Game ID: 22400356
Houston Rockets @ LA Clippers
Sunday, December 8, 2024 at 9:00 PM ET
Intuit Dome, Inglewood, CA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
LAC 28 24 31 23 106HOU 30 34 31 22 117
HOU @ LAC ScoutingHOU @ 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.
LAC availability going into 11/29 · 1 day's restOUT Powell missed 5 since 11/20, out tonight
BACK Hyland back 11/24 after 4, 8 min since (75% of 11)
BACK Miller back 11/20 after 2, 18 min since (170% of 11)
LAC availability going into 12/01 · 1 day's restOUT Powell missed 6 since 11/20, returns tonight: 24 min (75% of 33)
BACK Hyland back 11/24 after 4, 8 min since (75% of 11)
NEW Miller 11 to 17 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 12/03 · 1 day's restOUT Hyland missed 2 since 11/29, returns tonight: 7 min (59% of 11)
BACK Powell back 12/01 after 6, 24 min since (75% of 33)
NEW Miller 11 to 18 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 12/04 · back-to-backOUT Porter Jr. missed 2 since 12/01, out tonight
BACK Powell back 12/01 after 6, 25 min since (76% of 33)
BACK Hyland back 12/03 after 2, 7 min since (59% of 11)
NEW Miller 11 to 18 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 12/08 · 3 days' restOUT Porter Jr. missed 3 since 12/01, returns tonight: 37 min (191% of 20)
BACK Powell back 12/01 after 6, 25 min since (76% of 33)
BACK Hyland back 12/03 after 2, 15 min since (133% of 11)
NEW Miller 11 to 19 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 12/13 · 4 days' restOUT Mann missed 2 since 12/04, out tonight
BACK Powell back 12/01 after 6, 28 min since (86% of 33)
BACK Porter Jr. back 12/08 after 3, 37 min since (191% of 20)
BACK Hyland back 12/03 after 2, 19 min since (172% of 11)
NEW Miller 11 to 21 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 12/16 · 2 days' restOUT Mann missed 3 since 12/04, out tonight
BACK Powell back 12/01 after 6, 29 min since (87% of 33)
BACK Porter Jr. back 12/08 after 3, 31 min since (157% of 20)
BACK Hyland back 12/03 after 2, 20 min since (177% of 11)
NEW Miller 11 to 22 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 12/19 · 2 days' restOUT Jones Jr. missed 2 since 12/13, returns tonight: 20 min (85% of 24)
OUT Mann missed 4 since 12/04, out tonight
BACK Porter Jr. back 12/08 after 3, 29 min since (149% of 20)
BACK Hyland back 12/03 after 2, 18 min since (163% of 11)
NEW Miller 11 to 23 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 12/21 · 1 day's restOUT Mann missed 5 since 12/04, out tonight
BACK Jones Jr. back 12/19 after 2, 20 min since (85% of 24)
BACK Porter Jr. back 12/08 after 3, 27 min since (137% of 20)
NEW Hyland 11 to 21 min over the last 4
NEW Miller 11 to 19 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 11/27 · back-to-backOUT Whitmore missed 3 since 11/22, out tonight
OUT Adams missed 2 since 11/23, returns tonight: 7 min (47% of 15)
OUT Dante missed 19 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Holiday missed 2 since 11/23, returns tonight: 6 min (46% of 13)
OUT Jef. Green missed 2 since 11/23, out tonight
OUT Tate missed 2 since 11/23, out tonight
HOU availability going into 12/01 · 3 days' restOUT Whitmore missed 4 since 11/22, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 20 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Jef. Green missed 3 since 11/23, out tonight
OUT Tate missed 3 since 11/23, out tonight
BACK Adams back 11/27 after 2, 7 min since (47% of 15)
BACK Holiday back 11/27 after 2, 6 min since (46% of 13)
HOU availability going into 12/03 · 1 day's restOUT Whitmore missed 5 since 11/22, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 21 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Landale missed 2 since 11/27, out tonight
OUT Jef. Green missed 4 since 11/23, out tonight
OUT Tate missed 4 since 11/23, returns tonight: 2 min (17% of 11)
BACK Adams back 11/27 after 2, 5 min since (35% of 15)
BACK Holiday back 11/27 after 2, 6 min since (46% of 13)
HOU availability going into 12/05 · 1 day's restOUT Whitmore missed 6 since 11/22, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 22 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Landale missed 3 since 11/27, out tonight
OUT Jef. Green missed 5 since 11/23, out tonight
BACK Adams back 11/27 after 2, 7 min since (47% of 15)
BACK Holiday back 11/27 after 2, 5 min since (43% of 13)
BACK Tate back 12/03 after 4, 2 min since (17% of 11)
