One night after a much stronger-than-expected performance in Phoenix, the young and road-weary Houston Rockets weren’t able to replicate that showing in Thursday’s 142-111 loss (box score) at Los Angeles. Luke Kennard scored 25 points off the bench and hit a stunning 8-of-9 from 3-point range (88.9%), which fueled an ambush by the Clippers.
The Clippers (30-31) enter the All-Star break at the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference standings and in position for a home game in the play-in tournament for the playoffs. The rebuilding Rockets (15-43), who were on night two of a back-to-back and a third road game in four nights, enter with seven straight losses and the West’s worst record.
Rookie guard Jalen Green continued his run of strong efficiency in February, scoring a team-high 21 points on 8-of-15 shooting (53.3%), including 5-of-10 on 3-pointers (50.0%). Second-year forward Jae’Sean Tate, who joins Green at Friday’s Rising Stars tournament for the NBA’s All-Star Weekend,…