Jabari Smith Jr. delivered a season-high 28 points, leading the Houston Rockets (9-4) to a dominant 125-104 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers (6-7) in their NBA Cup opener on Friday night. The Rockets controlled the game from the start, never trailing in their fourth straight win.
Smith shot an impressive 11-for-17 from the field, including five three-pointers, and added 11 rebounds. His strong performance helped Houston extend its winning streak to four games.
Fred VanVleet contributed 18 points and 10 assists, while Dillon Brooks added 17 points. Alperen Sengun also had a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
The Clippers struggled throughout the game, despite a solid 21-point performance from James Harden. Harden made three three-pointers, tying Ray Allen for second-most career three-pointers in NBA history, but his efforts were not enough to overcome the Rockets’ balanced attack. Los Angeles has now lost three straight games after winning their previous four.
The game’s turning point came midway through the third quarter. The Clippers, down by 19, mounted a brief comeback with a 6-2 run to cut the deficit to 12.
However, the Rockets responded with a 9-0 run, including a key 3-pointer from Brooks and an alley-oop dunk from Jalen Green, to push their lead back to 21 points.
The Clippers’ offense was disjointed, with Norman Powell, Derrick Jones Jr., and Ivica Zubac struggling to find consistency.
Despite the efforts of role players like Kris Dunn and Amir Coffey, who contributed 13 and 10 points respectively, Los Angeles’ shooting woes, particularly from beyond the arc (10-of-40), prevented any serious challenge.
In contrast, the Rockets shot 43.2% from three-point range, including 19-of-44 from deep. Their fast-break game also played a crucial role, as they outscored the Clippers 20-8 in transition.
Houston’s ability to push the pace and convert on fast breaks proved too much for the Clippers to handle.
Houston’s bench was another key factor in the victory, with Tari Eason and Amen Thompson combining for 29 points. Eason’s 17 points helped keep the energy high, while Thompson added 12 and contributed to the Rockets’ strong defensive effort.