HOUSTON \u2013 The Houston Rockets entered Friday night with a chance to force a do-or-die game against the Los Angeles Lakers.<\/p>\n
With their season on the line, the Rockets fell flat, scoring a season-low 78 points in a 98\u201378 blowout loss.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone\u2019s disappointed,\u201d head coach Ime Udoka said in the postgame press conference. \u201cThat was not what we expected coming into the game tonight \u2014 or the series in general.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lakers star LeBron James led all scorers with 28 points, while Rui Hachimura added 21. Amen Thompson paced the Rockets with 18.<\/p>\n
\u201cI really wanted to win,\u201d Thompson said after the loss. \u201cI didn\u2019t even have thoughts about after… I\u2019ll be thinking about this all summer.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Rockets\u2019 previous season low in scoring was 91 points, making Friday\u2019s performance a new low in their final game of the year. Their 78-point total also tied for the fifth-lowest single-game output in the NBA this season.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe didn\u2019t make shots,\u201d Rockets guard Reed Sheppard said after the game.<\/p>\n
It was hard to ignore the gaps in the Rockets\u2019 offensive firepower, with Kevin Durant sidelined by an ankle injury sustained in Game 2, and both Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams out for the season.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe cannot think about that stuff,\u201d center Alperen \u015eeng\u00fcn said. \u201cYou\u2019ve got to fight with whoever is on the court. Obviously, I was upset losing Fred and Steven\u2026 but you\u2019ve got to learn.\u201d<\/p>\n
After the final buzzer, Rockets players were emotional as their season came to an end sooner than anyone in the building had hoped. <\/p>\n
Players described a somber locker room, with hugs, words of encouragement, and jersey exchanges.<\/p>\n
\u201cNobody was ready for [the season] to be finished,\u201d \u015eeng\u00fcn said. \u201cWe win together, we lose together, and we stay together\u2026 We have a big summer ahead of us.\u201d<\/p>\n
That summer could include roster changes, as the Rockets face difficult questions about their future.<\/p>\n
Tari Eason, who is entering free agency, expressed uncertainty about his future in Houston, saying, \u201cGod knows.\u201d<\/p>\n
When asked about preparing for next season, Udoka said, \u201cI\u2019ll get to it ASAP.\u201d<\/p>\n
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