Game ID: 22400016
LA Clippers @ Houston Rockets
Friday, November 15, 2024 at 8:00 PM ET
Toyota Center, Houston, TX
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
HOU 29 37 28 31 125LAC 21 25 29 29 104
HOU vs LAC ScoutingHOU vs LAC 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.
HOU availability going into 11/08 · 1 day's restOUT Dante missed 8 since 10/23, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 11/02 after 3, 12 min since (92% of 13)
BACK Landale back 11/02 after 2, 12 min since (102% of 12)
BACK Jef. Green back 11/02 after 5, 4 min since (37% of 12)
BACK Tate back 11/06 after 5, 5 min since (46% of 11)
HOU availability going into 11/10 · 1 day's restOUT Dante missed 9 since 10/23, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 11/02 after 3, 10 min since (77% of 13)
BACK Landale back 11/02 after 2, 10 min since (85% of 12)
BACK Jef. Green back 11/02 after 5, 4 min since (35% of 12)
BACK Tate back 11/06 after 5, 6 min since (50% of 11)
HOU availability going into 11/11 · back-to-backOUT Whitmore missed 2 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 10 since 10/23, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 11/02 after 3, 10 min since (77% of 13)
BACK Landale back 11/02 after 2, 12 min since (99% of 12)
BACK Jef. Green back 11/02 after 5, 4 min since (35% of 12)
BACK Tate back 11/06 after 5, 6 min since (50% of 11)
HOU availability going into 11/13 · 1 day's restOUT Whitmore missed 3 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 11 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Jef. Green missed 2 since 11/10, out tonight
BACK Tate back 11/06 after 5, 4 min since (38% of 11)
HOU availability going into 11/15 · 1 day's restOUT Whitmore missed 4 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 12 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Jef. Green missed 3 since 11/10, out tonight
BACK Tate back 11/06 after 5, 4 min since (38% of 11)
HOU availability going into 11/17 · 1 day's restOUT Whitmore missed 5 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 13 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Jef. Green missed 4 since 11/10, returns tonight: 13 min (115% of 12)
HOU availability going into 11/18 · back-to-backOUT Whitmore missed 6 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 14 since 10/23, out tonight
BACK Jef. Green back 11/17 after 4, 13 min since (115% of 12)
HOU availability going into 11/20 · 1 day's restOUT Whitmore missed 7 since 11/08, returns tonight: 5 min (34% of 15)
OUT Dante missed 15 since 10/23, out tonight
BACK Jef. Green back 11/17 after 4, 8 min since (68% of 12)
HOU availability going into 11/22 · 1 day's restOUT Dante missed 16 since 10/23, out tonight
BACK Whitmore back 11/20 after 7, 5 min since (34% of 15)
BACK Jef. Green back 11/17 after 4, 7 min since (59% of 12)
LAC availability going into 11/08 · 1 day's restBACK Hyland back 11/02 after 5, 4 min since (34% of 11)
BACK Miller back 11/02 after 5, 4 min since (35% of 11)
LAC availability going into 11/09 · back-to-backBACK Hyland back 11/02 after 5, 4 min since (34% of 11)
BACK Miller back 11/02 after 5, 4 min since (35% of 11)
LAC availability going into 11/11 · 1 day's restOUT Hyland missed 2 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Miller missed 2 since 11/08, out tonight
LAC availability going into 11/13 · 1 day's restOUT Hyland missed 3 since 11/08, returns tonight: 5 min (48% of 11)
OUT Miller missed 3 since 11/08, returns tonight: 12 min (111% of 11)
LAC availability going into 11/15 · 1 day's restBACK Hyland back 11/13 after 3, 5 min since (48% of 11)
BACK Miller back 11/13 after 3, 12 min since (111% of 11)
LAC availability going into 11/17 · 1 day's restBACK Hyland back 11/13 after 3, 7 min since (61% of 11)
BACK Miller back 11/13 after 3, 11 min since (104% of 11)
LAC availability going into 11/18 · back-to-backBACK Hyland back 11/13 after 3, 7 min since (61% of 11)
BACK Miller back 11/13 after 3, 11 min since (104% of 11)
LAC availability going into 11/20 · 1 day's restOUT Hyland missed 2 since 11/17, out tonight
OUT Miller missed 2 since 11/17, returns tonight: 16 min (146% of 11)
LAC availability going into 11/22 · 1 day's restOUT Hyland missed 3 since 11/17, out tonight
BACK Miller back 11/13 after 3, 13 min since (118% of 11)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 104, shooting 46 percent and 31 from three, 21 free throws a game; Sengun at 19 and Green at 18 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 12 a night. Without Whitmore (4 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 109, shooting 48 percent and 44 from three, 24 free throws a game; Powell at 25 and Harden at 20 a game. One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the arc, the Clippers at 44 percent from three to Houston's 31 and the glass, where Houston has been plus-12 a night and the Clippers plus-3. Call it Houston 111, the Clippers 107, the Clippers keeping it close.
