⏱️How it unfolded
The score against the pace we expected, quarter by quarter.
The score, against the pace we expected
The Rockets fell 9 points behind the pace we expected in the third quarter, then it evened out by full time.
Where it moved
▲ HOU better than we expected
▼ LAC better than we expected
The third quarter was where it moved most, 10 points worse than our numbers for the Rockets.
⚖️What decided it
Why the Rockets won, and why the Clippers did not.
From the game
Shot well above their usual, ten of 23 from three- Lived at the line, 39 free throws to their sixteen
Key battles
🏀Good plays, bad plays
The plays that went each side's way, and the ones each side did to itself.
Rockets
Good plays
- 8-0 run
A 8-0 run stretched a 7-point lead to 15
Q3 11:25 · HOU 61-46 LAC
Bad plays
- Missed FT
Yao Ming misses free throw 1 of 1
Q4 3:05 · HOU 97-89 LAC
- Missed FT
Rafer Alston misses free throw 1 of 2
Q4 0:27 · HOU 100-94 LAC
Clippers
Good plays
- 9-0 run
A 9-0 run cut a 15-point deficit to 6
Q3 9:48 · HOU 61-55 LAC
Bad plays
Nothing costly of their own making.
📊The numbers
| HOU | LAC | |
|---|---|---|
| 41% | Shooting from the field | 44% |
| 10 | Threes made | 5 |
| 43% | Three-point accuracy | 29% |
| 31 | Free throws made | 11 |
| 57 | Rebounds | 52 |
| 11 | Offensive rebounds | 16 |
| 22 | Assists | 20 |
| 0 | Points in the paint | 0 |
| 6 | Fast break points | 15 |
| 12 | Points off turnovers | 10 |
| 13 | Turnovers | 11 |
| 4 | Steals | 8 |
| 4 | Blocks | 8 |
