The Houston Rockets hosted the Los Angeles Lakers in a thrilling NBA matchup. The Rockets welcomed back Amen from suspension, while Ethan and Smith were sidelined due to injuries. The starting lineup for the Rockets featured VanVleet, Jalen Green, Dillon, Amen, and Sengun, while the Lakers started with Reaves, Christie, Hachimura, James, and Davis.
In the first quarter, Amen quickly scored six points, followed by Anthony Davis assisting Hachimura with a three-pointer after being double-teamed inside. Davis then scored on Dillon. Sengun made a basket, and Jalen Green showcased his offensive and defensive skills. Reeves and Green traded three-pointers as both teams exchanged leads. Davis blocked Sengun, leading to a timeout for the Rockets. After the break, VanVleet hit a three-pointer, and Green added seven more points, giving the Rockets a five-point lead. Davis fouled Adams, resulting in another timeout. Post-pause, Jalen Green fearlessly drove to the basket, drawing a 2+1 foul on LeBron James, and Adams extended the lead to double digits. Davis blocked Amen twice, but Green responded with another three-pointer! Tate hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer, ending the quarter with the Rockets leading 36-22.
During the second quarter, both teams rotated their lineups. Amen continued to attack the basket, earning free throws and scoring on a putback. Adams delivered a powerful dunk, prompting a Lakers timeout at 41-22. Upon James' return, he halted the bleeding with some points, but Holiday was also on fire, and VanVleet's three-pointer increased the lead to 20 points. Christie scored four points, and Udoka called a timeout. Back in action, Amen aggressively attacked the basket, while Christie and Reeves contributed with a three-pointer and a 2+1 play. Davis and Sengun engaged in a scoring duel as the Lakers gradually reduced the gap, leading to a tough seesaw battle. Dillon and VanVleet hit consecutive three-pointers, concluding the half with the Rockets ahead 67-48.
In the third quarter, Jalen Green and Sengun scored four points each before the Lakers responded with back-to-back three-pointers, narrowing the margin, prompting an Udoka timeout. Post-timeout, Green assisted Amen with a thunderous dunk and hit a three-pointer himself. However, the Lakers' Reeves and James matched with three-pointers, and Green committed a three-point foul, resulting in three successful free throws. Davis sank another three-pointer, closing the gap to 70-75, forcing another Rockets timeout. Returning to the court, the Lakers continued their outside shooting spree, with Adams drawing fouls on relentless offensive rebounds. But Jalen Green lost his composure, committing his fifth foul, sending Davis to the line. The third quarter ended with the Lakers trailing 89-91, just two points behind.
Early in the fourth quarter, the Rockets launched an 8-0 run, capped by White's corner three-pointer, forcing a Lakers timeout. Resuming play, Adams continued his dominance on the offensive boards, but Davis exerted his influence on both ends, scoring and drawing fouls. He cut the deficit to 101-105, prompting a Rockets timeout. Post-timeout, Sengun struggled offensively against Davis and defensively allowed a 2+1 play. Jalen Green connected with Amen for an alley-oop dunk, leading to another Lakers timeout. Post-timeout, VanVleet exploited a mismatch against Davis for a score. Jalen Green stepped up with five crucial points, extending the Rockets' lead to seven. Davis hit a three-pointer to keep the Lakers in contention, but Amen drew an offensive foul on James, and Sengun made one of two free throws. Ultimately, VanVleet's critical steal from James sealed the game.
The Rockets secured a narrow 119-115 victory over the Lakers. Let's delve into the individual performances of the players:
LeBron James appeared lackluster and out of form today, resembling a 40-year-old veteran. Defensively, he seemed disengaged, failing to box out for rebounds, and in the first quarter, he was posterized by Jalen Green for a 2+1. In the first half, James shot 2-for-5, missed his only three-point attempt, made one of two free throws, accumulating 5 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal, with a -14 plus-minus rating. Although he found his rhythm in the third quarter, sinking four three-pointers to aid the Lakers' comeback, he failed to maintain that momentum in the fourth quarter. In a pivotal moment, he was called for an offensive foul by Amen and committed a costly turnover that was intercepted by VanVleet, effectively ending the Lakers' hopes.
Jalen Green had a remarkable game against the Lakers, displaying immense energy right from the start. In the first quarter, he played all 12 minutes, shooting an impressive 7-for-8 from the field, including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc. Jalen Green finished the first quarter with 18 points, going 7-for-8 from the field, 3-for-4 from three-point range, and 1-for-1 from the free-throw line. Due to three fouls, he played only four minutes in the second quarter. At halftime, he had 18 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists on 7-of-10 shooting. As the Lakers mounted a furious comeback in the third quarter, Green contributed 10 points and assists to prevent the Rockets from being overtaken, although he accumulated his fifth foul towards the end of the quarter. In the fourth quarter, he returned with determination, nailing key three-pointers and mid-range shots. Overall, Jalen Green played 33 minutes, shooting 12-for-24 from the field, 5-for-12 from three-point range, and 4-for-4 from the free-throw line, amassing 33 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 block.
Amen, who returned from a two-game suspension, was instrumental in the Rockets' victory. With Smith injured, Amen was elevated to the starting lineup, where he made a significant impact on offense by attacking the paint and remained active in grabbing offensive rebounds. In the first half, he went 7-for-10 from the field, converting 1-of-4 free throws, tallying 15 points, 9 rebounds (4 offensive rebounds), and 1 assist, boasting a +16 plus-minus rating. His performance did not wane in the second half. Over 41 minutes, Amen shot 11-for-19 from the field and 1-for-4 from the free-throw line, finishing with 23 points, 16 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal. Notably, his 23 points marked a season-high, while his 16 rebounds set a new career record.
Anthony Davis outperformed Sengun individually, showcasing his dominance throughout the game. In the first half, he shot 4-for-9 from the field, missing his only three-point attempt, and recorded 8 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 blocks. In the second half, he scored an impressive 22 points. However, a crucial screening foul in the final moments dashed any hopes of a comeback. Over 38 minutes, Davis shot 10-for-18 from the field, 2-for-4 from three-point range, and a perfect 8-for-8 from the free-throw line, accumulating 30 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists, and 5 blocks in a valiant but ultimately futile effort.