Even with the star power dialed down a notch, there was still plenty to take away from the Rockets’ latest win over the Clippers.
With James Harden no longer in the picture and Darius Garland-L.A.’s key return in the trade-sidelined, this matchup didn’t carry quite the same buzz as it might’ve a week ago. But for a Rockets team looking to build some momentum heading into the All-Star break, a short-handed Clippers squad was exactly what the doctor ordered.
Houston came out with the right energy, building a lead that swelled to 15 points in the third quarter. But credit the Clippers-they didn’t fold.
They clawed their way back, even taking a 52-51 lead into halftime. That’s been their identity all season: gritty, resilient, never out of it.
But just like it’s happened too often this year, they couldn’t close. The Rockets weathered the storm and found enough on both ends of the floor to seal the deal.
Kawhi Leonard carried the offensive load for L.A., but Houston made him work for everything. He finished with 24 points on 7-of-19 shooting, and the Rockets’ defense made sure he didn’t get much help.
Only one other Clipper-John Collins-cracked double figures, finishing with 17. That’s the kind of defensive focus Houston’s been trying to hang its hat on all year, and it showed up when it mattered.
On the offensive end, it wasn’t the cleanest night for Kevin Durant, who struggled with efficiency (22 points on 8-of-22 shooting). But the Rockets had the depth to pick up the slack.
Alperen Sengun was a force inside, putting up 22 points on a highly efficient 64% from the field. Jabari Smith Jr. added a double-double with 13 points and 10 boards, Amen Thompson chipped in 16 points on 60% shooting, and Reed Sheppard continued to make his case as a key bench contributor with 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists.
Defensively, Houston tightened the screws in the second half, holding the Clippers to just 43 points after halftime. The Rockets held L.A. to 40% shooting from the field and a chilly 26.7% from beyond the arc. That second-half effort was the difference, and it gave Houston just enough breathing room to close things out.
This wasn’t the Rockets’ flashiest win of the season, but it was a necessary one. They’re now 12-1 at home against teams below .500-exactly the kind of consistency they’ll need if they want to stay in the playoff mix. They've let a few of these kinds of games slip away earlier in the year, so taking care of business in Game 1 of this two-game set was crucial.
And the job’s not done yet. These two teams will run it back tomorrow night, same court, same stakes. If the Rockets want to keep building momentum, they’ll need to bring the same defensive intensity-and maybe a little more offensive polish-when the ball tips again.