11/08 @ OKC 107-126 — HOU notes
HOU lost 107-126. HOU shot 43% (39 of 90) to OKC's 51%, 11 of 30 from three. HOU turned it over 17 times to OKC's 10, and OKC turned those into 9 steals. Brooks led with 17 (6 of 12, 3 of 4 from three); Ja. Green added 14, Thompson 14. Q4 was theirs, 31-28, the deficit cut from 22 to 19, but the other 3 periods went 98-76 against them. Thompson's -19 in 24 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/10 @ DET 101-99 — HOU notes
HOU won 101-99. HOU shot 41% (38 of 93) to DET's 43%, 7 of 34 from three. HOU turned it over 11 times to DET's 18. Sengun led with 27 (11 of 17, 5 of 7 at the line); Eason added 18, Green 15. The hinge was Q3, 29-19: HOU came in trailing by 2 and left it ahead by 8. HOU trailed 43-45 at the half and won the second half 58-54. Brooks was the night's best plus/minus at +14.
11/11 vs WAS 107-92 — HOU notes
HOU won 107-92. HOU shot 46% (40 of 87) to WAS's 41%, 5 of 23 from three, and went to the line 25 times to WAS's 13 — 22 points from the stripe to their 9. The glass went 58-34 for them. Sengun led with 27 (12 of 19); Green added 18, Thompson 13. The hinge was Q2, 27-21: a lead of 2 became 8, and the lead reached 20. Sengun was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
11/13 vs LAC 111-103 — HOU notes
HOU won 111-103. HOU shot 43% (42 of 97) to LAC's 40%, 15 of 40 from three. The glass went 59-42 for them. Green led with 21 (7 of 21, 5 of 14 from three); Thompson added 18, Eason 18. The hinge was Q2, 33-28: from level to 5 ahead, and the lead reached 19. Landale was the night's best plus/minus at +26.
11/15 vs LAC 125-104 — HOU notes
HOU won 125-104. HOU shot 48% (46 of 95) to LAC's 38%, 19 of 44 from three, and got to the line 18 times to LAC's 33. Smith Jr. led with 28 (11 of 17, 5 of 8 from three); VanVleet added 18, Brooks 17. The hinge was Q2, 37-25: a lead of 8 became 20, and the lead reached 28. VanVleet was the night's best plus/minus at +39.
11/17 @ CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Chicago comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 127, shooting 51 percent and 40 from three, 20 free throws a game; White at 23 and Vučević at 21 a game. Without Ball (9 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 105, shooting 44 percent and 33 from three, 22 free throws a game; Sengun at 19 and Green at 15 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 10 a night. Without Whitmore (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Houston allowing 105 a night to Chicago's 127 and the glass, where Houston has been plus-10 a night and Chicago plus-1. Call it Houston 117, Chicago 113, Chicago keeping it close.
