With a very short-handed roster, the young Houston Rockets (10-33) saw their losing streak hit a season-high 10 games in Sunday’s 121-100 road loss (box score) to the Los Angeles Clippers (23-22). The visitors have now lost 15 of their last 16 games, overall.
Jalen Green and Jae’Sean Tate did not play in Sunday’s game due to the NBA’s announcement of a one-game suspension related to their role in an on-court altercation Friday night in Sacramento. Kevin Porter Jr. missed a second straight game with a left foot contusion.
As with many recent games, Houston was competitive until bench minutes late in the third quarter and early in the fourth, which is when the Clippers pulled away. Los Angeles was led by Kawhi Leonard and Terance Mann, who each broke 30 points in combining for 61 points on 24-of-40 shooting (60.0%) and 8-of-13 on 3-pointers (61.5%). Both players had 6 rebounds and 4 assists apiece, as well.
The Clippers outscored Houston, 30-10, in a decisive fourth quarter. Key statistics for the Rockets in Sunday’s game included:
- Eric Gordon: Season-high 24 points, 8-of-16 shooting (50.0%), 7-of-8 free throws (87.5%) in 30 minutes
- KJ Martin: 22 points, 9-of-14 shooting (64.3%), 9 rebounds in 33 minutes
- Alperen Sengun: 15 points, 7-of-12 shooting (58.3%), 1-of-1 from 3-point range, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 6 turnovers in 30 minutes
- Tari Eason: 11 points, 5-of-6 shooting (83.3%), 4 rebounds, 3 steals in 20 minutes
Scroll on for highlights, analysis, and postgame interview reaction from Crypto.com Arena. Next up for Houston, as its four-game West Coast road trip concludes, is Monday’s second game of a Los Angeles back-to-back versus the Lakers. Tipoff is at 9:30 p.m. Central.
Highlights
Analysis and Interviews
Alperen Sengun said besides Jokic, one of the players he looks up to is Joel Embiid, adding he wants to become efficient with his midrange game.
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) January 15, 2023
Josh Christopher is now 4-of-26 from 3 this season. He missed all six attempts today
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) January 15, 2023
My biggest thing with Silas has been:
– Need to see progression with young guys games and knowing how to win
– Can't have double-digit losing streaks.
The first is obviously up for discussion, the second now is not.
— Ari Alexander (@AriA1exander) January 15, 2023
You have seen the last 2 games the Rockets issues go well beyond one player or even two. Jabari had more opportunities and went 5-15 and Sengun had the ball more and had 6 turnovers. The coaching staff still doesn’t make enough 4th quarter adjustments and now 10 losses in a row
— Lachard Binkley (@BinkleyHoops) January 15, 2023
Rockets shot 5-of-20 with 7 turnovers in the 4th quarter
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) January 15, 2023
Eric Gordon led the #Rockets today with 24 points
But the @HoustonRockets fall to the LA Clippers 121-100 after being outscored 30-10 in the 4th quarter pic.twitter.com/C1SDmtQX7m
— AT&T SportsNet™ | SW (@ATTSportsNetSW) January 15, 2023
KJ Martin today at LA Clippers@kj__martin 🏀22 PTS🏀9 REB🏀#Rockets @HoustonRockets pic.twitter.com/WXZM0CdAM3
— AT&T SportsNet™ | SW (@ATTSportsNetSW) January 15, 2023
Ty Lue went small on the Rockets and that changed the game…#Sarge
— #SARGE (@BigSargeSportz) January 15, 2023
Tari Eason today vs LA Clippers@TAR13ASON
🚀11 PTS
🚀5-6 FG
🚀4 REB
🚀3 STL
🚀2 AST
🚀1 BLK@HoustonRockets #Rockets pic.twitter.com/jRaPmt2Orj— AT&T SportsNet™ | SW (@ATTSportsNetSW) January 15, 2023
INSANE sequence to close the half in Rockets-Clippers:
KJ Martin goes coast-to-coast and dunks on Terance Mann.
Then Mann drains the halfcourt heave!
🤯🤯🤯 pic.twitter.com/EG1FEMCKD6
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) January 15, 2023
Alperen Sengun today vs Clippers@alperennsengun 15 PTS / 8 REB / 6 AST#Rockets @HoustonRockets pic.twitter.com/wv6Xel4DsT
— AT&T SportsNet™ | SW (@ATTSportsNetSW) January 15, 2023
