 LOS ANGELES LAKERS (10-18)
 at HOUSTON ROCKETS (25-4)
Tip-off: Wednesday, 8:00 p.m. ET
Line: NA, Total: NA Yes, Chris Paul is still undefeated as a Rocket. Monday night was fun for both the Rockets and the Lakers. Houston got its 14th straight win in a 120-99 triumph at home over the Utah Jazz. The star of the night was SG Eric Gordon, who powered a late-game run with 17 of his game-high 33 points in the fourth quarter. Houston has been playing so well that, after the game, coach Mike D'Antoni was mildly (but earnestly) critical of his team for blowing out its opponent at the end of the game instead of right at the beginning. The Lakers retired Kobe Bryant's number(s) at halftime, and they impressed in pushing a superior Warriors team to overtime before ultimately falling 116-114. Despite the loss, it may end up being the most fondly remembered contest at the Staples Center this season. The Lakers and Rockets retake the court on Wednesday in Houston. Lakers SG Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will be out of the lineup, and C Brook Lopez is questionable with an ankle injury. Rockets F Luc Mbah a Moute was recently lost to injury for an indefinite amount of time.By now, you already know what the Rockets are all about. They set a record for three-pointers attempted last season, and they're on pace to smash their own record this year. Leading the charge is PG James Harden, the favorite to win the NBA MVP this year thanks to his ridiculous numbers that have translated to team success. D'Antoni has him playing like a turbocharged Steve Nash, as he leads the league in scoring and three-pointers made, and is not far off the lead for assists. He's been relatively cold lately, shooting .359 from the floor in his last four games, but has only been slightly less effective for it. But what has made this Houston offense truly unstoppable is the addition of Paul. After a career as one of the most ball-dominant guards in the NBA, Paul has shifted largely off the ball to fit alongside Harden. But he's still getting his assists, averaging over nine per game, and is shooting 41.9% from deep. In some ways, it's striking how similar him and Harden are as players. Gordon leads the group of sharp-shooters around them, which also includes SF Trevor Ariza and PF Ryan Anderson. C Clint Capela has made a leap in his fourth year in the league, adding yet another terrifying dimension to this squad on both ends of the floor. Mbah a Moute and SF P.J. Tucker were brought in over the summer to bolster the defense and have been even better than expected. While the Rockets have built a remarkably deep bench, Mbah a Moute's absence is of real significance. Lopez and Caldwell-Pope account for over 26 points per game for the Lakers, so if they're indeed out against Houston some other guys will have to step up. Los Angeles has an unlikely leading scorer in rookie PF Kyle Kuzma, the 27th overall pick in this past summer's draft. Kuzma has delivered on the promise he showed in Summer League and the preseason thus far, posting an average of 16.6 PPG. Coming off the bench against the Warriors, Kuzma led the Lakers in scoring with 25 points on 10-of-16 shooting. SF Brandon Ingram has showed substantial growth in his second year in the league, and he scored 19 points on Monday while playing against the superstar to which he is so often compared, Kevin Durant. Ingram still has a long way before his name can even be in the same paragraph as Durant's, but the progression he's already made suggests he can live up to his status as a No. 2 overall draft pick. PG Lonzo Ball was also selected second, and his play has picked up nicely recently. His once-heralded unconventional three-point shot has mostly failed him in the pros, but he's 9-of-20 (.450) from deep in his last three games. PF Julius Randle remains a divisive player among Lakers fans, but he has inarguably improved. He's shooting 55.1% from the floor, up from a career 46.9 shooting percentage.
|