11/18 @ MIL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Milwaukee comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 110, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 18 free throws a game; Antetokounmpo at 34 and Portis at 14 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Lillard (3 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 101, shooting 46 percent and 32 from three, 23 free throws a game; Sengun at 21 and VanVleet at 17 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 13 a night. Without Whitmore (6 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-13 a night and Milwaukee minus-5 and the defense, Houston allowing 101 a night to Milwaukee's 110. Call it Houston 111, Milwaukee 109, Milwaukee keeping it close.
11/20 vs IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 101, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 21 free throws a game; VanVleet at 22 and Sengun at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 13 a night. Without Whitmore (7 straight). One day's rest. Indiana comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 116, shooting 47 percent and 41 from three, 19 free throws a game; Mathurin at 24 and Siakam at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Nembhard (6 straight), Nesmith (8 straight), Isa. Jackson (8 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-13 a night and Indiana minus-4 and the defense, Houston allowing 101 a night to Indiana's 116. Call it Houston 117, Indiana 108.
11/22 vs POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 106, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 23 free throws a game; VanVleet at 21 and Sengun at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 11 a night. One day's rest. Portland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 112, shooting 43 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Sharpe at 22 and Grant at 14 a game. Without Simons (3 straight), Ayton (4 straight), Thybulle (15 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Portland giving it away 21 times a game to Houston's 12 and the glass, where Houston has been plus-11 a night and Portland plus-0. Call it Houston 117, Portland 105, Houston by 12.
11/08 @ SAC 107-98 — LAC notes
LAC won 107-98. LAC shot 44% (36 of 81) to SAC's 47%, 14 of 30 from three. LAC turned it over 18 times to SAC's 13. The glass went 48-35 for them. Powell led with 31 (10 of 23, 5 of 9 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); Harden added 22, Jones Jr. 14. The hinge was Q1, 34-28: from level to 6 ahead, and the lead reached 16. Mann was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
11/09 vs TOR 105-103 — LAC notes
LAC won 105-103. LAC shot 46% (35 of 76) to TOR's 42%, 10 of 26 from three, and went to the line 32 times to TOR's 21 — 25 points from the stripe to their 12. Powell led with 24 (7 of 14, 3 of 6 from three, 7 of 9 at the line); Harden added 24, Porter Jr. 15. The hinge was Q1, 28-22: from level to 6 ahead. Batum was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
11/11 @ OKC 128-134 — LAC notes
LAC lost 128-134. LAC shot 55% (44 of 80) to OKC's 52%, 20 of 37 from three, and went to the line 29 times to OKC's 23 — 20 points from the stripe to their 22. LAC turned it over 23 times to OKC's 11, and OKC turned those into 16 steals. The glass went 47-29 for them. Powell led with 31 (10 of 15, 5 of 8 from three, 6 of 8 at the line); Zubac added 22, Jones Jr. 20. Q3 was theirs, 41-33, the deficit cut from 13 to 5, but the other 3 periods went 101-87 against them.
11/13 @ HOU 103-111 — LAC notes
LAC lost 103-111. LAC shot 40% (38 of 96) to HOU's 43%, 14 of 38 from three. The glass went 42-59 against them. Harden led with 19 (6 of 15, 3 of 8 from three); Mann added 14, Powell 13. Q4 was theirs, 24-22, the deficit cut from 10 to 8, but the other 3 periods went 89-79 against them. They led by as many as 11. Batum's -22 in 14 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/15 @ HOU 104-125 — LAC notes
LAC lost 104-125. LAC shot 38% (34 of 90) to HOU's 48%, 10 of 40 from three, and went to the line 33 times to HOU's 18 — 26 points from the stripe to their 14. Harden led with 21 (7 of 14, 3 of 9 from three); Porter Jr. added 15, Dunn 13. Q3 was theirs, 29-28, the deficit cut from 20 to 19, but the other 3 periods went 97-75 against them. Powell's -26 in 29 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/17 vs UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 114, shooting 44 percent and 40 from three, 27 free throws a game; Powell at 21 and Harden at 21 a game. That is 3 straight losses. They have won the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest. Utah comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 117, shooting 48 percent and 39 from three, 25 free throws a game; Collins at 20 and Clarkson at 17 a game. Without Kessler (3 straight), Hendricks (9 straight), Sensabaugh (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: The Clippers win, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it the Clippers 116, Utah 108.
