Depleted Lakers blown out by Rockets, drop to 0-5 on road
With big men Anthony Davis and Jaxson Hayes sidelined, the Lakers get dominated in nearly every facet in a 128-94 loss that highlights several of the issues that have plagued them so far this season
Lakers forward LeBron James drives around Houston Rockets forward Dillon Brooks during the first half on Wednesday night in Houston. The Lakers lost, 128-94, in a game that was non-competitive for most of the second half. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
The Houston Rockets’ Jae’Sean Tate, left, collides with Lakers forward Rui Hachimura during the first half on Wednesday night in Houston. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green tries to protect the ball from Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell, center, as Lakers forward Cam Reddish (5) looks on during the first half on Wednesday night in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Lakers forward LeBron James looks to wrap a pass around the Houston Rockets’ Alperen Sengun during the first half on Wednesday night in Houston. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Lakers forward LeBron James wraps a pass around the Houston Rockets’ Alperen Sengun during the first half on Wednesday night in Houston. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
The Houston Rockets’ Jalen Green gestures after making a 3-point shot during the first half of their game against the Lakers on Wednesday night in Houston. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Lakers forward LeBron James puts up a shot over the Houston Rockets’ Dillon Brooks during the first half on Wednesday night in Houston. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Lakers forward LeBron James, left, smiles at Houston Rockets forward Dillon Brooks during the first half on Wednesday night in Houston. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Lakers forward Rui Hachimura, center, has his shot blocked by Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green as forward Jabari Smith Jr., left, looks on during the first half on Wednesday night in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
The Houston Rockets’ Tari Eason, right, celebrates a basket with Dillon Brooks during the first half of their game against the Lakers on Wednesday night in Houston. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Lakers forward Rui Hachimura puts up a shot as the Houston Rockets’ Jabari Smith Jr. defends during the first half on Wednesday night in Houston. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Lakers forward Taurean Prince drives in front of Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr., back, during the first half on Wednesday night in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun, center, recovers the ball after it was knocked away by Lakers forward LeBron James, right, as forward Christian Wood (35) looks on during the first half on Wednesday night in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Lakers forward LeBron James drives to the basket as the Houston Rockets’ Jae’Sean Tate defends during the first half on Wednesday night in Houston. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Lakers forward LeBron James shoots in front of Houston Rockets forward Dillon Brooks during the first half on Wednesday night in Houston. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
The Houston Rockets’ Jalen Green soars to the basket for a dunk during the first half of their game against the Lakers on Wednesday night in Houston. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell shoots as Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet defends during the first half on Wednesday night in Houston. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Lakers forward Rui Hachimura, left, looks to pass the ball as Houston Rockets forward Jae’Sean Tate defends during the first half on Wednesday night in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Lakers forward LeBron James drives to the basket in front of the Houston Rockets’ Alperen Sengun, right, during the first half on Wednesday night in Houston. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green gestures after making a 3-point shot during the first half of their game against the Lakers on Wednesday night in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Lakers forward Rui Hachimura dunks in front of Houston Rockets guards Aaron Holiday and Jalen Green, right, during the first half on Wednesday night in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet, left, and Lakers forward Cam Reddish chase a loose ball during the first half on Wednesday night in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Lakers forward LeBron James drives to the basket as Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun defends during the first half on Wednesday night in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Lakers forward Rui Hachimura, center, is blocked out on a free throw attempt by Houston Rockets forwards Jae’Sean Tate, left, and Jabari Smith Jr. during the first half on Wednesday night in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Lakers forward LeBron James drives around Houston Rockets forward Dillon Brooks during the first half on Wednesday night in Houston. The Lakers lost, 128-94, in a game that was non-competitive for most of the second half. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr., front, shields the ball from Lakers forward LeBron James during the first half on Wednesday night in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
The Houston Rockets’ Jalen Green drives to the basket as Lakers guard Max Christie defends during the second half on Wednesday night in Houston. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Houston Rockets forward Dillon Brooks (9) yells toward Lakers forward LeBron James from the bench during the second half on Wednesday night in Houston. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
The Houston Rockets’ Jae’Sean Tate shoots as Lakers forward Rui Hachimura defends during the second half on Wednesday night in Houston. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Houston Rockets guard Aaron Holiday saves a ball from going out of bounds during the second half of their game against the Lakers on Wednesday night in Houston. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Houston Rockets forward Jae’Sean Tate, left, reaches around to knock the ball away from Lakers forward LeBron James during the second half on Wednesday night in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet, center, drives through Lakers defenders Taurean Prince, right, and LeBron James during the second half on Wednesday night in Houston. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Lakers forward LeBron James looks on during the second half of their lopsided loss to the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night in Houston. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
The Houston Rockets’ Nate Williams drives against Lakers center Colin Castleton during the second half on Wednesday night in Houston. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green takes a shot as Lakers guard Max Christie, center right, defends and guard D’Angelo Russell, far left, and forward Taurean Prince look on during the second half on Wednesday night in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Lakers guard Austin Reaves, left, reaches for a loose ball as Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr., right, hits him in the face as he reaches back during the second half on Wednesday night in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
The Houston Rockets’ Tari Eason drives as Lakers center Colin Castleton defends during the second half on Wednesday night in Houston. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Houston Rockets guard Aaron Holiday handles the ball during the second half of their game against the Lakers on Wednesday night in Houston. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
The Houston Rockets’ Jalen Green drives to the basket as the Lakers’ Taurean Prince defends during the second half on Wednesday night in Houston. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Lakers guard D’Moi Hodge talks with Coach Darvin Ham during the second half of their game against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun, center, drives between Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell, left, and forward Rui Hachimura during the second half on Wednesday night in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Houston Rockets players celebrate from the bench during the second half of their blowout victory over the Lakers on Wednesday night in Houston. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell walks off the court after their 128-94 loss to the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night in Houston. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Lakers star LeBron James warms up before their game against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night in Houston. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Lakers star LeBron James warms up before their game against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night in Houston. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Lakers star LeBron James warms up before their game against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night in Houston. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Lakers star LeBron James warms up before their game against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night in Houston. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
HOUSTON — If Monday was a step toward figuring out the Lakers’ struggles on the road, then Wednesday’s 128-94 loss to the Houston Rockets was – at least – two steps in the opposite direction.