NEW Smith Jr. 29 to 35 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/08 · 2 days' restOUT Whitmore missed 7 since 11/22, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 23 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Landale missed 4 since 11/27, out tonight
OUT Jef. Green missed 6 since 11/23, out tonight
BACK Adams back 11/27 after 2, 10 min since (65% of 15)
BACK Holiday back 11/27 after 2, 8 min since (65% of 13)
BACK Tate back 12/03 after 4, 2 min since (17% of 11)
NEW Smith Jr. 29 to 35 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/11 · 2 days' restOUT Eason missed 2 since 12/05, returns tonight: 24 min (101% of 24)
OUT Whitmore missed 8 since 11/22, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 24 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Landale missed 5 since 11/27, out tonight
OUT Jef. Green missed 7 since 11/23, out tonight
BACK Adams back 11/27 after 2, 10 min since (66% of 15)
BACK Holiday back 11/27 after 2, 11 min since (86% of 13)
BACK Tate back 12/03 after 4, 10 min since (89% of 11)
NEW Smith Jr. 29 to 34 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/14 · 2 days' restOUT Whitmore missed 9 since 11/22, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 25 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Landale missed 6 since 11/27, out tonight
OUT Jef. Green missed 8 since 11/23, out tonight
BACK Eason back 12/11 after 2, 24 min since (101% of 24)
BACK Tate back 12/03 after 4, 10 min since (89% of 11)
NEW Smith Jr. 29 to 37 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/19 · 4 days' restOUT Whitmore missed 10 since 11/22, returns tonight: 3 min (22% of 15)
OUT Dante missed 26 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Sheppard missed 2 since 12/11, returns tonight: 15 min (126% of 12)
OUT Landale missed 7 since 11/27, returns tonight: 2 min (17% of 12)
OUT Jef. Green missed 9 since 11/23, out tonight
OUT Tate missed 2 since 12/11, returns tonight: 2 min (18% of 11)
BACK Eason back 12/11 after 2, 21 min since (86% of 24)
NEW Smith Jr. 29 to 37 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/22 · 2 days' restOUT Dante missed 27 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Jef. Green missed 10 since 11/23, out tonight
BACK Eason back 12/11 after 2, 21 min since (86% of 24)
BACK Whitmore back 12/19 after 10, 3 min since (22% of 15)
BACK Sheppard back 12/19 after 2, 15 min since (126% of 12)
BACK Landale back 12/19 after 7, 2 min since (17% of 12)
BACK Tate back 12/19 after 2, 2 min since (18% of 11)
NEW Smith Jr. 29 to 36 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 Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 105, shooting 46 percent and 39 from three, 19 free throws a game; Harden at 26 and Coffey at 12 a game. Without Porter Jr. (3 straight). 3 days' rest. Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 112, shooting 43 percent and 34 from three, 26 free throws a game; Sengun at 21 and VanVleet at 21 a game. Without Whitmore (7 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the line, where Houston takes 26 free throws a game to the Clippers' 19 and the defense, the Clippers allowing 105 a night to Houston's 112. Call it the Clippers 110, Houston 109, Houston keeping it close.
11/29 @ MIN 92-93 — LAC notes
LAC lost 92-93. LAC took 9 more shots (84 to 75), but shot 43% to MIN's 41%, 10 of 31 from three, and got to the line 13 times to MIN's 20. LAC turned it over 15 times to MIN's 21. The glass went 39-49 against them. Harden led with 20 (7 of 20, 3 of 9 from three); Porter Jr. added 17, Zubac 16. Q4 was theirs, 24-21, the deficit cut from 4 to 1, but the other 3 periods went 72-68 against them. Dunn's -8 in 27 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/01 vs DEN 126-122 — LAC notes
LAC won 126-122. LAC shot 48% (43 of 90) to DEN's 58%, 18 of 39 from three, and went to the line 27 times to DEN's 19 — 22 points from the stripe to their 10. Harden led with 39 (10 of 26, 6 of 15 from three, 13 of 13 at the line); Powell added 28, Mann 15. The hinge was Q1, 32-23: from level to 9 ahead. Harden was the night's best plus/minus at +14.
12/03 vs POR 127-105 — LAC notes
LAC won 127-105. LAC shot 55% (47 of 85) to POR's 51%, 19 of 37 from three. Powell led with 30 (11 of 15, 5 of 7 from three); Harden added 23, Coffey 19. The hinge was Q4, 36-27: a lead of 13 became 22, and the lead reached 26. Harden was the night's best plus/minus at +27.
