The Houston Rockets on Sunday welcomed back one half of their dynamic defensive duo and remain hopeful that the second member of that tandem will return from an extended injury hiatus soon.
Second-year forward Amen Thompson paired a season-high 23 points with a career-high 16 rebounds in the Rockets’ 119-115 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, a win that completed a disappointing five-game homestand that yielded only two wins.
The Rockets will play 13 of their next 17 games on the road, starting Tuesday against the Washington Wizards.
The Rockets split results against the Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics with Thompson serving a two-game suspension for his role in a skirmish with the Miami Heat on Dec. 29. He made his presence felt from the opening tip against the Lakers and showcased the multitude of ways he can influence a game, from his offensive thrust to his stifling defense and handiwork on the glass.
“Everything. It’s evident the pace he plays with, attacking downhill,” Rockets coach Ime Udoka said when asked what Thompson changes when he is available. “Touching the paint and getting easy stuff for everybody else besides the defense, of course. It was obviously pretty apparent right from the start (his impact).”
Rockets forward Tari Eason (leg) missed his ninth consecutive game on Sunday but Udoka expressed optimism that he could return against the Wizards. Like Thompson, Eason is a positive influence on defense and the glass, with his energy known to shift momentum in the Rockets’ favor. Eason is averaging 11.3 points and 6.3 rebounds in 24 games off the bench.
Jalen Green scored 18 of his game-high 33 points in the first quarter on Sunday. When the Lakers adjusted their defensive approach to stymie Green, particularly his forays to the rim, Green made the proper adjustments and involved his teammates. That response is one the Rockets hope to see more often from Green — who didn’t commit a turnover — moving forward.
“It’s something he’s got to be accustomed to when he has those nights and understanding teams are going to come after him,” Udoka said. “I think he did a good job overall taking care of the ball.”
The Wizards have the fewest wins (six) in the NBA, and their 110-98 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday was their second in a row to the team with the worst record in the Western Conference.
Washington fashioned a surprising 18-point victory over Chicago on New Year’s Day, its fourth win in 11 games marking a departure from the 16-game losing skid that dropped the Wizards into the East cellar.
The Wizards were missing a pair of starters — Jordan Poole (hip) and Bilal Coulibaly (illness) — in the second meeting against the Pelicans, and for a roster already short on top talent, additional attrition is debilitating.
Despite ranking last in the league in offensive rating (105.3) and net rating (minus-12.2), and 28th in defensive rating (117.5), the Wizards have shown modest signs of progress lately, a development that would certainly be aided by better health.
“We’re trending,” Wizards coach Brian Keefe said. “We’re doing stuff that’s positive (and going) in the right direction. Sometimes you have these games. You move forward.”
–Field Level Media
