A lot of fans were focused on the LA Lakers-Houston Rockets matchup on Monday, especially with big names like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Luka Doncic on the court. But interestingly, much of the buzz on social media centered around the matchup between Deandre Ayton and Clint Capela.
This game marked the first time the Lakers and Rockets went head-to-head since the tension between Ayton and Capela started.
After the Lakers’ loss to the Orlando Magic on Feb. 24, Ayton made it clear he sees himself differently, especially on offense.
“I’m not no Clint Capela,” Ayton said.
Capela did not let that unnecessary comment slide and responded with a jab of his own, adding more fuel to the rivalry.
So when the two finally faced off, fans were watching closely. Social media quickly lit up, with many praising Ayton for backing up his words and stepping up when it mattered.
“His rep was at stake. At least for now we know he ain’t no Capela,” @Lekan_A0 said.
“Ayton trying to make sure he doesn’t lose to Capela’s team 😂. Haven’t seen him play with this effort and intensity many times,” @chukkypun wrote.
“Ayton had the Last Laugh!!” @ShaneGeorge117 said.
“Ayton came in fucking clutch down the stretch man YOU F**KING OWN CAPELA BIG BRAH,” @Wizelycook said.
“They didn’t play Clint much at all in second half , DA came in clutch towards the end, ya give me DA,” @Supreme23___ said.
Looking at the box score alone, Capela actually had the edge with 9 points and 8 rebounds. Meanwhile, Deandre Ayton finished with 7 points but pulled down 11 rebounds.
However, many fans felt Ayton made the bigger impact, especially with his three clutch buckets late in the game that helped secure the Lakers’ 100-92 win.
Deandre Ayton elevates performance in ongoing win streak
After falling to the Denver Nuggets on Mar. 5 with a 120-113 loss, the LA Lakers have responded in strong fashion, putting together a six-game winning streak. As expected, Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and LeBron James have all delivered solid performances during this run. However, one of the more encouraging developments has been the improvements in Deandre Ayton’s game.
Ayton has quietly made his presence felt. In the five games he has appeared in during this stretch, he is averaging a double-double with 11.8 points and 10.0 rebounds per game.
He also shared that he feels like he has turned a corner after struggling through February.
“Felt like I picked up my energy and my focus,” Ayton said after the win against Chicago on Mar. 12. “You know, I finally caught up with the team. That’s about it.”
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