12/04 vs MIN 80-108 — LAC notes
LAC lost 80-108. LAC shot 35% (29 of 83) to MIN's 48%, 11 of 40 from three. LAC turned it over 21 times to MIN's 14, and MIN turned those into 15 steals. Hyland led with 18 (5 of 12, 5 of 10 from three); Jones Jr. added 14, Coffey 12. Q4 was theirs, 30-22, the deficit cut from 36 to 28, but the other 3 periods went 86-50 against them. Coffey's -35 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/08 vs HOU 106-117 — LAC notes
LAC lost 106-117. LAC took 10 more shots (92 to 82), but shot 45% to HOU's 49%, 11 of 34 from three, and got to the line 16 times to HOU's 26. LAC turned it over 7 times to HOU's 15. The glass went 33-50 against them. Hyland led with 22 (7 of 13, 5 of 10 from three); Zubac added 21, Porter Jr. 19. Q4 was theirs, 23-22, the deficit cut from 12 to 11, but the other 3 periods went 95-83 against them. Porter Jr.'s -18 in 37 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/13 @ DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 120, shooting 53 percent and 35 from three, 25 free throws a game; Jokić at 39 and Porter Jr. at 20 a game. Without Murray (2 straight). 4 days' rest. The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 109, shooting 45 percent and 38 from three, 17 free throws a game; Powell at 25 and Harden at 22 a game. They have lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Mann (2 straight). 4 days' rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the defense, the Clippers allowing 109 a night to Denver's 120 and the line, where Denver takes 25 free throws a game to the Clippers' 17. Call it Denver 115, the Clippers 112, the Clippers keeping it close.
12/16 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 107 a night and allowing 114, shooting 45 percent and 38 from three, 18 free throws a game; Powell at 23 and Harden at 20 a game. That is 3 straight losses. They have lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Mann (3 straight). 2 days' rest. Utah comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 122, shooting 51 percent and 41 from three, 21 free throws a game; Collins at 19 and George at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Hendricks (21 straight), Williams (8 straight), Tshiebwe (6 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the glass, where Utah has been plus-5 a night and the Clippers minus-5 and the defense, the Clippers allowing 114 a night to Utah's 122. Call it the Clippers 116, Utah 110.
12/19 @ DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Dallas comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 117, shooting 51 percent and 45 from three, 30 free throws a game; Dončić at 30 and Irving at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Kleber (3 straight), Hardy (3 straight). 3 days' rest. The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 111, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 19 free throws a game; Powell at 23 and Harden at 21 a game. They have lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Jones Jr. (2 straight), Mann (4 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Dallas wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Dallas has been plus-9 a night and the Clippers minus-5 and the line, where Dallas takes 30 free throws a game to the Clippers' 19. Call it Dallas 117, the Clippers 112.
12/21 @ 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 118, shooting 50 percent and 42 from three, 27 free throws a game; Dončić at 28 and Irving at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Hardy (4 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 109, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 19 free throws a game; Powell at 23 and Harden at 21 a game. They have lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Mann (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: Dallas wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Dallas has been plus-5 a night and the Clippers minus-5 and the line, where Dallas takes 27 free throws a game to the Clippers' 19. Call it Dallas 115, the Clippers 111, the Clippers keeping it close.
11/27 @ PHI 122-115 — HOU notes
HOU won 122-115 in 1 overtime. HOU shot 45% (40 of 88) to PHI's 45%, 10 of 31 from three, and went to the line 38 times to PHI's 23 — 32 points from the stripe to their 17. HOU turned it over 20 times to PHI's 14, and PHI turned those into 12 steals. Green led with 41 (12 of 20, 4 of 6 from three, 13 of 14 at the line); Sengun added 22, Thompson 19. The hinge was Q1, 35-24: from level to 11 ahead. VanVleet was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
12/01 vs OKC 119-116 — HOU notes
HOU won 119-116. HOU shot 41% (38 of 92) to OKC's 45%, 13 of 37 from three, and went to the line 39 times to OKC's 25 — 30 points from the stripe to their 19. VanVleet led with 38 (10 of 19, 5 of 9 from three, 13 of 14 at the line); Sengun added 20, Brooks 16. The hinge was Q4, 28-20: HOU came in trailing by 5 and left it ahead by 3. Smith Jr. was the night's best plus/minus at +10.
12/03 @ SAC 111-120 — HOU notes
HOU lost 111-120. HOU shot 44% (41 of 93) to SAC's 52%, 14 of 39 from three. HOU turned it over 15 times to SAC's 10. The glass went 53-34 for them. Green led with 28 (9 of 14, 5 of 8 from three); Sengun added 24, Eason 16. Q1 was theirs, 28-21, but the other 3 periods went 99-83 against them. They led by as many as 11. VanVleet's -21 in 37 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/05 @ GSW 93-99 — HOU notes
HOU lost 93-99. HOU shot 38% (35 of 93) to GSW's 42%, 10 of 38 from three, and got to the line 17 times to GSW's 27. Sengun led with 16 (7 of 15); Brooks added 15, Green 14. Q1 was theirs, 22-18, but the other 3 periods went 81-71 against them.
