LOS ANGELES – Prolific as the Rockets were certain to be, at some point, they insisted they would play some defense.
When they scored their way through the preseason, they said they were working on their defense. As they went through Wednesday's final walk-through, they insisted they would surprise with their defense.
Like promising to begin that diet tomorrow, the Rockets put off the part of the game they did not like, never stepping up enough to slow the Lakers onslaught until the Rockets opened the season with a stunning, 120-114 loss in Staples Center.
The Lakers took the game in the final two minutes as Jordan Clarkson, who led the Lakers with 25 points in 24 minutes off the bench, nailed a 3-pointer and then followed a missed 3 with a put-back laup, giving the Lakers a four-point lead.