Houston Rockets Flub Late; Los Angeles Lakers Win 98-92

In just one week’s worth of time, the Houston Rockets have transitioned from a team that full of finesse and playing hard-nosed defense to the team we’re seeing now.

Yes, one that can’t shoot the ball well allowing their opponents easy baskets and just looking plain lost down the stretch when it counts.

That’s exactly what I saw against the Los Angeles Lakers last night.

The crazy part was that the Rockets were in this game the whole time — there was a never a point where it was out of reach for them.

But the stage was set, a healthy Kobe Bryant was available in top form and a confident Jeremy Lin was returning to his former home after being traded just a few months before.

But there was late scratch in the show — Dwight Howard, a starring cast member that has an ongoing feud with Bryant, would not take the stage.

No battle for us to see because he had a strained knee.

I’d like to question the severity of that injury but my best guess is that it will miraculously heal itself in time for the game against the Dallas Mavericks this Saturday.

I was sure looking forward to the face-off.

Nov 19, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard

James Harden

(13) dribbles the ball as Los Angeles Lakers guard

Kobe Bryant

(24) defends during the first quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Howard’s understudy had to be called up because the show must go on and that was Tarik Black.

He had a solid game in Howard’s absence but it’s apparent that he needs to be a bit more polished on the offensive end.

But that’s okay, we needed him to defend and he did so. He ended up with five points and nine boards — garnering a +11 efficiency when in the lineup.

The Rockets shot a lot better last night from the field — shooting 41 percent from the field and 39 percent from behind-the-arc.

This game remained close throughout the first half and it was because of the Rockets’ sloppy ball play — a lot more plays could’ve been made had it not been for the turnovers. They team had 17 on the night. Ouch!

The largest margin of the first half was by five points when the Lakers took a five-point lead from a Carlos Boozer free throw off a James Harden foul in the 2nd quarter. Lakers 45, Rockets 40

The team ended up leading the Lakers 51-49 at the half.

Nov 19, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets forward

Kostas Papanikolaou

(16) shoots the ball during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Kostas Papanikolaou was playing out his mind in the first half — playing hard-nosed defense, knocking down threes, he was on fire to score 16 points during that duration.

Papanikolaou had four three-pointers on the night, making it his third game that he has completed that feat. There’s not a rookie in the league right now that has done that.

Nice job, but he had a disappearing act in the 2nd half, scoring only three points in a fiery And-1 play in the 4th quarter ending up with 19 total. He just has to be consistent for 48 minutes and he’ll be fine.

The Rockets came out in the 3rd quarter shooting the ball well with a couple of threes from Donatas Motiejunas and Trevor Ariza. Harden chipped in by getting to the free throw line to put the Rockets up by as much as eight points with 7:26 left in the quarter. Rockets 62, Lakers 54

But Jordan Hill had three straight jumpers, cutting the Lakers deficit to four after a Patrick Beverley step-back. Rockets 64, Lakers 60

The Rockets still maintained control and Harden continued to keep the Rockets lead up by as much as 10 but Bryant willed his team back to being down by five at the end of the third. Rockets 75, Lakers 70

At the start of the 4th quarter, it was all Lakers with a pull-up by Nick Young and an Ed Davis tip-in getting to within one of the Rockets’ lead.

Nov 19, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard

Patrick Beverley

(2) and Los Angeles Lakers guard

Jeremy Lin

(17) battle for the ball during the second quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

But Beverley and Jason Terry were able to hit two big threes to put their lead back to seven with 8:31 left in the 4th. Rockets 81, Lakers 74

But Hill and Young worked together to bust through their deficit eventually taking a one-point lead with an 8-0 run with 6:19 left.

Harden then took control once again with two free throws of a Boozer foul and a And-1 play off a Hill foul keeping the Rockets up by four. Rockets 86, Lakers 82

But it was Bryant who took charge and eventually won the game by scoring seven key points down the stretch with in the last five minutes of the game. This also with the assistance of Young and Wesley Johnson to build up a 12-1 late run to defeat the Rockets 98-92.