The Los Angeles Lakers faced the Houston Rockets on the road Wednesday night looking for their first road win of the season despite being severely shorthanded due to Anthony Davis’s addition to the inactive list with a left adductor/hip spasm, joining Gabe Vincent, Jaxson Hayes, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Jalen Hood-Schifino.
The Lakers dropped to 3-5 on the season as a consequence of a 128-94 blowout loss in which it didn’t matter who was out because the team performed poorly.
D’Angelo Russell finally got the Lakers on the board with a layup after the Rockets had a quick 8-0 lead without Anthony Davis.
Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green both hit an early three-pointer to help the Rockets build a 17-7 advantage. The Lakers were behind by double digits for the sixth time in eight games.
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However, after drawing a charge from Brooks, LeBron James went on the offensive and made a midrange basket.
The Lakers did get Rui Hachimura back after he had missed the previous four games due to a concussion. He was substituted in and promptly scored off of a pinpoint ball from Russell. He also made a 3-pointer later in the quarter despite the Lakers struggled as a whole offensively and headed into the second behind 32-19.
Not much changed for the Lakers early in the second quarter as they continued to labored on the glass and at the free throw line, which was the case in the first.
After James set up Hachimura for a pair of layups, Jalen Green scored five straight points to put Houston up by an embarrassing 47-29. When the Lakers finally got on the board, it was thanks to a three-pointer by Taurean Prince. However, Draymond Green quickly answered with a three-pointer of his own.
The Lakers’ defense was still shaky as the half ended, and they trailed 66-45.
The Lakers needed to make a run early in the third quarter if they wanted to attempt a comeback. Despite Green and the Rockets’ continued hot play, the Lakers’ offense stalled.
Midway through the third quarter, the Cavaliers’ deficit grew to 20 points as LeBron contributed by driving to the basket and converting a three-point play.
Despite the Lakers’ best efforts, the Rockets maintained their comfortable lead throughout the game, ultimately ending the third quarter up 99-71.
Darvin Ham gave up on the game early, and the Lakers went down without much of a fight.
