The Rockets had 44 points in the paint in the first half, leading them to a 66-45 lead midway through the game, before finishing with 68 after a non-competitive second half. There were the three first-quarter offensive rebounds by Houston that produced eight second-chance points, with the Rockets ultimately finishing with 24.Īnd with the Lakers missing multiple rotation players, including big men Anthony Davis and Jaxson Hayes, there was the continuous exploitation of the team’s lack of interior size.
There was another slow start, with Houston opening the game on an 8-0 run before pushing the margin to a 22-12 lead and then a 32-19 advantage by the end of the first quarter, making it six times in eight games that the Lakers have trailed by double digits in the opening period. But at the end of the day, no one is gonna feel sorry for you.”
We’re juggling different circumstances – guys being in and out of the lineup. Our off-ball defense needed to be better. A couple miscues, wasn’t really good on the ball defensively. “No one comes in wanting to be flat or a step slow or whatnot,” Coach Davin Ham said.
The Lakers (3-5) were dominated in nearly every facet by the Rockets (4-3) in a game that highlighted several of the issues that have plagued them early in the season. HOUSTON - If Monday was a step toward figuring out the Lakers’ struggles on the road, then Wednesday’s 128-94 loss to the Houston Rockets was – at least – two steps in the opposite direction.
