Blossoming all around! Sengun scores 22+15, Amen nearly records a triple-double, Zubac's 33 points go in vain, Rockets with six players in double digits defeat Clippers

On December 12th, Beijing time, during the NBA regular season, the Rockets played at home against the visiting Clippers. The Rockets spread the scoring load with six players reaching double digits. Sengun and Smith each recorded double-doubles, and Amen came close to a triple-double. The Clippers saw strong performances from three starters, with Zubac putting up 33 points, but it wasn't sufficient. Ultimately, after a hard-fought four quarters, the Rockets edged out the Clippers 115-113.

Statistical summary:

Clippers: Leonard with 24 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 steals; Harden contributed 22 points and 7 assists; Zubac scored 33 points and grabbed 7 rebounds; Bogdanović added 10 points

Rockets: Durant scored 16 points; Sengun posted 22 points, 15 rebounds, and 4 steals; Amen delivered 20 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists; Smith had 18 points and 10 rebounds; Shepherd contributed 10 points; Holiday scored 13 points

Game progression:

At the start of the first quarter, the Rockets came out strong with a 9-2 run to shock the Clippers. Amen stopped the bleeding with a step-back jumper, but Smith quickly followed with a three-pointer. The Clippers responded with an 8-2 run to close the gap, and Durant hit a three-pointer to maintain a 5-point lead for the Rockets. The Clippers steadily chipped away at the lead, with Harden hitting a three and Zubac scoring inside, tying the game at 22. The quarter ended tied at 29-29.

In the second quarter, Holiday opened with a three-pointer, sparking a 9-0 run that extended the Rockets' lead again. Bogdanović answered with a three-pointer, and the Clippers countered with a 10-2 run to pull ahead once more. The teams battled back and forth, tying at 42 and then 49. When Zubac made a put-back, the Clippers took their first lead of the game. Both teams exchanged points until halftime, with the Clippers leading 54-51 by 3 points.

In the third quarter, Sengun started with a floater, but the Clippers immediately responded with a 6-1 run to widen the gap. Durant hit a three-pointer to stop the bleeding. The teams then engaged in a back-and-forth battle, with the Clippers maintaining about a 5-point lead. Midway through the quarter, the Rockets scored repeatedly, narrowing the deficit to just 2 points, but Harden made two free throws to extend the lead again. Toward the end of the quarter, the Rockets went on a 7-3 run to reduce the gap to 2 points. The third quarter ended with the Clippers leading 82-80.

In the final quarter, Adams and Smith delivered consecutive dunks, sparking a 12-2 run that put the Rockets ahead. Leonard finally scored a layup to stop the bleeding. The Clippers responded with a 9-2 run to close the gap once again. In the later part of the quarter, the teams fought fiercely with the score tied at 101. The Rockets then went on a 7-3 run to take control, leading by 5 points entering the last minute. Zubac drew a foul and made two free throws to continue closing in, and Harden hit a three-pointer to tie the game again. Amen made a critical and-one play; Zubac made one of two free throws, but Smith committed a crucial turnover. Leonard then committed an offensive foul on a potential game-tying attempt. Batum also made a fatal mistake. Ultimately, the Rockets narrowly won 115-113 over the Clippers.

Starting lineups for both teams:

Clippers: Leonard, Collins, Zubac, Harden, Dunn

Rockets: Durant, Smith, Amen Thompson, Okogie, Sengun