Here is what you need to know before the Lakers pay a visit to the Houston Rockets.
1)
Though the team didn’t get the result it wanted against Denver on Monday, it couldn’t have asked for much more from rookie Ivica Zubac. The 19-year-old was a beast offensively, shooting 12-of-15 from the field on his way to 25 points and 11 rebounds. The outburst made him the youngest player in franchise history to score that many points while notching a double-double.
2)
Head coach Luke Walton plans to keep his starting lineup fluid throughout this final month of the season, trying different combinations of players. Last game saw Jordan Clarkson — fresh off a career-high 30-point night Sunday — start at point guard while D’Angelo Russell came off the bench.
3)
This will be the Lakers’ first meeting with an old friend, Lou Williams, who was traded to Houston during the All-Star break. The Sixth Man of the Year candidate was leading Los Angeles in scoring before being traded for Corey Brewer and a 2017 first-round draft pick.
4)
Williams’ Houston debut was a wild one, as he dropped 28 points with a career-high seven 3-pointers in his first game as a Rocket. However, it's been an adjustment period since then, as he is averaging just 9.0 points on 24.6 percent shooting in his last eight games.
5)
Fortunately for the Rockets, they are nonetheless in line for the Western Conference's third seed thanks to the dominance of MVP frontrunner James Harden. A former client of new Lakers General Manager Rob Pelinka, Harden currently ranks third in the NBA in scoring (29.1) while leading the league in assists (10.7).
6)
Harden is coming off an impressive performance that led the Rockets to victory over the reigning champs. He pieced together his 16th triple-double of the season on Monday — with 38 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists — to push past LeBron James (30 points) and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
7)
With the addition of Williams (18.0 ppg), the Rockets boast both of the league’s top scorers off the bench. Second is Eric Gordon (16.7), who is having a resurgent year, particularly from deep. Gordon — who won the All-Star Three-Point Contest in his former city of New Orleans — currently ranks second in the NBA, among both starters and reserves, in made 3-pointers (3.4), behind only Stephen Curry (3.9).
8)
Houston’s offense has thrived under first-year coach Mike D’Antoni, whose roster accommodates his run-and-gun style. The one-time coach of the Lakers has his team ranking second in scoring (115.1), behind Golden State (116.3), while also on pace to average the most made 3-pointers in NBA history (14.7).
This has brought out the best from Houston’s starting big men, as Ryan Anderson leads all non-guards in triples (2.8) while Clint Capela leads the entire league in points on cuts to the hoop (4.8).
9)
However, as with most D’Antoni teams, the Rockets are vulnerable on the other side of the ball. In particular, Houston has trouble keeping teams from scoring down low, as they yield a league-high 48.1 points in the paint.
10)
The Lakers and Rockets have each beaten the other once this season, as L.A. debuted with an electric victory on Opening Night, while Houston came back two months later and dominated in a 39-point win. With the season series on the line, the Lakers have a chance to capture it for the first time in six years.
Injury Report
Lakers: Larry Nance Jr. (right wrist sprain) is probable.
Rockets: Chinanu Onuaku, Isaiah Taylor and Troy Williams are on D-League assignment.
Tip-Off: 5 p.m. PT
TV: Spectrum SportsNet and Spectrum Deportes
Radio: 710 ESPN and 1330 KWKW