Game ID: 22300291
Houston Rockets @ Los Angeles Lakers
Saturday, December 2, 2023 at 10:30 PM ET
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
LAL 25 35 26 21 107HOU 30 14 28 25 97
HOU @ LAL ScoutingHOU @ LAL Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
LAL availability going into 11/25 · 2 days' restOUT Vanderbilt missed 3 since 11/19, out tonight
OUT Vincent missed 12 since 11/01, out tonight
NEW Reddish 20 to 27 min over the last 4
LAL availability going into 11/27 · 1 day's restOUT Reddish missed 2 since 11/22, out tonight
OUT Vanderbilt missed 4 since 11/19, out tonight
OUT Vincent missed 13 since 11/01, out tonight
NEW Christie 14 to 21 min over the last 4
LAL availability going into 11/29 · 1 day's restOUT Hachimura missed 2 since 11/25, out tonight
OUT Reddish missed 3 since 11/22, returns tonight: 20 min (95% of 20)
OUT Vanderbilt missed 5 since 11/19, out tonight
OUT Vincent missed 14 since 11/01, out tonight
NEW Christie 14 to 27 min over the last 4
LAL availability going into 11/30 · back-to-backOUT Hachimura missed 3 since 11/25, out tonight
OUT Vanderbilt missed 6 since 11/19, out tonight
OUT Vincent missed 15 since 11/01, out tonight
BACK Reddish back 11/29 after 3, 20 min since (95% of 20)
NEW Christie 14 to 26 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 12/02 · 1 day's restOUT Hachimura missed 4 since 11/25, out tonight
OUT Vanderbilt missed 7 since 11/19, returns tonight: 14 min (68% of 20)
OUT Vincent missed 16 since 11/01, out tonight
BACK Reddish back 11/29 after 3, 20 min since (95% of 20)
NEW Christie 14 to 25 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 12/05 · 2 days' restOUT Hachimura missed 5 since 11/25, returns tonight: 21 min (79% of 27)
OUT Vincent missed 17 since 11/01, out tonight
BACK Reddish back 11/29 after 3, 22 min since (107% of 20)
BACK Vanderbilt back 12/02 after 7, 14 min since (68% of 20)
NEW Christie 14 to 26 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 12/07 · 1 day's restOUT Vincent missed 18 since 11/01, out tonight
BACK Hachimura back 12/05 after 5, 21 min since (79% of 27)
BACK Reddish back 11/29 after 3, 25 min since (120% of 20)
BACK Vanderbilt back 12/02 after 7, 14 min since (72% of 20)
NEW Christie 14 to 21 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 12/12 · 4 days' restOUT Vincent missed 19 since 11/01, out tonight
BACK Hachimura back 12/05 after 5, 21 min since (79% of 27)
BACK Reddish back 11/29 after 3, 24 min since (119% of 20)
BACK Vanderbilt back 12/02 after 7, 14 min since (72% of 20)
NEW Christie 14 to 19 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 12/13 · back-to-backOUT Vincent missed 20 since 11/01, out tonight
BACK Hachimura back 12/05 after 5, 24 min since (88% of 27)
BACK Vanderbilt back 12/02 after 7, 14 min since (72% of 20)
HOU availability going into 11/22 · 1 day's restOUT Thompson missed 8 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Whitmore missed 6 since 11/08, out tonight
HOU availability going into 11/24 · 1 day's restOUT Thompson missed 9 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Whitmore missed 7 since 11/08, out tonight
HOU availability going into 11/28 · 3 days' restOUT Thompson missed 10 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Whitmore missed 8 since 11/08, out tonight
HOU availability going into 11/29 · back-to-backOUT Thompson missed 11 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Whitmore missed 9 since 11/08, returns tonight: 6 min (31% of 19)
OUT Landale missed 2 since 11/24, returns tonight: 14 min (100% of 14)
HOU availability going into 12/02 · 2 days' restOUT Thompson missed 12 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK Whitmore back 11/29 after 9, 6 min since (31% of 19)
BACK Landale back 11/29 after 2, 14 min since (100% of 14)
NEW Holiday 16 to 23 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/06 · 3 days' restOUT Thompson missed 13 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK Whitmore back 11/29 after 9, 4 min since (24% of 19)
BACK Landale back 11/29 after 2, 8 min since (61% of 14)
HOU availability going into 12/08 · 1 day's restOUT Thompson missed 14 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK Whitmore back 11/29 after 9, 4 min since (24% of 19)
BACK Landale back 11/29 after 2, 8 min since (61% of 14)
NEW Holiday 16 to 22 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/11 · 2 days' restOUT Thompson missed 15 since 11/04, returns tonight: 10 min (46% of 22)
OUT Whitmore missed 2 since 12/06, out tonight
OUT Landale missed 2 since 12/06, out tonight
NEW Holiday 16 to 23 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/13 · 1 day's restOUT Whitmore missed 3 since 12/06, out tonight
OUT Landale missed 3 since 12/06, returns tonight: 10 min (76% of 14)
BACK Thompson back 12/11 after 15, 10 min since (46% of 22)
NEW Holiday 16 to 22 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 119, shooting 48 percent and 33 from three, 25 free throws a game; Davis at 24 and James at 22 a game. Without Hachimura (4 straight), Vanderbilt (7 straight), Vincent (16 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 111, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 20 free throws a game; Sengun at 23 and Ja. Green at 23 a game. Without Thompson (12 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the turnovers, the Lakers giving it away 14 times a game to Houston's 10 and the defense, Houston allowing 111 a night to the Lakers' 119. Call it Houston 113, the Lakers 112, the Lakers keeping it close.
