Inglewood, Calif. – Jalen Green’s 31-point effort and Amen Thompson’s 22 points led the Houston Rockets to a 117-106 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday night, snapping a two-game losing streak. The Rockets were without starting guard Fred VanVleet, who missed his first game of the season due to a right knee contusion.
Bones Hyland sparked the Clippers’ offense with 22 points off the bench, hitting five 3-pointers. Ivica Zubac also contributed with 21 points and 12 rebounds, while Kevin Porter Jr. added 19 points in his first career start for the team.
The Clippers, who had suffered a heavy 28-point loss to Minnesota earlier in the week, couldn’t recover from a strong second-quarter surge by the Rockets, dropping their second consecutive home game.
Key Takeaways:
- Rockets: Houston was led by a balanced attack, with six players finishing in double figures. Jabari Smith Jr. posted a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds, and Alperen Sengun contributed 11 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists.
- Clippers: In addition to missing James Harden (sore right groin), the Clippers were dealt further blows when Amir Coffey suffered a right shoulder contusion in warm-ups and Derrick Jones Jr. exited in the first quarter due to right hamstring soreness. Despite their injuries, the Clippers’ bench outscored the Rockets’ reserves 38-21 but struggled on the boards, where they were outrebounded 50-33.
Turning Point:
The Rockets seized control of the game with a 12-0 run late in the second quarter, including seven consecutive points from Green, which gave Houston a 64-52 lead at halftime. The Clippers were never able to catch up, as the Rockets pushed their advantage to as much as 16 points in the third quarter.
Notable Stat:
Houston shot an efficient 49% from the field and was impressive from the free-throw line, converting 22 of 26 attempts.
Next Up:
The Rockets will host the Golden State Warriors for an NBA Cup West quarterfinal matchup on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Clippers will travel to Denver to face the Nuggets on Friday.
