NBA: Tumults and 3 ejections! Lakers lose to Rockets

The Los Angeles Lakers (0-2) lose a wild game against the Houston Rockets (1-1). With the 124:115 victory of the guests it comes shortly before end to tumultuous scenes. But in the end the rockets prevent the false start thanks to James Harden.

Not surprisingly, the debut of LeBron James in the Staples Center at home was accompanied by an uncanny media hype as well as extremely high expectations on the part of the fans – and the King delivered! After about two minutes James had his first points as Laker in the Staples Center on the account, a little later he hammered a cracking Dunk by the Reuse. The Lakers fans were out of their minds!

LeBron also provided the 14:14 balance with this Dunk, after the Rockets had got the somewhat better start. But then a very balanced game developed, until the half-time break no team could gain a real advantage.

Even when LeBron got a break, the Lakers stayed on thanks to the strong performances of the reservists – and numerous holes in the Rockets Defense. Nevertheless, Houston went into the half-time break with a slight advantage (66:62).

Even after the break tea, the Rockets easily gained the upper hand. Above all Gerald Green caught fire and hammered the Lakers a total of three threes through the cage. But the Lakers couldn’t be shaken off.

Rajon Rondo did an excellent job as a playmaker, LeBron fueled his way through the zone time and time again, leading the Lakers with a total of 4 converted threes. Defense was not played at all on both sides. Accordingly it went with a 98:97 from view of the guests into the final section.

The fourth quarter began with an unsightly scene when James Ennis brought Kyle Kuzma to the ground with a flagrant foul. The latter, however, only put both free throws on the ring, which directly encouraged Houston on the other side to try to distance himself a little – without success.

LeBron kept his team in the game with strong drives over and over again, only his partly uninspired threesome didn’t leave a very good impression. So it went on balanced in the Crunchtime.

A few minutes before the end there was another brawl after Brandon Ingram pushed James Harden after a drive to the basket. The situation seemed to have calmed down when Chris Paul suddenly held his fingers right in Rondo’s face.

The Lakers’ point guard didn’t put up with that. Rondo attacked CP3, who also defended himself with several shots in the direction of Rondo. To top it all off, Ingram sprinted to the scene and threw himself into the action. Ingram as well as Rondo and Paul were ejected afterwards. This is likely to have consequences or locks.

From a sporting point of view, James Harden then set the exclamation mark. A strong assistant as well as a three-man MVP brought the Rockets in front with 120:113, shortly after he set the end point with a strong drive. The Lakers had to admit defeat.

Harden finished the game with 36 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists – in the fourth quarter alone he scored 11 points. Paul, too, was strong until his outburst (28 points, 10 assists, 7 rebounds). Furthermore, Clint Capela came in on 19 and 12, Green contributed 13 points.

On the Lakers side, LeBron was the best thrower with 24 points, even if he had problems with his throw, especially from a distance (9/22 FG, 1/7 threesome). JaVale McGee scored 16 points and 5 blocks in 20 minutes, Lonzo Ball also delivered a strong performance from the bench (14, 6 rebounds, 4 assists).

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets 115:124 (BOXSCORE)

James Harden. Of course, not everything went perfectly at the reigning MVP, as the view of the 6 turnovers alone shows. But in the decisive moments Harden was on the spot, especially in the Crunchtime he led his team with a good offense to the victory – although there was some luck, for example with his triumvirate to 120:113 shortly before the end.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Again the shooting guard of the Lakers delivered a weak performance. KCP had just 5 points and 3 rebounds and only 2 of his 8 field casting attempts were sunk. Accordingly, he only played for 18 minutes, and coach Luke Walton may have to think about changes in his Starting Five after just two games.

The preference of the Rockets to seek their fortune in one-on-one situations with Harden or Paul in the half-field open is well known. This had the advantage against the Lakers that the game was slowed down a bit. Lakers coach Walton and his team want to put pressure on the defense in the transition, the rockets only allowed this after their own turnovers.