The Clippers ended their 6-game losing streak, Wei Shao's bench saw immediate results, and the dark horse's 6-game winning streak ended
At 11:30 a.m. Beijing time on November 18, the NBA regular season ushered in a key matchup, with the Clippers hosting the Rockets. After trading Harden, the Clippers have suffered a six-game losing streak and their record has dropped to 3-7, ranking 12th in the West. Faced with a losing streak, Wei Shao took the initiative to apply to head coach Tyronn Lue to play as a substitute. And that's the only way the Clippers can break the deadlock at the moment, with Willis dominating the ball in the starting line-up and needing to be relegated to the bench to dilute the other three main players. There are only 2 options to replace Wei Shao, Tucker or Mann.
After the Rockets lost three in a row from the beginning, it was like a different team, and they beat strong teams like the Lakers, Nuggets and Kings in a row, and won six in a row. After the run-in with two new signings, VanVleet and Dillon Brooks, the team has completed a metamorphosis on both offensive and defensive ends. The offensive efficiency reached 113.1, which ranks 12th in the league. The defensive efficiency value of 108.1 ranks fourth in the league. The Rockets' top scorer Shin Kyung averaged 19.4 points, 8.2 rebounds and 6 assists per game, followed by Green who averaged 19 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. This game will take time to adapt to the Clippers' first roster adjustment, and the Rockets have a chance to extend their winning streak. The game was started by both sides, with the Clippers fielding Leonard, George, Harden, Zubac and Mann. The Rockets used Shin Jing, Jalen Green, VanVleet, Smith Jr. and Dillon.
At the beginning of the first quarter of the game, George and VanVleet opened with a three-pointer from each other, and Shin Jing scored from the middle distance. Harden made a foul from the outside, broke through to a layup and scored five points in a row. George's side played 2+1 again. Jalen Green of the Rockets, Dillon scored consecutive breakthroughs and tightened the point difference. George made another effort, scoring five points in a row on an inside-outside shot, and Leonard continued to fire with three three-pointers from the outside. Rocket Tate, Ethan, Green scored consecutive breakaways. Clippers Harden hit 2+1, and George broke through and hit. The first quarter ended with the Clippers leading the Rockets by six points, 29-23.
In the second quarter of the game, the Rockets grabbed the offensive board in a row, and Tate seized the opportunity to make a basket. Ethan broke through and scored a throw, and Shen Jing and VanVleet hit two three-pointers in a row to instantly overtake the score. Leonard made an outside shot to stabilize his position, but the Rockets Green scored 5 points in a row inside and out, and Shin Jing and Holiday followed up from the outside, but the Rockets extended their advantage to 9 points. Leonard and Harden attacked the basket one after another, hitting a wave of 9-2 to close the point difference. At halftime, the Clippers trailed the Rockets by two points, 48-50.
At halftime, George had 13 points and 5 rebounds on 5-of-13 shooting. Harden finished with 13 points and five rebounds on 4-of-5 shooting. Leonard had 11 points and three rebounds. Wei Shao had 2 points and 2 rebounds on 0-of-3 shooting. On the Rockets' side, Jalen Green had 11 points, 1 rebound and 2 assists on 4-of-10 shooting. Shin Kyung had 10 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists. VanVleet had 6 points, 2 rebounds and 6 assists. Tate had six points and four rebounds.
In the second half of the game, the Clippers or Harden and Leonard continued to chase points, Harden broke through, Leonard scored 5 points in a row, and Harden scored 7 points in a row in the opening game. Rocket Shen Jing raised his hand on the outside three-pointer, and then VanVleet assisted Shen Jing to score a dunk in the air, and he hit two three-pointers from the outside. At the end of the quarter, the Clippers bench scored a three-pointer, and Powell scored a fast-break breakaway. Rockets Jalen Green scored seven straight points in a row as he hit the paint zone. George hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer to give the Clippers a two-point lead over the Rockets at 79-77 at the end of the third quarter.
In the final quarter of the game, the Clippers hit a three-point shot in the opening game, but the Rockets suddenly broke out inside and outside, and Landale and Eason scored 4 points in a row. VanVleet scored seven straight points on a three-point shot to extend the margin to eight points. At the critical moment, Leonard scored 4 points in a row from the middle distance, and George and Powell hit 2 three-pointers in a row. The two sides returned to the same running line again, and in the last three minutes, Smith Jr. hit a three-point shot, and Shin Jing broke through. Zubac of the Clippers scored four straight points on a basket, and George also scored on a layup. In the last 6 seconds, the two sides were tied at 100, Harden hit an outside shot, and also caused Tate to foul, scoring 4 points in a row to kill the game! In the end, the Clippers won the Rockets 106-100!
In the game, Leonard scored 26 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 5 steals and 1 block on 8-of-16 shooting. George finished with 23 points, eight rebounds and three assists on 8-of-22 shooting. Harden finished with 24 points, nine rebounds and seven assists on 8-of-11 shooting. Wei Shao had 8 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists on 2-of-9 shooting. Zubac had 12 points and seven rebounds. On the Rockets' side, Shin Kyung scored 23 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists on 8-of-18 shooting. Green had 20 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists. VanVleet had 18 points, 8 rebounds and 10 assists.