After dropping consecutive games for the first time this season, the Houston Rockets will complete a three-game California visit with a matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday in Inglewood, Calif.
The Rockets had won 10 of 12 games until they fell at Sacramento 120-111 on Tuesday. Then they scored their fewest points of the season in losing at Golden State 99-93 decision on Thursday.
“One of our softest games since I’ve been here, for sure,” Rockets head coach Ime Udoka said of the loss in the Bay Area.
It has been a rough trip for Houston, and not just because of the losses. Udoka and center Alperen Sengun each were fined after getting ejected in the loss at Sacramento. Tari Eason had an interaction with a fan that also earned him a fine following the same game.
The loss on Thursday came despite the Warriors missing Stephen Curry and Draymond Green because of injuries. Houston shot 37.6 percent from the floor.
“It doesn’t feel good,” said Rockets guard Fred VanVleet, who finished with 13 points, while going 3 of 10 from 3-point range. “You never want to be called soft or be a part of anything soft. I don’t think anybody here is proud of our effort.”
Sengun led the Rockets with 16 points and eight rebounds against the Warriors, while Dillon Brooks had 15 and Jalen Green and Amen Thompson added 14 each.
Green leads Houston with 19.0 points per game, while Sengun pairs 10.6 rebounds with 18.9 points.
Sunday’s game gives the Rockets one last opportunity to find themselves before playing host to the Warriors in an NBA Cup quarterfinal game on Wednesday.
The Clippers have been idle since they saw their nine-game home winning streak come crashing down in a brutal 108-80 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday.
Kawhi Leonard (knee) remains out indefinitely for Los Angeles, while leading scorer Norman Powell was given a night of rest Wednesday on the second night of a back-to-back after recently returning from a hamstring injury.
The Clippers also were without Terance Mann, who missed his first game with a broken finger, and Kevin Porter, who has been down with an ankle injury. Bones Hyland, in just his ninth game of the season, led Los Angeles with season highs in points (18) and minutes (23).
James Harden went 1 of 10 from the floor and 1 of 6 from 3-point range, while scoring a season-low five points. He is scoring 21.6 points per game this season.
“In the NBA, the next game is up, so you don’t really have time to really sit back and dwell on it,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “We’ve gotta prepare for Houston, who’s played very well against us the two times we’ve played them in Houston. So, we just gotta be ready for that. Move onto the next and be ready to play on Sunday.”
The Clippers and Rockets played consecutive games in mid-November, with Houston winning 111-103 and 125-104. Green led the Rockets with 21 points in the first game, while Jabari Smith Jr. rebounded from a five-point night to score a season-high 28 points with 11 rebounds in the second game.
Eason could miss his second consecutive game for the Rockets on Sunday while in concussion protocol.
–Field Level Media