11/25 @ CLE 121-115 — LAL notes
LAL won 121-115. LAL shot 52% (47 of 90) to CLE's 47%, 9 of 27 from three. Davis led with 32 (13 of 20, 6 of 7 at the line); James added 22, Reaves 15. The hinge was Q4, 28-21: LAL came in trailing by 1 and left it ahead by 6. LAL trailed 70-71 at the half and won the second half 51-44. Hayes was the night's best plus/minus at +14.
11/27 @ PHI 94-138 — LAL notes
LAL lost 94-138. LAL shot 47% (39 of 83) to PHI's 51%, 7 of 28 from three, and got to the line 13 times to PHI's 26. LAL turned it over 17 times to PHI's 5, and PHI turned those into 11 steals. The glass went 32-48 against them. James led with 18 (8 of 12); Davis added 17, Reaves 12. Q2 was theirs, 34-36, but the other 3 periods went 102-60 against them. Hayes's -33 in 19 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/29 @ DET 133-107 — LAL notes
LAL won 133-107. LAL shot 51% (45 of 88) to DET's 41%, 12 of 34 from three, and went to the line 38 times to DET's 14 — 31 points from the stripe to their 12. The glass went 49-39 for them. Russell led with 35 (13 of 17, 5 of 7 from three); Davis added 28, James 25. The hinge was Q1, 38-24: from level to 14 ahead, and the lead reached 33. Russell was the night's best plus/minus at +31.
11/30 @ OKC 110-133 — LAL notes
LAL lost 110-133. LAL shot 44% (36 of 81) to OKC's 53%, 11 of 33 from three, and went to the line 32 times to OKC's 22 — 27 points from the stripe to their 19. LAL turned it over 13 times to OKC's 7, and OKC turned those into 9 steals. Davis led with 31 (11 of 18, 9 of 10 at the line); James added 21, Russell 16. Q1 was theirs, 37-30, but the other 3 periods went 103-73 against them. They led by as many as 14. Reaves's -23 in 29 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/02 vs HOU 107-97 — LAL notes
LAL won 107-97. LAL shot 45% (40 of 89) to HOU's 40%, 8 of 27 from three, and went to the line 27 times to HOU's 18 — 19 points from the stripe to their 14. LAL turned it over 9 times to HOU's 16. Davis led with 27 (10 of 22, 7 of 9 at the line); Reaves added 18, James 16. The hinge was Q2, 35-14: LAL came in trailing by 5 and left it ahead by 16, and the lead reached 19. Christie was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
12/05 vs PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 118, shooting 48 percent and 32 from three, 26 free throws a game; Davis at 27 and James at 20 a game. Without Hachimura (5 straight), Vincent (17 straight). 2 days' rest. Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 108, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 28 free throws a game; Durant at 29 and Booker at 28 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Beal (10 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Phoenix wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-6 a night and the Lakers minus-2 and the defense, Phoenix allowing 108 a night to the Lakers' 118. Call it Phoenix 114, the Lakers 113, the Lakers keeping it close.
