The Los Angeles Lakers started their six-game road trip with an exciting win in double overtime. The next night, they went to Texas to play the Houston Rockets in the first game of a back-to-back set.

It looked like the Lakers were worn out after beating the Golden State Warriors; they were blown out by the Rockets, 135–119.

After making a couple of jump shots to start the game, D’Angelo Russell stayed hot. However, the Rockets quickly took the lead (15–8). A short time ago, the Lakers were down by 10 points, but Anthony Davis led a 7-0 run that made it 22-17 in the middle of the first.

After Jabari Smith Jr. made a couple of layups, Russell gave Los Angeles their first lead of the night with his second triple. But it didn’t last long. Rockets fans got up and cheered when Cam Whitmore made a few transition dunks. The Lakers were behind 42–31 at the start of the second quarter because Houston ended the first quarter on a run.

Dillon Brooks hit Jarred Vanderbilt on a dunk, and Vanderbilt punched Brooks and touched him, which got him kicked out of the game. Los Angeles’ defense started to break down as they let Houston score almost freely and fell behind by as many as 21 points.

James and Davis tried to get the Lakers back in the game by going to the basket and making small baskets. The two were able to get the game going, but Los Angeles was still behind at halftime, 78-60, after Brooks made back-to-back threes to end the second.

The Lakers got off to a slow start in the third, letting the Rockets go on a 7-0 run that made the lead 25–17. Houston went ahead by 30 points, which made things even worse and forced head coach Darvin Ham to call a break.

While Houston kept putting on the pressure, it was scary how little energy and hustle the team had, even though they were down a lot. Houston scored back to make it 108-84 at the end of the third. L.A. went on a run to cut the lead to 21 points.

James stayed in the game to start the fourth and made his first three-point shot of the night. A 10-point run, which was stopped by a Brooks three-pointer, got going with his aid.

Brooks shot at James, and James seemed angry about it. He was also rougher with the ball afterward. Before the Lakers could make a comeback, the Rockets scored one more run, ending any hopes of a return.