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HOUSTON – In a playful media exchange after a loss to Utah Jazz on Wednesday, Rockets coach Mike D Antoni stubbornly refused to consider a scenario in which Chris Paul would be unavailable. while he had just finished the second game without a suspended guard. .
After two defeats against Paul, the Rockets (1-3) will welcome him Friday, while they will welcome the Clippers of Los Angeles to the Toyota Center. But instead of getting closer to optimal health, which proved elusive for Houston early this season, the Rockets will simply switch one All-Star to another. Paul will replace James Harden, the most valuable player in the NBA title. Harden suffered a left thigh injury against the Jazz and is not available to start alongside Paul at the second meeting of the Rockets with the Clippers.
Harden will miss the last two games of the Rockets three-game series.
Weakened by their defense during the opening week, the Rockets showed a slight improvement on their side against the Jazz, before collapsing offensively without Paul. Harden carried a heavy load, combining 29 points and seven assists while making seven turnovers. The Rockets fired 40.2% on the field, including 29 missed attempts over 40 to 3 points. Eric Gordon, starting in Paul's place, missed his first 11 and scored 1 of 12.
Harden, striker James Ennis (right leg tensile right hock) and center Nene (right calf strain) were all evaluated by the team's doctors on Thursday. The shortened Rockets bench will remain exhausted.
"Obviously, it changes a lot of things and we take care of it," said Paul. "I'm sure it's a different game with me that does not play, obviously we'd like the team to be at full strength, but right now we're dealing with the injury virus." and you do not do anything in a group and accumulate winnings.
"We have had various injuries and various things.I think for us now, it's trying to get through the storm.I prefer this now rather than April or something like that.We'll just try to understand."
The Clippers (2-2), formed as a formation devoid of stars but charged with depth, have held good thanks to the defense. Despite the stronger NBA schedule, the Clippers ranked Thursday in eighth place in terms of defensive efficiency, at 104.1 points per 100 possessions.
"Overall, I love this team on the defensive," said Clippers' coach, Doc Rivers. "That will keep us in a lot of games, we have to be smarter in attack, really."
Rivers attempted to boost this offensive production by playing top scorers Tobias Harris and Danilo Gallinari. Harris (23.5 points per game) and Gallinari (21.5) lead the Clippers in goals and rebounds, with Harris scoring the team's highest score by 8.5 rebounds per game, while Gallinari second class with 7.0.
"I like it a lot," Rivers said of the grouping of staff following a loss of the New Orleans Pelicans road on Tuesday. "It takes them a lot of painting, the first two times we did it, we got a lay-up and a 3. But we just did not take advantage of it." I thought we were n & # 39; We had failed to recognize what we were trying to do, and at the end of the day, I thought it hurt us. "
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