Gifting the Clippers 40 points off turnovers reveals a systemic looseness costing the Rockets crucial possessions and, ultimately, games.
The Rockets didn’t lose this back-to-back because of talent. They lost it because they could not protect the ball.
Houston turned it over 16 times Tuesday and 21 times Wednesday. Against a team like the Clippers, that’s gasoline on a slow burn. Los Angeles turned those mistakes into 17 points off turnovers in Game 1 and 23 more in Game 2. That’s a 40-point swing across 48 hours.
Kevin Durant finished with five turnovers Tuesday and eight Wednesday. Some of that comes with the territory. He’s drawing doubles. He’s the pressure point in every defensive scheme. But the issue isn’t just Durant.
Reed Sheppard had four turnovers Tuesday. Amen Thompson had three Wednesday. Every Rocket who played more than 17 minutes tonight turned it over at least once. On Tuesday, every Rocket who saw the floor- except Amen Thompson- coughed it up.
That’s not one guy getting blitzed. That’s systemic looseness.
The Rockets are at their best when the ball moves with purpose. When they’re decisive, they look like a machine. When they get casual, they look rushed. And rushed against veteran teams becomes runouts the other way.
Houston has proven they can survive cold shooting nights. What they can’t survive is gifting opponents 20-plus extra possessions and hoping talent covers it.
There’s a difference between being aggressive and being careless. Right now, that line feels blurry.
And it’s costing them games.