The Houston Rockets fell 128-108 to the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday at the Intuit Dome, as Kawhi Leonard scored 41 points and James Harden added 29. Head coach Ime Udoka stressed his team’s lack of effort and adherence to the game plan, saying, “It’s a good way to put it, slow and didn’t compete at a high level… and if you can’t sustain those two things… you’re not going to give yourself a chance.”
Udoka explained adjustments in the second half were aimed at generating energy. “It wasn’t even defensive, it was just energy in general on both ends… wanted to switch it up and give different guys a look and hopefully get a little energy,” he said, referencing Houston’s struggles to maintain a nine-point lead.
The Rockets struggled with defensive execution against Leonard and Harden. “Who we’re guarding and how we’re guarding them… laid on a lot of guys not helping off certain guys… basic games in the backcourt,” Udoka said, noting the Clippers capitalized on multiple lapses to extend their lead.
Three-point defense also hurt Houston, as the team allowed Los Angeles to shoot 54% from deep. Udoka said, “Our rotations are slow… a few possessions where we didn’t even get matched up after a made basket or free throw… that confidence grew off those.”
Harden’s free-throw success was another point of concern. “Undisciplined things of reaching in… he’s a foul baiter… we didn’t come out with that discipline tonight,” Udoka explained, contrasting with previous matchups where Houston limited Harden effectively.
The coach also addressed spacing and aggressive play, citing Reed Sheppard as an option against traps. “We have a very mobile big… it’s going to be a lot of the times a big man… need to continue to drill that to get us to our spacing and aggressiveness,” he said.
On overall team development, Udoka admitted, “We’ve had some improvement, but lately it’s been some slippage… energy and focus defensively is not there… in the past we could rely on defense and tonight it was non-existent.”
Despite the loss, Udoka maintained perspective on facing a motivated opponent. “Anytime you’re losing you’re going to play with some desperation… I wouldn’t say I’m surprised with it, more surprised with our response to it,” he said.
Houston, now 17-10, was led by Kevin Durant with 22 points and Alperen Sengun’s 19 points and 11 rebounds. Amen Thompson added 19 points, while Jabari Smith Jr. scored 16, but the Rockets made just 30% from three-point range. The Clippers improved to 8-21, winning consecutive games for only the second time this season.
