Decimated Houston Rockets Fall To Los Angeles Clippers 102-85
Things were looking promising for the Houston Rockets as they met up with the Los Angeles Clippers for the first time this season.
No matter the opponent, the Rockets didn’t seem to care, they’ve continued to play their games short-handed and have won many as a result.
Fans were hoping for some more of that magic last night against the Clippers.
It didn’t happen.
As the game progressed, it became clearly evident that our roster could not handle their opponent to which their roster is deep at just about every position on the basketball court.
And they’re fairly healthy.
The Rockets are far from it — they’re ailing.
Even more so now that Isaiah Canaan will be out likely a game or two after suffering an ankle sprain late in 1st half.
Canaan was defending Chris Paul as his ankle turned into Paul’s foot causing him to tumble to floor and grimace in pain for a short while.
He was actually fouled on that play by Paul.
Nov 28, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard
Isaiah Canaan(0) is escorted off the court after an apparent injury during the second quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Being the tough warrior that he is, he went to line, shot his free throws and headed to the locker room after making one of two with 2:53 left.
He wouldn’t return.
It was just devastating to see because he had been the motor to the Rockets’ engine up until that point being the Rockets’ leading scorer at that point with 13 points.
He also was shooting 50 percent from the field, including 3-for-6 from the three-point with two rebounds in 14 total minutes of action.
I won’t get your spirits down talking about it any further either.
As far as the game, the Rockets had a nice start, matching the Clippers bucket-for-bucket as the Rockets did take a brief eight-point lead capped off with a deadly Canaan three with 5:45 left in the 1st quarter. Rockets 17, Clippers 9
The Clippers battled back with Blake Griffin taking the lead, constructing a 6-0 run putting them down by two with with 3:42 left in the 1st quarter. Rockets 17, Clippers 15
Nov 28, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward
Blake Griffin(32) shoots the ball while falling down during the second half against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
James Harden answered with a routine pull-up with 3:23 left, stopping the bleeding.
The Clippers ended up leading the Rockets 26-24 at the end of the 1st.
At the start of the 2nd quarter, the Rockets shooting went ice-cold and this allowed the Clippers to reel off an 11-0 run within about the first three and a half minutes of the 2nd quarter.
Jamal Crawford contributed seven of those 11 points with the Clippers leading the Rockets 37-25 with 8:42 left.
Canaan answered back with a three-pointer, cutting the Rockets’ deficit to nine.
But a three by Spencer Hawes pushed their lead back to 12 points with 7:49 left.
Harden would get the Rockets within five points after successfully completing an And-1 play with 4:28 left. Clippers 46, Rockets 41
But Griffin, Crawford and DeAndre Jordan would all work in cohorts to put their team back up 56-44 at the half.
The 2nd half was one of such blandness and ineffectiveness for the Rockets, it was hard to watch.
Nov 28, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard
James Harden(13) takes the ball to the basket during the second quarter as Los Angeles Clippers forward
Blake Griffin(32) and forward
Matt Barnes(22) defend at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
The Rockets trailed the entire quarter big-time with the Clippers leading by as much as 18 points.
Francisco Garcia, who helped out with the point guard duties, helped cut the Clippers’ lead to 13 with 48.3 seconds left in the 3rd quarter. Clippers 83, Rockets 70
Crawford hit another jumper but Joey Dorsey slammed one home to end the third quarter with the Clippers on top 85-72.
It was more of the same for the 4th quarter, with the Clippers leading by as much as 24 points after another Hawes jumper with 4:02 left.
The Clippers were coasting heavily at this point as the Rockets were looking for this nightmare of a game to end so that way they could go on the next one.
Harden had played every minute of this game up until 6:51 left when the writing on the wall was clear and Kevin McHale pulled him from the game.
The highlight of this game was when reserve guard Nick Johnson hurled a three effortlessly from near-half court with finesse with no time on the clock at least making the final score not look as bad and securing some playing time for him tonight. Final Score: Clippers 102, Rockets 85
Harden led all scorers with 16 points, including being a perfect 6-for-6 from the charity stripe, doling out six dimes and forcing two defensive blocks.
Nov 28, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard
Jason Terry(31) brings the ball up the court during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Not having a point guard sucks.
McHale tried several lineup combinations incorporating Jason Terry, Garcia, Troy Daniels and Johnson but nothing seemed to work against the Clippers.
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It will be interesting to see what McHale puts together for tonight’s game.
But it’s all about the next man up and I think that’s going to be either Daniels or Johnson.
Anyway, I’m glad that game is over and is in our rear-view.
The Rockets head up to Brew City in a back-to-back to face an improved Milwaukee Bucks team.
Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. CST.
The game will be televised on ROOT Sports Southwest and broadcast on 790 AM (KBME).
Go Rockets!