11/18 vs GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 116, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 25 free throws a game; Harden at 20 and Powell at 19 a game. Second night of a back-to-back. Golden State comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 120, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 23 free throws a game; Curry at 25 and Kuminga at 15 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 4 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: Golden State wins, on the road, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Golden State 117, the Clippers 113, the Clippers keeping it close.
11/20 vs ORL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 115, shooting 45 percent and 38 from three, 23 free throws a game; Powell at 19 and Harden at 18 a game. One day's rest. Orlando comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 92, shooting 45 percent and 33 from three, 21 free throws a game; Wagner at 29 and M. Wagner at 13 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Banchero (10 straight), Carter Jr. (8 straight). One day's rest.
So: Orlando wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Orlando allowing 92 a night to the Clippers' 115 and the arc, the Clippers at 38 percent from three to Orlando's 33. Call it Orlando 108, the Clippers 105, the Clippers keeping it close.
11/22 vs SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 107, shooting 44 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Harden at 19 and Powell at 16 a game. That is 3 straight wins. One day's rest. Sacramento comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 115, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 18 free throws a game; Fox at 38 and Sabonis at 19 a game. Without DeRozan (3 straight), Sabonis (2 straight), Monk (5 straight). 3 days' rest.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the defense, the Clippers allowing 107 a night to Sacramento's 115 and the arc, Sacramento at 40 percent from three to the Clippers' 36. Call it the Clippers 112, Sacramento 111, Sacramento keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
HOUAH A. Holiday
AS A. Sengun
AT A. Thompson
DB D. Brooks
FV F. VanVleet
JG J. Green
JM J. McVeigh
JS J. Smith Jr.
JT J. Tate
JG Ja. Green
RS R. Sheppard
SA S. Adams
TE T. Eason
LACAC A. Coffey
BH B. Hyland
DJ D. Jones Jr.
IZ I. Zubac
JH J. Harden
JM J. Miller
KB K. Brown
KD K. Dunn
KJ K. Jones
KP K. Porter Jr.
NB N. Batum
NP N. Powell
TM T. Mann
HOU/LAC 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
Jabari Smith Jr. has season-high 28 points as Rockets rout Clippers 125-104 in NBA Cup play
HOUSTON -- — Jabari Smith Jr. had a season-high 28 points with five 3-pointers and the Houston Rockets never trailed in a 125-104 rout of the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night in their NBA Cup opener.
It was Houston’s season-high fourth straight victory and the team’s second straight over the Clippers after getting a 111-103 win Wednesday night.
The Rockets led comfortably throughout and used a big run in the third quarter to enter the fourth leading by 19.
Fred VanVleet added 18 points and 10 assists for Houston and Dillon Brooks scored 17.
James Harden had 21 points for the Clippers, who lost their third straight after winning their previous four. He made three 3-pointers to move into a tie with Ray Allen (2,973) for second-most career 3-pointers behind Stephen Curry , who entered Friday with 3,779.
Takeaways Clippers: Los Angeles was flat in its two games in Houston after its season-long winning streak. They’ll need to regroup and find a way to get more production from their starting lineup while they await the return of Kawhi Leonard . He hasn’t played this season while rehabilitating his right knee.
Rockets: Tari Eason and Amen Thompson again gave Houston a boost off the bench. The two combined for 29 points after scoring 18 each in Wednesday’s win.
Key moment The Clippers used a 6-2 run to get within 12 with about eight minutes left in the third quarter before Houston scored the next nine points to extend the lead to 79-58. Brooks started that run with a 3 before VanVleet found Jalen Green for an alley-oop dunk.
Key stat The Rockets had 20 fast-break points to just eight by the Clippers.
Up next The Rockets visit Chicago on Sunday night and the Clippers host Utah that night.