12/07 vs NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 116, shooting 45 percent and 31 from three, 27 free throws a game; Davis at 26 and James at 22 a game. Without Vincent (18 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 115, shooting 51 percent and 35 from three, 29 free throws a game; Williamson at 22 and Ingram at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Nance Jr. (4 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: New Orleans wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-4 a night and the Lakers minus-4 and the arc, New Orleans at 35 percent from three to the Lakers' 31. Call it New Orleans 115, the Lakers 114, the Lakers keeping it close.
12/12 @ DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Dallas comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 111, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Dončić at 36 and Irving at 16 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Williams (3 straight), Green (4 straight), Kleber (14 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. The Lakers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 106, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 30 free throws a game; Davis at 26 and James at 25 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Vincent (19 straight). 4 days' rest.
So: Dallas wins, and the game turns on the line, where the Lakers take 30 free throws a game to Dallas's 23 and the glass, where the Lakers have been plus-3 a night and Dallas minus-2. Call it Dallas 115, the Lakers 114, the Lakers keeping it close.
12/13 @ SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 115, shooting 44 percent and 32 from three, 19 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 17 and Johnson at 17 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest. The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 110, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 26 free throws a game; Davis at 28 and James at 26 a game. Without Vincent (20 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: The Lakers win, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, the Lakers at 39 percent from three to San Antonio's 32 and the glass, where the Lakers have been plus-2 a night and San Antonio minus-4. Call it the Lakers 115, San Antonio 111, San Antonio keeping it close.
11/22 vs MEM 111-91 — HOU notes
HOU won 111-91. HOU shot 43% (40 of 92) to MEM's 33%, 14 of 43 from three, and got to the line 20 times to MEM's 35. Ja. Green led with 34 (13 of 26, 3 of 13 from three); Smith Jr. added 18, VanVleet 16. The hinge was Q4, 37-23: a lead of 6 became 20, and the lead reached 24. HOU trailed 45-46 at the half and won the second half 66-45. Tate was the night's best plus/minus at +26.
11/24 vs DEN 105-86 — HOU notes
HOU won 105-86. HOU shot 49% (40 of 82) to DEN's 34%, 12 of 29 from three, and got to the line 15 times to DEN's 21. Ja. Green led with 25 (10 of 18, 3 of 8 from three); Sengun added 21, VanVleet 17. The hinge was Q1, 29-19: from level to 10 ahead, and the lead reached 26. VanVleet was the night's best plus/minus at +30.
11/28 @ DAL 115-121 — HOU notes
HOU lost 115-121. HOU shot 49% (42 of 85) to DAL's 47%, 8 of 29 from three. HOU turned it over 12 times to DAL's 7. Sengun led with 31 (10 of 19, 11 of 14 at the line); Smith Jr. added 16, Brooks 16. Q3 was theirs, 38-30, turning a 4-point deficit into a 4-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 91-77 against them. VanVleet's -12 in 41 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/29 @ DEN 124-134 — HOU notes
HOU lost 124-134. HOU shot 55% (47 of 86) to DEN's 51%, 16 of 41 from three, and got to the line 19 times to DEN's 26. HOU turned it over 8 times to DEN's 3. Ja. Green led with 26 (8 of 12, 5 of 8 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Sengun added 22, Smith Jr. 15. Q3 was theirs, 38-32, the deficit cut from 17 to 11, but the other 3 periods went 102-86 against them. Smith Jr.'s -22 in 32 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/02 @ LAL 97-107 — HOU notes
HOU lost 97-107. HOU shot 40% (36 of 89) to LAL's 45%, 11 of 31 from three, and got to the line 18 times to LAL's 27. HOU turned it over 16 times to LAL's 9, and LAL turned those into 11 steals. VanVleet led with 22 (7 of 15, 4 of 7 from three); Sengun added 21, Holiday 11. Q1 was theirs, 30-25, but the other 3 periods went 82-67 against them. VanVleet's -22 in 40 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/06 vs OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 108, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Ja. Green at 21 and Sengun at 21 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Thompson (13 straight). 3 days' rest. OKC comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 113, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 26 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 31 and Holmgren at 19 a game. 3 days' rest.
So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the line, where OKC takes 26 free throws a game to Houston's 20. Call it OKC 113, Houston 112, Houston keeping it close.
