Lakers fail to lift off against Rockets in Houston
Lakers Meet Streaking Rockets
Tonight, your Los Angeles Lakers took on the 2-seeded Houston Rockets in H-Town. The last eight times these two squads have matched up, they’ve split those games 4-4. Although the games have been split, it sure feels like Houston has had the Lakers number for some time, especially in Houston.
The Houston Rockets have far outperformed expectations this season, finding themselves top three in the Western Conference with a 22-12 record. Their team-wide athleticism, paired with further emergences of Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun’s games, has turned them into a force.
The Lakers have found themselves in a nice groove since LeBron’s return, as well. In their last nine games, they’ve gone 7-2 and have boasted one of the better defensive ratings in the league over that stretch.
LeBron since coming back from his hiatus in December:
– 27.4 PPG
– 8.1 APG
– 55/45/80 splits
– 63% true shootingThe Lakers are 7-2 over that stretch 😳 pic.twitter.com/StQPwU0RK7
— The Lead (@TheLeadSM) January 5, 2025
First half
Ultimately, the first half offered more of the same when playing this team in their home. In the first quarter, the Rockets ended the period leading, but the game was nowhere near out of reach. Houston, who are typically a subpar shooting team, found themselves shooting the lights out.
Houston shot 62.5%, not just from the floor but from three in the opening quarter. Their hot shooting from deep cooled off; however, the lead did anything but. The young Rockets displayed their athleticism by dismantling the Lakers on both the glass and in the fastbreak. Los Angeles ended the first half down 28-14 in rebounding.
By the time halftime rolled around, the game felt very much out of reach as the Lakers found themselves in a hole, down 67-49.
Second Half
Have you been interested in seeing how JJ Redick adjusts as a head coach? Tonight’s game would lead you to believe he’s doing just fine in his first season. The Lakers came out in the second half looking like an entirely different team.
The Lakers ended up winning the 3rd quarter 40–24 and effectively turned an 18-point halftime deficit into two points by the 4th quarter. This run was spurred by some outstanding play from LeBron James. In the 3rd, James accounted for 14 points, two rebounds, and three assists, was 5/6 from the field and 4/5 from three (including an absurd three-point shot off of one leg).
LEBRON OFF 1 LEG 🤯
HE’S 40. pic.twitter.com/5WEh0ovZus
— Lakers All Day Everyday (@LADEig) January 6, 2025
In the end, the Lakers could never recapture the 19-18 lead they established in the 1st quarter. Jalen Green and Cam Whitmore hit massive shots down the stretch, but in the long run, it was the Lakers’ own mistakes that lost them the game.
In the last seven seconds of the game, the Lakers turned the ball over twice. Both on ATOs, one on the inbound pass, and one offensive foul upon inbounding the ball.
This game made one thing abundantly clear: the Lakers desperately need a backup big man. Jaxson Hayes got throttled by Steven Adams, and the Lakers really have nobody else that would be any better. There are a few good candidates on the market; now, just go get one.
