HOUSTON — With Kevin Porter Jr. leading the way, the young and rebuilding Rockets have suddenly won two straight games and four of their last seven with Wednesday’s 114-110 victory (box score) over the short-handed Los Angeles Lakers.
The Rockets (17-52), who are midway through a six-game homestand at Toyota Center, have won three of their last four at home. With the loss, Los Angeles (34-36) had its lead for the No. 10 spot in the Western Conference playoff race — the final play-in tournament spot — slip to a half-game.
Star forwards LeBron James (right foot soreness) and Anthony Davis did not play in Houston. The latter sat out for planned maintenance on the second night of a road back-to-back. Austin Reaves led the visitors with 24 points and 7 assists in 27 minutes off the bench.
As for the home team, Porter was the star with 27 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists on 11-of-16 shooting (68.8%), including 2-of-5 on 3-pointers. He needed two stitches at halftime to close a cut over his left eye, but that didn’t slow him. KJ Martin added 16 points and 8 rebounds for the Rockets on efficient 7-of-11 shooting (63.6%).
#Rockets Kevin Porter Jr on the cut to his eye that caused him to get stitches at halftime
KPJ finishes with a game high 27 points as the @houstonrockets beat the Lakers 114-110 pic.twitter.com/fLBr56lVnm
— AT&T SportsNet™ | SW (@ATTSportsNetSW) March 16, 2023
Other Houston players who scored in double figures were:
- Jabari Smith Jr.: 18 points, 6 rebounds; 6-of-17 shooting (35.3%), 2-of-7 on 3-pointers (28.6%), 4-of-8 free throws (50.0%)
- Alperen Sengun: 13 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 blocks; 6-of-10 shooting (60.0%)
- Jalen Green: 11 points, 6 rebounds; 4-of-13 shooting (30.8%), 2-of-6 on 3-pointers (33.3%)
- Jae’Sean Tate (21 minutes off bench): 13 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists; 6-of-7 shooting (85.7%)
- Josh Christopher (13 minutes off bench): 12 points, 3 rebounds; 5-of-6 shooting (83.3%), 2-of-3 on 3-pointers
Sengun made a healthy return and played his usual starter’s minutes after missing Monday’s game with a minor groin injury.
The Rockets entered averaging the NBA’s most paint points over the last 10 games, and they finished with 78 against the Lakers — four behind their season high last week in Indiana. Houston also flexed its interior muscle by outrebounding Los Angeles, 51-36.
Houston outshot the Lakers from the field, 52.8% to 37.8%. But Los Angeles kept the game close by making 31-of-37 free throws (83.8%) while Houston shot 12-of-19 (63.2%). That was the largest differential in free-throw attempts by a Rockets’ opponent this season.
It was only the second time in the 2022-23 season the Rockets shot 50% or better while holding their opponent below 40% shooting. The first came in a November win over Oklahoma City.
Scroll on for highlights, analysis and postgame interviews. Next up for Houston is a pair of home games versus the New Orleans Pelicans (33-36) on Friday and Sunday nights at Toyota Center.