Today, the Clippers came to Houston to challenge the Rockets, don't look at the Rockets are now basically a team outside the play-offs, but their strength should not be underestimated, especially Shen Jing just slashed 45 points and 16 rebounds when facing Wembanyama, the Clippers are weak inside, and how to protect the restricted area is a headache for them. The beginning of the game just confirmed this problem, Shen Jing broke the Clippers' interior line, the restricted area lost serious points, Zubac couldn't protect the restricted area at all and couldn't protect the rebounds, the Clippers' outside offense was also very sluggish and crazy to play iron, and the Rockets seized the opportunity to open the score in one fell swoop, once reaching 20 points. The Rockets are young and energetic, the Clippers seem lifeless and out of shape, and if they don't make adjustments, I'm afraid the game will basically end early.
In the second half, Lue boldly used Plumlee, who had been abandoned for several games, and Zubac was pressed to the bench, and the adjustment proved to be a miracle immediately, Plumlee was more flexible and faster, and Harden blocked and picked up the ball to the open to make a few, and the rebounding protection was also good, grabbing 11 rebounds in the game. George's hand also quickly picked up, and he scored 10 points in a single quarter in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, Leonard took over the game and scored 10 points on all four shots, and the margin was erased. The Rockets are too young and inexperienced, no one can stand up to stop the decline, Udoka has to use the tactic of cutting Plumlee, although the success caused him to miss two free throws, but the tactical execution is not resolute enough and does not continue, the Clippers seized the opportunity to overtake the score and establish a two-round lead, the Rockets can no longer cope with the Clippers offense, the score is fixed at 122-116.
In this game, the Clippers had 20+ players, including Leonard 28 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists to sweep away the slump in the last game, Harden 21 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists, George 21 points and 7 rebounds, Powell 12 points, Mann 15 points, Plumlee 8 points and 11 rebounds and 3 key blocks. For the Rockets, Shin Jing exploded again, slashing 23 points, 19 rebounds and 14 assists, Jabari Smith Jr. 19 points, VanVleet 15 points, Jalen Green 15 points, Dillon 11 points, Whitmore 17 points.