After losing two games in a row for the first time this season, the Houston Rockets will finish their three-game California trip with a matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday in Inglewood, California.
The Rockets had been playing well, winning 10 out of their last 12 games, but they lost 120-111 to Sacramento on Tuesday. Then, they suffered a 99-93 defeat against Golden State on Thursday, marking their lowest-scoring game of the season.
“One of our softest games since I’ve been here, for sure,” Rockets head coach Ime Udoka said about the loss to Golden State.
The trip hasn’t been easy for Houston, with more than just the losses causing issues. Udoka and center Alperen Sengun were fined after being ejected during the game in Sacramento. Tari Eason also received a fine for an incident with a fan during the same game.
Thursday’s loss came despite Golden State missing Stephen Curry and Draymond Green due to injuries. Houston shot just 37.6 percent from the field in that game.
“It doesn’t feel good,” said Rockets guard Fred VanVleet, who scored 13 points but shot 3 of 10 from three-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 both Jalen Green and Amen Thompson scored 14 each.
Green leads Houston with 19.0 points per game, while Sengun contributes 18.9 points and 10.6 rebounds.
Sunday’s game gives the Rockets a final chance to regain their confidence before hosting the Warriors in an NBA Cup quarterfinal game on Wednesday.
The Clippers have been off since Wednesday, when their nine-game home winning streak ended with a tough 108-80 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Kawhi Leonard (knee) remains out for Los Angeles, while leading scorer Norman Powell rested on Wednesday after recently returning from a hamstring injury.
The Clippers were also without Terance Mann, who missed his first game with a broken finger, and Kevin Porter, who is out with an ankle injury. Bones Hyland, playing in just his ninth game of the season, led the Clippers with season highs in points (18) and minutes (23).
James Harden struggled in the loss, shooting 1 of 10 from the floor and 1 of 6 from three-point range, finishing with just five points, his lowest of the season. He is averaging 21.6 points per game this season.
“In the NBA, the next game is up, so you don’t really have time to 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 Rockets and Clippers faced each other in mid-November, with Houston winning both games, 111-103 and 125-104. Green led the Rockets with 21 points in the first game, while Jabari Smith Jr. bounced back from a quiet performance to score a season-high 28 points with 11 rebounds in the second game.
Eason may miss his second straight game on Sunday as he remains in concussion protocol.
