Strong Return of Rockets' Steven Adams After Injury, Impressive Performance Against Lakers Earns Praise from Coach
Ime Udoka was thrilled with Steven Adams' performance after his return from injury, which shone brightly in the game against the Lakers.
Ime Udoka is very fond of Steven Adams' performance since his comeback.
On Sunday, Ime Udoka and the Houston Rockets won at home against the Los Angeles Lakers, thanks to the outstanding performance of backup center Steven Adams. Despite limited playing time this season due to recovery from major knee surgery, Adams still played a significant role.
"This is how he has performed throughout his career," said Rockets head coach Ime Udoka when talking about Adams, who also excelled in setting solid screens. In just 17 minutes, Adams contributed 8 points and 9 rebounds, with 7 coming from offensive rebounds. His shooting percentage was an impressive 75% (3 of 4), including a breathtaking putback that left fans and teammates at Toyota Center in awe. During his time on the court, the Rockets outscored the Lakers by 17 points.
In 11 NBA seasons, Adams has averaged 26.4 minutes per game, scoring 9.0 points with a shooting percentage of 58.8%, and grabbing 8.1 rebounds. The 6-foot-11, 265-pound center is widely regarded as one of the toughest and most physically imposing players in the league.
Ime Udoka praised Steven Adams for his strong return after injury.
Adams' excellent performance made up for the mediocre showing of starting player Alperen Sengun, who in 31 minutes on the court, only made 6 of 14 shots (42.9%), with the Houston team trailing by 14 points.
The New Zealander stated that his right knee now feels as strong as it did before surgery—a promising sign that could greatly benefit the Houston team during the final stretch of the 2024-25 season.
"It's back to normal," said the 31-year-old player after the game. "It's constantly improving. We've been keeping an eye on it, and my confidence in the team is growing just as we planned."
The Lakers, with their hot outside shooting and 16 three-pointers, made a strong comeback after falling behind by 22 points early in the game, taking control in the third quarter. Despite the Lakers' momentum, they quickly regained control in the fourth quarter and sealed the victory in the final moments.
Amen Thompson returns from suspension.
Second-year forward Amen Thompson, starting as power forward for the Houston team in place of the injured Jabari Smith, made a strong impression in his debut. Thompson returned from a two-game NBA suspension and performed well in the starting power forward position.
Thompson returned with impressive stats, scoring 23 points, grabbing 16 rebounds, and dishing out 3 assists, making 11 of 19 shots (57.9%). Jalen Green led the Rockets' offense, going 12 of 24 (50.0%) from the field, including 5 of 12 (41.7%) from three-point range, for a game-high 33 points.
With Thompson and Adams playing key roles, Houston dominated the rebounding battle, ultimately leading Los Angeles 49-39. The Rockets currently lead the NBA in rebounding this season.
Adams and the Rockets are currently second in the Western Conference, and they plan to maintain their momentum in their upcoming three-game road trip against the Washington Wizards (6-27) on Tuesday.