didn’t play in the first tilt between these teams, is expected to suit up tonight. Which essentially means Alperen Sengun has a challenging workload ahead. If Sengun’s shown anything this season, it’s his refusal to back down from any challenge, a quality that also epitomizes these young Rockets. Houston may not win tonight, but don’t expect a blowout from the Lakers. After their opening night dud in Orlando, the Rockets have been competitive in every game this season. It’s a trend that should continue tonight… as Houston looks to put heartbreak in the past and get back on the winning track.
Crypto.com Arena: Los Angeles, California
Jersey Colors:
Houston Rockets (6-4): Black
Los Angeles Lakers (7-6): White
Tip-Off: 8:30 PM CT
TV: Space City Home Network, NBA League Pass