The Houston Rockets have another tough challenge preparing to take on the LeBron James-led Los Angeles Lakers at the Toyota Center. It will be an uphill battle for a young team that has shown some life late in the season to go against a team that has experienced veterans and future NBA Hall of Fame players.
Los Angeles defeated Houston in their last meeting by a score of 132-123 as James and Russell Westbrook posted triple-doubles to help the Lakers pull away late in the game. The Rockets tied the game at 111 with 6:36 left to play in the fourth quarter, but James put on a scoring exhibition by scoring 12 points to lead the Lakers to victory.
Although the Rockets have only won five games since the last matchup against the Lakers in late December, they have been playing better since the All-Star Break, and that has a lot to do with rookie guard Jalen Green who is averaging 21.8 points in his last five games.
“He is super explosive,” said Lakers head coach Frank Vogel about the play of Green this season. “I love the kid’s game. He is going to be a star. The way he shoots the ball from the perimeter, his downhill speed, and obviously the open court athleticism that he exhibits is really special. They (Rockets) got a good one. It’s going to be fun watching him grow over the years.”
Green, 20, has been very successful against the Lakers this season, averaging 18 points per game, shooting 48 percent from the floor and 39 percent from three-point range.
“He hasn’t really shied away from much this season, whether it was good or bad,” said Rockets head coach Stephen Silas. “He has taken it head-on and that is one of the great things about him and that is one of the things that will help him continue to get better and better.”
