On Monday, LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers lost to the Houston Rockets 135-119. With four minutes remaining in the game, LA had cut the deficit to 121-111 after being behind by as much as thirty points. In response, the Rockets scored the next six points to break the Lakers’ will.
With almost three minutes left, LA coach Darvin Ham benched James, Anthony Davis, and the other starters. After Jalen Green’s basket, Houston had pushed the lead back up to 127-111, forcing Ham to field the bench players.
A video of the four-time MVP appearing to give Ham the dagger look while he was sitting on the bench went viral. Basketball fans erupted on X, the former Twitter:
“Darvin Hams’ final Lakers game”
Following their loss against the Rockets, the LA Lakers are now 24–24. Houston’s record improved to 22-24, trailing only the Lakers and Jazz (24-24) by one game for the tenth and last play-in slot for the postseason. The Golden State Warriors (19–24) can be easily reached by the teams described above.
Most Lakers fans now consider Darvin Ham to be the cause of every loss. In Saturday’s thrilling 145-144 double-overtime victory over the Golden State Warriors, Ham went unnoticed despite playing a fantastic game. After the Rockets game, he gets roasted on social media.
The Lakers players are solely responsible for their own defeat at the hands of the Rockets. When they played like they were still celebrating their triumph over Golden State, it wasn’t Ham on the court. In the first half, Houston easily defeated the Hollywood sleepwalking team.
78-60 was the Rockets’ lead going into the second half. They started the third quarter by blasting the Lakers 16–4 and keeping their foot on the throttle. LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and the rest of his players were always being urged by Darvin Ham to play with greater vigor and urgency.
The players for Ham answered, but it was too little, too late. Houston had accumulated enough lead to secure the victory.
LeBron James and his teammates began the game playing defense, which infuriated Darvin Ham.
LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers must have felt the effects of their heartfelt victory over the Golden State Warriors. They lacked the attention and legs to keep up with the quick-wittedness and athleticism of the Houston Rockets. After the first 12 minutes of the game, Houston led 42–31.
Darvin Ham’s team did not fare any better in the second quarter. Their opponents outhustled, outrebounded, and outscored them. After 48 minutes, LA lost 14-4 in the offensive rebounding category, having led 9-1 in the first half.
Regarding the work his squad put in on both ends of the court, Ham said this:
“We simply gave them too much too soon. In transition, on short drives, and on drop-offs, we gave up too much. A team gains confidence when they establish a rhythm like that, and before you know it, everything is clicking.
Los Angeles Lakers’ fastbreak point total was 29–15. On occasion, LeBron James, D’Angelo Russell, and a few of LA’s perimeter players would jog back to defend. They were punished by the Houston Rockets, who zipped to the hoop for simple transition points.
The eventual deficit may have been even worse if not for LA’s spurt at the midst of the fourth quarter. Although the players should take more of the blame for letting Houston almost run them off the court, Darvin Ham also had some responsibility for the defeat.