The Lakers (3-5) were dominated in nearly every facet by the Rockets (4-3) in a game that highlighted several of the issues that have plagued them early in the season.
“No one comes in wanting to be flat or a step slow or whatnot,” Coach Davin Ham said. “Our guys came in to compete. They had it going a little bit early. A couple [of] miscues, wasn’t really good on the ball defensively. Our off-ball defense needed to be better. It’s tough. We’re juggling different circumstances – guys being in and out of the lineup. But at the end of the day, no one is gonna feel sorry for you.”
There was another slow start, with Houston opening the game on an 8-0 run before pushing the margin to a 22-12 lead and then a 32-19 advantage by the end of the first quarter, making it six times in eight games that the Lakers have trailed by double digits in the opening period.
There were the three first-quarter offensive rebounds by Houston that produced eight second-chance points, with the Rockets ultimately finishing with 24.
And with the Lakers missing multiple rotation players, including big men Anthony Davis and Jaxson Hayes, there was the continuous exploitation of the team’s lack of interior size. The Rockets had 44 points in the paint in the first half, leading them to a 66-45 lead midway through the game, before finishing with 68 after a non-competitive second half.
“They played downhill a lot,” Ham said. “Hard cuts. Drives. And they played the way they’ve been playing this year: a lot of ball movement, a lot of off-ball cutting, off-ball screening. They’re gonna be a handful to deal with this year. If they keep up at this rate, they’ll be a handful for not just us but the other 28 teams besides us.”
Even when it seemed like the Lakers were finding a rhythm, the scoreboard offered a sobering reminder that the game was out of reach for more than half the matchup, with the Lakers trailing by at least 20 for the entire second half and 28 after three quarters.
“We can’t build cohesion if we don’t have our unit,” said LeBron James, who had a season-low 18 points to go with six rebounds and two assists in 27 minutes. “It’s that simple. We’re very depleted on the injury side. We did a good job of sharing the ball offensively early on. We just couldn’t get in a rhythm offensively and they were shooting the ball extremely well.”
One of the few bright spots for the Lakers was the return of forward Rui Hachimura, who led them with 24 points (10-of-14 shooting), eight rebounds and two assists in 25 minutes off the bench after missing four games because of an eye contusion and the concussion protocol.
“[Wednesday] we weren’t great,” guard D’Angelo Russell said, “but he was good.”
Russell also had 22 points (9-of-18 shooting, 4 for 7 from 3-point range) and four assists, but most of his scoring production (15 points on 6-of-8 shooting) came during a third quarter in which the game was out of reach.
Jalen Green led the Rockets with 28 points (11-of-15 shooting, 5 for 6 from 3-point range), seven rebounds and three assists in 22 minutes, sitting out the fourth quarter.
Alperen Sengun had 19 points (8 for 10 from the field), seven rebounds and four assists, taking advantage of the absence of Davis and the Lakers’ lack of size in the middle.
The Rockets shot 54.8% (51 for 93) overall and finished 14 for 33 from behind the arc while outrebounding the Lakers 57-34.
“They’re going to be a handful to deal with this year,” Ham said. “If they keep up at this rate, they’ll be a handful not just for us, but the other 28 teams besides us.”
The Lakers, who are 0-5 on the road for just the third time in franchise history, will once again look for their first victory away from home on Friday against the Phoenix Suns in their first in-season tournament matchup.
"We can't build cohesion if we don't have our unit… We're very depleted on the injury side." LeBron James speaks on the #Lakers early struggles. pic.twitter.com/QAK1QthETo
“At the end of the day, you know no one’s gonna feel sorry for you, especially when you’re a Los Angeles Laker.” Darvin Ham speaks on starting 0-5 on the road this season. pic.twitter.com/NBNz29oees
