Rockets vs. Lakers: Score, Highlights and Reaction from 2016 Regular Season

Defense was optional at Staples Center on Wednesday night, and the Los Angeles Lakers used that to their advantage as they downed the Houston Rockets 120-114 to start their new era in style. 

The Lakers leaned on their youngsters, and one of the league’s most promising up-and-coming groups delivered clutch play after clutch play down the stretch. 

Post-Kobe era off to a good start in Los Angeles…Lakers defeat Rockets, 120-114 to give Luke Walton his first win as head coach pic.twitter.com/pfT3PfyHR1

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 27, 2016

Jordan Clarkson—who scored two points in the first half—finished with a team-high 25 points on 8-of-12 shooting off the bench, including a three-pointer with 1:47 remaining in regulation to put the Purple and Gold up four. 

D’Angelo Russell added 20 points, while Julius Randle was energy personified to the tune of 18 points (9-of-11 shooting), seven rebounds and six assists. No. 2 overall pick Brandon Ingram was limited to 23 minutes off the bench, but he was efficient with nine points on 4-of-6 shooting. The Lakers were also an impressive plus-10 with Ingram on the floor. 

The Rockets countered with a statistical performance for the record books from James Harden, who posted 34 points (9-of-19 shooting, 15-of-16 from the line) and a career-high 17 assists in 37 minutes. According to Basketball-Reference.com, Harden joined Chris Paul and Baron Davis as the only players to notch at least 34 points and 17 dimes in a game since 2000. 

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New additions Eric Gordon (19 PTS, 5 REB) and Ryan Anderson (14 PTS, 6 REB) were both solid in the win, but the story was Harden. 

By the time the first quarter came to a close, the Beard had tallied 12 points and nine assists in his new role as Houston’s full-time point guard. 

With dimes dropping at a furious pace, the Rockets’ official Twitter account provided a highlight reel of Harden’s silky feeds from the early going: 

You don’t want to miss these first quarter highlights! 9 assists for the Beard in Q1. pic.twitter.com/IBR3oSBh3L

— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) October 27, 2016

According to the NBA on ESPN, Harden’s nine first-quarter assists were the most by a Rockets player in the last 15 seasons.

CBSSports.com’s Zach Harper put Harden’s usage in perspective: 

Harden legitimately might average 35 potential assists per game. …

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