12/08 @ DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 115, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 19 free throws a game; Jokić at 28 and Jackson at 21 a game. One day's rest. Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 110, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; Sengun at 23 and Ja. Green at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Thompson (14 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-6 a night and Denver minus-2 and the turnovers, Houston giving it away 14 times a game to Denver's 9. Call it Denver 113, Houston 110, Houston keeping it close.
12/11 vs SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 114, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 26 free throws a game; Sengun at 22 and Ja. Green at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Thompson (15 straight), Whitmore (2 straight). 2 days' rest. San Antonio comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 123, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 20 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 19 and Vassell at 18 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-5 a night and San Antonio minus-4 and the defense, Houston allowing 114 a night to San Antonio's 123. Call it Houston 118, San Antonio 110.
12/13 vs MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 106, shooting 44 percent and 37 from three, 24 free throws a game; Sengun at 19 and VanVleet at 19 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Whitmore (3 straight). One day's rest. Memphis comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 112, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 17 free throws a game; Bane at 30 and Jackson Jr. at 25 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Morant (22 straight), Smart (11 straight), Jackson (7 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-6 a night and Memphis minus-4 and the line, where Houston takes 24 free throws a game to Memphis's 17. Call it Houston 112, Memphis 105.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
LALAD A. Davis
AR A. Reaves
CR C. Reddish
CW C. Wood
DR D. Russell
JH J. Hayes
JH J. Hood-Schifino
JV J. Vanderbilt
LJ L. James
MC M. Christie
ML M. Lewis
TP T. Prince
HOUAH A. Holiday
AS A. Sengun
CW C. Whitmore
DB D. Brooks
FV F. VanVleet
JG J. Green
JL J. Landale
JS J. Samuels Jr.
JS J. Smith Jr.
JT J. Tate
JG Ja. Green
NH N. Hinton
TE T. Eason
LAL/HOU the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Davis has 27 points and 14 rebounds, Lakers keep Rockets winless on road with 107-97 victory
LOS ANGELES -- — Anthony Davis had 27 points and 14 rebounds, and the Los Angeles Lakers beat Houston 107-97 on Saturday night, keeping the Rockets winless on the road.
Austin Reaves added 18 points off the bench and LeBron James had 16 points and seven assists.
Fred VanVleet scored 22 points and Alperen Sengun had 21 points and 13 rebounds for the Rockets, who dropped their third in a row overall while falling to 0-8 away from home.
Houston coach Ime Udoka was ejected with 8:35 remaining in the game after picking up his second technical for jawing with James, who also got a tech.
“We had some conversation and they didn't like what they heard,” Udoka said, referring to the referees.
The Lakers dominated the paint, 54-34, and their bench outscored Houston's reserves 33-24.
Sengun scored 12 points in the third, when the Rockets outscored the Lakers 28-20 and trailed 86-72 going into the fourth.
After allowing Houston to shoot 60% from the floor in the first quarter, when Davis missed his first six shots, the Lakers took over in the second. Reaves scored 15 points — his career high in a quarter — and keyed a 29-4 run, with Davis adding eight points, that put the Lakers ahead 58-40. VanVleet scored six in a row to leave Houston trailing 60-44 at the break.
“That's probably one of the best quarters that we had this year, especially in the first half. We just haven't been a first-half team,” James said. “It came with defending, getting out, sharing the ball, moving the ball and A.R. was special in the second.”
Rui Hachimura was available for the Lakers, but didn't play a week after having nose surgery.
“Physically he's fine except for his nose,” coach Darvin Ham said.
PLAY OF THE GAME
James pulled off a slick 360-degree reverse layup at the end of the second.
“It was a crazy shot,” Davis said. “At this point in his career he's done everything that he literally just goes out and tries stuff and sees what works.”
Teammate Christian Wood got a tech for coming onto the floor as the Lakers bench erupted along with the crowd.
“We'll take that one,” James said of the tech. “Just trying to make plays and I felt like that was the best way to kind of finish that one.”
As James fell to the floor, he lost track of the ball. “The fans let me know that I made it and then my teammates, by them running on the floor or whatever they did down there, allowed me to see it on the Jumbrotron because it stopped the play because of the technical.”
Ham said, “The most impressive thing is at what stage in his career he's doing it in. He's breaking barriers it seems every day.”
UP NEXT
Rockets: Host Oklahoma City on Wednesday.
Lakers: Host Phoenix on Tuesday night in a quarterfinal of the In-Season Tournament.