Skip Bayless reacts to Rockets bullying Lakers, LeBron James

NEW BULLY ON THE BLOCK

The Houston Rockets put on a show Monday night, dismantling the Lakers and cruising to a 135-119 win at Toyota Center. One of Skip Bayless' big takeaways from the game was how the Rockets and Dillon Brooks “bullied” the Lakers. Dillon managed to get Jarred Vanderbilt to take the bait and get himself ejected after two technical fouls during an exchange with Brooks.

Brooks got under Vanderbilt's skin by pushing him in the back midair while he was trying to dunk the ball.

Later in the game, James was knocked to the ground by Brooks while fighting for a rebound. LeBron was contacted in the face and remained down for a while before eventually getting up and heading to the bench.

The officials decided it was a flagrant one foul, and Brooks was able to continue playing.

Earlier this season, in December, Rockets coach Ime Udoka famously got into a heated discussion with LeBron James and was ejected.

Clearly, there's no love lost between these two teams. Be sure to watch the video above as Skip reacts to all the drama between the Lakers and Rockets. Plus, how Houston seems to play so well when these teams faceoff.

Most Popular

The Angels beat the Astros, 3-0. Composite Getty Image.

José Soriano and two relievers combined for a two-hitter and Oswald Peraza hit his first home run since a trade from the Yankees to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 3-0 win over the Houston Astros on Sunday.

Soriano (10-9) allowed one hit and struck out eight in seven innings. Luis García allowed one hit in a scoreless eighth and Kenley Jansen threw a perfect ninth for his 25th save.

There were two outs in the fifth when Peraza connected off Hunter Brown (10-7) into the bullpen in right-center field to put the Angels up 1-0. His homer comes after his two-run single in the ninth inning Saturday helped Los Angeles to a 4-1 victory that snapped a three-game skid.

Yoan Moncada walked to start the eighth and scored on Mike Trout’s double that bounced off the wall in center field to make it 2-0. Taylor Ward walked before Luis Rengifo reached and Trout scored on an error by Lance McCullers Jr. when the pitcher overthrew first base.

Yordan Alvarez singled with no outs in the first and Soriano walked a batter in the second and sixth innings. The Astros didn’t get another hit until Ramón Urías doubled with one out in the eighth inning. Los Angeles outfielder Taylor Ward was injured trying to make a catch on that hit when he crashed face-first into the metal scoreboard in left field.

He was carted off the field holding a towel to the right side of his face. He was taken to a hospital by ambulance where interim manager Ray Montgomery said he would receive stitches to close the cut and be evaluated.

Brown allowed three hits and a run with five strikeouts in six innings. McCullers Jr. allowed three hits and two runs in his first relief appearance since 2018.

Key moment

The home run by Peraza.

Key stat

It’s the fifth time the Astros have been shut out this month.

Up next

LHP Yusei Kikuchi (6-9, 3.68 ERA) will start for Los Angeles in the series finale Monday against RHP Luis Garcia, who’ll make his return after sitting out since May 2023 recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Most Popular

SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome

Listen Live

ESPN Houston 97.5 FM