12/08 @ LAC 117-106 — HOU notes
HOU won 117-106. HOU shot 49% (40 of 82) to LAC's 45%, 15 of 41 from three, and went to the line 26 times to LAC's 16 — 22 points from the stripe to their 13. HOU turned it over 15 times to LAC's 7, and LAC turned those into 11 steals. The glass went 50-33 for them. Green led with 31 (9 of 20, 5 of 13 from three, 8 of 8 at the line); Thompson added 22, Brooks 19. The hinge was Q2, 34-24: a lead of 2 became 12, and the lead reached 16. Sengun was the night's best plus/minus at +13.
12/11 vs GSW — 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 112 a night and allowing 111, shooting 43 percent and 33 from three, 28 free throws a game; Green at 25 and VanVleet at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Eason (2 straight), Whitmore (8 straight). 2 days' rest. Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 108, shooting 43 percent and 33 from three, 21 free throws a game; Curry at 25 and Kuminga at 19 a game. Without Post (11 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the line, where Houston takes 28 free throws a game to Golden State's 21 and the glass, where Houston has been plus-8 a night and Golden State plus-3. Call it Houston 112, Golden State 108, Golden State keeping it close.
12/14 @ OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 106, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 16 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 32 and Jal. Williams at 23 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Holmgren (14 straight). 3 days' rest. Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 106, shooting 43 percent and 32 from three, 23 free throws a game; Sengun at 19 and Green at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Whitmore (9 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the line, where Houston takes 23 free throws a game to OKC's 16 and the arc, OKC at 37 percent from three to Houston's 32. Call it OKC 114, Houston 106.
12/19 vs NOP — 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 102 a night and allowing 105, shooting 42 percent and 29 from three, 20 free throws a game; Green at 19 and Sengun at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Whitmore (10 straight). 4 days' rest. New Orleans comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 119, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 23 free throws a game; McCollum at 21 and Murray at 20 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Williamson (18 straight), Alvarado (16 straight), Hawkins (8 straight). 3 days' rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-6 a night and New Orleans minus-5 and the defense, Houston allowing 105 a night to New Orleans's 119. Call it Houston 114, New Orleans 106.
12/22 @ TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Toronto comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 115, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 18 free throws a game; Barrett at 23 and Dick at 20 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Quickley (17 straight), Lawson (2 straight). 2 days' rest. Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 104, shooting 45 percent and 31 from three, 19 free throws a game; Green at 21 and Sengun at 18 a game. 2 days' rest.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-3 a night and Toronto minus-6 and the defense, Houston allowing 104 a night to Toronto's 115. Call it Houston 111, Toronto 109, Toronto keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
LACBH B. Hyland
DJ D. Jones Jr.
IZ I. Zubac
JM J. Miller
KD K. Dunn
KJ K. Jones
KP K. Porter Jr.
NB N. Batum
NP N. Powell
HOUAH A. Holiday
AS A. Sengun
AT A. Thompson
DB D. Brooks
JG J. Green
JS J. Smith Jr.
JT J. Tate
JG Ja. Green
RS R. Sheppard
SA S. Adams
LAC/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
Jalen Green scores 31 to lead Rockets past Clippers 117-106
INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- — Jalen Green scored 31 points, Amen Thompson added 22 and the Houston Rockets defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 117-106 on Sunday night.
The Rockets ended a two-game skid without starter Fred VanVleet , who missed his first game of the season because of a right knee contusion.
Bones Hyland led the Clippers with 22 points off the bench, making a team-best five 3-pointers, and Ivica Zubac added 21 points and 12 rebounds. Kevin Porter Jr . had 19 points in his first career start for the team.
The Clippers lost their second straight at home after they suffered a 28-point drubbing at the hands of Minnesota on Wednesday. They kept it close in the first quarter before the Rockets took control.
Takeaways Rockets: They had six players in double figures, with Jabari Smith Jr. having 13 points and 13 rebounds. Alperen Sengun had 11 points, 10 rebounds and six assists.
Clippers: They were already missing James Harden (sore right groin) when two more players went down. Amir Coffey sustained a right shoulder contusion in pre-game warmups and starter Derrick Jones Jr . left after the first quarter with right hamstring soreness. Their bench still outscored the Rockets' reserves, 38-21, but they were outdone 50-33 on the boards.
Key moment The Rockets ran off 12 straight points, including seven in a row by Green, near the end of the second quarter to lead 64-52 at halftime. They kept the Clippers in catch-up mode the rest of the game, with Houston stretching its lead to 16 points in the third.
Key stat The Rockets shot 49% from the floor and made 22 of 26 free throws.
Up next The Rockets host Golden State in an NBA Cup West quarterfinal on Wednesday. The Clippers visit Denver on Friday.