INGLEWOOD — The Clippers had been idle since a tough 28-point loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves three nights ago.
During that time off, they had time to get their sixth-rated defense back on track. Three days to rest and get healthy. Three days off and the only thing that changed was the length of their injury list.
The Clippers came into Sunday’s game without Kawhi Leonard (knee), Terance Mann (finger) and James Harden (groin), which was going to be tough enough for the Clippers against the Houston Rockets.
Back-up center Mo Bamba sat out as well for injury management.
Then, in pregame warmups, back-up wing Amir Coffey injured his right shoulder and Derrick Jones, Jr., who started the game, experienced soreness in his right hamstring in the first quarter. They joined the corps of injured players on the bench, who sat helplessly as the Houston Rockets rolled to a 117-106 victory at Intuit Dome.
Without half his team, Coach Tyronn Lue was forced to go to the end of his bench.
He started Kevin Porter Jr. for the first time this season and responded to the challenge with 17 points and six assists. Lue played Jordan Miller for 32 minutes and Bones Hyland for 28.
Hyland finished with a team-high 22 points, and Miller had 12 points and six rebounds.
But it wasn’t enough to overcome the voids in the lineup or Norman Powell’s quiet night. Powell, who was averaging 23.9 points and shooting 50% from the field, finished with 17 points on five of 18 shooting. He made only one of eight long-range shots.
Ivica Zubac posted a double-double with 21 points and 12 rebounds.
Lue said before the game that it would take a collective effort to replace Harden. Harden is averaging 21.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 8.5 assists. It was a big ask of the role players.
“I think when you have a guy like James sitting out, people tend to try to do more,” Lue said. “I think we got to do it by committee. It won’t be one person and the biggest thing for us is just to make sure we get into our next actions.
“We just can’t get stagnant with our offense because James is out and so that’s going to be something we talked about before the game.”
All that talk couldn’t make the Clippers make up for the absence of their nine-time All-Star. But they came close twice.
The Clippers, who trailed by as many as 16, trimmed the lead to 10 with 4:22 left in the game. Zubac scored on a layup and a dunk to close the gap 108-98.
The Rockets made another push and led by 13 (111-98) when Dillion Brooks buried his fourth 3-pointer with 4:02 remaining.
After a pair of free throws by Zubac, Hyland completed a 3-point play to keep the game within reach, 111-103.
The Rockets had won 10 of 12 before dropping two games last week and they were determined – even without Fred VanFleet (knee) that a third loss was not going to happen. Not before a new week started.
“We want to right this ship quickly,” Ime Udoka said.
The Rockets got back to winning behind Green’s 31 points, Thompson’s 22 and Brooks’ 19. Houston (16-8) shot 48.8% from the field and 36.6% from 3-point range.
The Clippers had clawed back from an eight-point deficit in the first half behind the hot shooting of Miller and Hyland, who combined for 15 points in a 1:54 stretch in the second quarter to pull the Clippers to within one, 41-40.
But the Rockets outscored the Clippers, 15-6, to close out the first half and take a 64-52 lead into halftime.