After pushing the last finalists and current No. 1 in the Western Conference to their ultimate limits the day before, in a 3-point loss in Phoenix, the Rockets followed up with another difficult trip, this time to Los Angeles, against the Clippers.
It was not the same lemonade for the Texans taken by the throat at the entrance, and quickly dropped on the scoreboard for an 11th defeat in their last 12 games. And in large widths (142-111)!
Carried by a duo composed of Marcus Morris (27 points) and Terance Mann (20 points, 8 rebounds), the Clippers sailed calmly towards victory, leading by 17 points in the 2nd quarter, well helped by a Luke Kennard (25 points ) at the diabolical 3-point address, he who will try his luck in the long-distance shooting contest this weekend in Cleveland.
If they had also experienced the defeat against the Suns earlier in the week, the Clippers are still on a good dynamic, with three wins in four games, despite their avalanche of injuries this season.
For the Rockets, the local stage, Jalen Green (21 points) made the number and the show, but his team never seemed able to compete, like its two leaders, Christian Wood (13 points, 7 rebounds) and Dennis Schröder (9 points, 9 assists) who were pretty off offensively, when Kevin Porter Jr. (ill) and Eric Gordon (groin) were both unavailable.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– Luke Kennard’s heat stroke in the 2nd quarter. The Clippers were already leading by 9 lengths at the end of the first quarter, but they gave it a layer, and what a layer, in the second! With 19 points at 6/8 on shots including 6/7 from 3-pointers, Luke Kennard has warmed up perfectly for the 3-point contest to be held in Cleveland this weekend. In full success, the Clippers were 12/19 from 3-pointers in the first half. For his part, Reggie Jackson (who was not in a great evening in address: 5/13 in the end) was already in double-double with 12 points and 10 assists at the break.
– The blow of bamboo struck by Marcus Morris in the 3rd quarter. After Luke Kennard before half-time, it was Marcus Morris who caught fire on his return from the locker room. The veteran winger scored 17 points including a 9/9 on shots in the period, enough to seal the match’s fate well before its outcome. At 107-79 before the start of the last quarter, the Clippers were able to quietly rotate their workforce.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Marcus Morris. In good shape for the month of February, at 18 points on average, Markieff’s twin confirmed last night, with a new convincing performance, at 27 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists, and this without having to hit the courts last. quarter. It must be said that in 3rd, “Senior” had put the package with 17 points in 12 minutes including an impeccable 9/9 on the repair line.
✅ Terance Mann. Completely transparent against Phoenix in his last game (2 points in 32 minutes), Terance Mann bounced back well last night. Like his nice dunk at the end of the first quarter, he was aggressive towards the circle against a Houston defense which left him a few boulevards. With 20 points scored efficiently, and 8 rebounds, Mann made the job.
✅ Luke Kennard. Before taking off for “The Land” for the star-studded weekend and the 3-point contest, Luke Kennard rehearsed his ranges well against Houston. With his huge heat stroke in the 2nd quarter, with 19 of his 25 points at a sparkling 6/7 from behind the arc, Kennard was fabulous.
⛔ Dennis Schröder. Very good against Phoenix the day before, with 17 of his 23 points scored in the second half, Dennis Schröder did not suffer the same fate last night in Los Angeles. The German leader was not on his plate and, at 3/11 on shots, he could only accumulate 9 points and 9 assists, plus 4 stray bullets.
THE FOLLOWING
Houston (15-43): next game in Orlando next Friday.
LA Clippers (30-31): (very) short trip to the neighbors of the Lakers for the LA derby next Friday.
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