It is rare for a team to have two defensive-minded wings capable of disrupting an opponent’s game plan, and the Houston Rockets boast the unique advantage of having such players coming off their bench.
Tari Eason and Amen Thompson delivered strong two-way performances in the Rockets’ 111-103 victory over the visiting Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday. The duo will aim to continue their impressive play on Friday when the teams face off again in Houston to kick off their NBA Cup campaigns.
Eason and Thompson each scored 18 points on a combined 14-for-23 shooting and grabbed a total of 21 rebounds, with Thompson pulling down six offensive boards while logging a season-high 34 minutes.
Eason recorded his first double-double of the season and extended his streak of double-digit scoring games to five, averaging 14 points and seven rebounds during that span. The pair also contributed three blocks and three steals on Wednesday.
While Eason and Thompson continue to develop as scorers and rebounders, their prowess as isolation and help defenders is noteworthy. Both players relish the chance to defend one-on-one and excel off the ball, which fuels the Rockets’ desire to score more in transition.
Their defensive versatility allows the Rockets to utilize unconventional lineups, confident that Eason and Thompson can handle assignments from point guards to power forwards.
The Clippers’ inability to sustain their hot shooting from behind the arc contributed to their defeat on Wednesday. After making their first five 3-point attempts and building an 11-point first-quarter lead, the Clippers shot just 5-of-19 from deep in the second half. Despite their ranking as the third-best 3-point shooting team in the NBA at 39.1 percent, the Rockets deserve credit for their defensive efforts.
The Rockets recorded 11 blocked shots, with more than half coming from their center rotation of Alperen Sengun (four) and Jock Landale (two). Repeatedly challenged at the rim, the Clippers’ shot selection suffered, and they were dominated on the glass, finishing with a minus-17 rebounding margin whenever 7-footer Ivica Zubac rested.
Houston capitalized on 18 offensive rebounds, converting them into 19 second-chance points and totaling 24 fastbreak points. This combination of factors stood out in the first of the back-to-back matchups.
