Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Ben DuBose

Rockets 114, Lakers 110: Kevin Porter Jr. leads Houston to fourth win in seven games

Kevin Porter Jr Rockets Lakers Houston ATT Sportsnet Stephen Silas Adam Spolane Alperen Sengun Josh Christopher KJ Martin

HOUSTON — With Kevin Porter Jr. leading the way, the young and rebuilding Rockets have suddenly won two straight games and four of their last seven with Wednesday’s 114-110 victory (box score) over the short-handed Los Angeles Lakers.

The Rockets (17-52), who are midway through a six-game homestand at Toyota Center, have won three of their last four at home. With the loss, Los Angeles (34-36) had its lead for the No. 10 spot in the Western Conference playoff race — the final play-in tournament spot — slip to a half-game.

Buy Rockets Tickets

Star forwards LeBron James (right foot soreness) and Anthony Davis did not play in Houston. The latter sat out for planned maintenance on the second night of a road back-to-back. Austin Reaves led the visitors with 24 points and 7 assists in 27 minutes off the bench.

As for the home team, Porter was the star with 27 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists on 11-of-16 shooting (68.8%), including 2-of-5 on 3-pointers. He needed two stitches at halftime to close a cut over his left eye, but that didn’t slow him. KJ Martin added 16 points and 8 rebounds for the Rockets on efficient 7-of-11 shooting (63.6%).

Other Houston players who scored in double figures were:

  • Jabari Smith Jr.: 18 points, 6 rebounds; 6-of-17 shooting (35.3%), 2-of-7 on 3-pointers (28.6%), 4-of-8 free throws (50.0%)
  • Alperen Sengun: 13 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 blocks; 6-of-10 shooting (60.0%)
  • Jalen Green: 11 points, 6 rebounds; 4-of-13 shooting (30.8%), 2-of-6 on 3-pointers (33.3%)
  • Jae’Sean Tate (21 minutes off bench): 13 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists; 6-of-7 shooting (85.7%)
  • Josh Christopher (13 minutes off bench): 12 points, 3 rebounds; 5-of-6 shooting (83.3%), 2-of-3 on 3-pointers

Sengun made a healthy return and played his usual starter’s minutes after missing Monday’s game with a minor groin injury.

The Rockets entered averaging the NBA’s most paint points over the last 10 games, and they finished with 78 against the Lakers — four behind their season high last week in Indiana. Houston also flexed its interior muscle by outrebounding Los Angeles, 51-36.

Houston outshot the Lakers from the field, 52.8% to 37.8%. But Los Angeles kept the game close by making 31-of-37 free throws (83.8%) while Houston shot 12-of-19 (63.2%). That was the largest differential in free-throw attempts by a Rockets’ opponent this season.

It was only the second time in the 2022-23 season the Rockets shot 50% or better while holding their opponent below 40% shooting. The first came in a November win over Oklahoma City.

Scroll on for highlights, analysis and postgame interviews. Next up for Houston is a pair of home games versus the New Orleans Pelicans (33-36) on Friday and Sunday nights at Toyota Center.

Highlights

Analysis and Interviews

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Nicole Kidman Finally Explained That Viral Tom Cruise Divorce Photo
Two decades on, we get answers
Marie Claire - AU
Marie Claire - AU
Nicole Kidman Gets Candid About Waking Up "Crying and Gasping" in the Middle of the Night
"It hits you as you get older."
Marie Claire
Marie Claire
YouTuber Rosanna Pansino smokes her father’s ashes to honor his dying wish
The baking series host lost her father five years ago to leukemia
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
“I love Bowie, but I was a kleptomaniac. I couldn't help it!": Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones remembers the night he stole David Bowie’s gear
Jones made his move after one of Bowie’s legendary Ziggy Stardust gigs
MusicRadar
MusicRadar
“I looked back, and Paul's got one of my guitars, and he's kind of messing around with it, right? And I'm mixing, so I said, 'Well, if you're going to be in here, why don't you help me mix this?'”: Richie Sambora on the day he met Paul McCartney
Beatle legend helped mix a track on Bon Jovi live album
MusicRadar
MusicRadar
“Her Stylist Must Hate Her”: Fan Pulls Hair Extension From Katy Perry’s Head In Wild Video
“I’d sell it and then never need to work again." The post “Her Stylist Must Hate Her”: Fan Pulls Hair Extension From Katy Perry’s Head In Wild Video first appeared on Bored Panda.
Bored Panda
Bored Panda
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.
Download on the AppStore Get it on Google Play