After Wednesday’s bad loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Lakers had another game to play with they’re first back to back in the bubble against the Houston Rockets. Two MVP’s are sitting out tonight’s match up with Rockets G Russell Westbrook out with a leg injury and the Lakers superstar LeBron James also sitting out tonight’s game with a sore groin, which is something he’s been dealing with for a few years.
Houston came out shooting the lights out in the first half led by all star James Harden. We all know what to expect from James every-time with the leadership he provides along side with his tremendous scoring. What we do know about him is that when it comes down to the playoffs, James disappears and is nowhere to be found, at least from what we’ve witness in the past few years.
As the first half concluded, Lakers F Kyle Kuzma, who started for LeBron James today had a good start to help maintain the teams composure and keep them in the game as they when to the halftime trailing by 9. Anthony Davis didn’t have the start we imagined when he was scheduled to start at Center in JaVale McGee’s spot and allowing the Lakers to match up with Houston’s small line up. James Harden scores 25 points in the first half and while the Lakers shot 0-6 in three’s, not the way the Lakers wanted to start shooting. The Lakers for some reason don’t defend the perimeter shooters the way they need to in order prevent the Rockets from scoring of the three ball. It took until the beginning of the 3rd quarter for the Lakers to hit they’re first three of the night which came on the hands of Kyle Kuzma. He has been the only major spark that the Lakers have had through out the game so far while still being behind by 10 points in the middle of the 3rd, Kuzma has 17 thus far.
Rockets have been flying up and down the court shooting the lights out while the Lakers look lost and allowing the Rockets to look like the best team in the NBA. The ball movement has been incredible and guys like PJ Tucker was playing the game of his life and Jeff Green was being a contributor off the bench. There was no looking back towards the end of the 3rd quarter leading by 18 with 2 mins remaining in the 3rd.
Entering the 4th quarter Lakers trailing by 13 points and just seems like the Lakers team was not as focused as we would have wanted them to be. If you don’t remember the Lakers drafted Talen Horton-Tucker 46th overall out of Iowa State and making his NBA Bubble debut and giving the Lakers some much needed energy on the court. The Lakers coaching staff is very high on the potential that he can bring in the next few years and guess what? He’s only 19 years old. The Lakers when on a 14-3 run to cut the lead down by 7 with 8 mins remaining in the ball game. The Rockets were held scoreless for almost 5 mins until they woke up and came back on a 8-0 run to put the game away.
Lakers next game is Saturday against the Indiana Pacers at 6ET/3PT on TNT.
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