Five takeaways from the Lakers' 120-114 win over Houston

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Lakers teammates Jordan Clarkson and D’Angelo Russell embrace after beating the Houston Rockets 120-114 at Staples Center.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Lakers guard Nick Young and Houston Rockets guard James Harden dive for a loose ball during fourth quarter action at Staples Center.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Lakers guard Nick Young (0) celebrates after hitting a shot late in the fourth quarter against the Houston Rockets at Staples Center.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Official Gary Zielinski, center, mediates a pushing match between Lakers center Tarik Black, left, and Houston Rockets’ Nene during the second half at Staples Center.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Bill Walton arrives to watch his son, Luke experience his debut as head coach of the Lakers in an opening season game against the Houston Rockets at Staples Center.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson strips the ball from Houston Rockets guard James Harden late in the fourth quarter at Staples Center.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson (6) looks to pass to teammate Metta World Peace (37), but throws it too far for a turnover in the fourth quarter against the Houston Rockets at Staples Center.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Lakers guard Nick Young, left, strips the ball from Houston Rockets center Clint Capela late in the fourth quarter at Staples Center.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson (6) reacts after making a shot late in the game against the Houston Rockets at Staples Center on Wednesday.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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A sign of the times after the first game of the season at Staples Center.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Lakers forward Julius Randle knocks the ball away from Houston Rockets forward Trevor Ariza during first half action at Staples Center.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Lakes center Timofey Mozgov shoots over Houston Rockets center Nene during first half action at Staples Center.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Lakers Coach Luke Walton disputes a foul call during second quater action against the Houston Rockets at Staples Center.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson dives to save a loose ball duing first half action against the Houston Rockets at Staples Center.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Lakers forward Brandon Ingram lines up his first basket as he sinks a three pointer in the first quarter over Houston Rockets forward KJ McDaniels at Staples Center.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Lakers guard Lou Williams steals the ball from Houston Rockets center Nene during first half action at Staples Center.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Lakes Coach Luke Walton is greeted by Dianne Cannon as he enters the court for a game against the Houston Rockets at Staples Center.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

By Tania Ganguli

Oct. 27, 2016 6:50 AM PT

Winning the season opener isn’t nothing, but things only get tougher for the Lakers from here. They embark tomorrow on a four-game road trip that takes them to Utah, Oklahoma City, Indiana and Atlanta.

Before we get to all that, here are five takeaways from the Lakers’ 120-114 win over the Houston Rockets.

1. This Nick Young playing defense thing is real. He only shot three for 12, but he had three defensive rebounds and a blocked shot Wednesday night. “I told him after the game I was going to have to stop calling him a defensive player because now he can’t shoot the ball anymore,” Lakers coach Luke Walton said.

2. Twelve different players entered the game for the Lakers and Walton wanted to make it 13. He said he kept telling associate head coach Brian Shaw that he wanted to find a way to get Thomas Robinson in the game because he wanted Robinson’s energy. Robinson was the only active player who did not play for the Lakers.

3. Fouling was again an issue for the Lakers, but they came into the game knowing that could be a problem. James Harden is one of the best in the league at drawing fouls, and he shot 16 free throws on Wednesday night, making 15 of them. Walton will keep harping on that until it changes.

4. Jordan Clarkson’s impact off the bench is tremendous and might be worth more than what he could do as a starter. He led the team with 25 points, 12 of them in the fourth quarter, and was a big part of the Lakers’ late surge. The sixth-man role isn’t a trifling one, and Clarkson is buying into it.

5. Julius Randle had a (to borrow one of Walton’s favorite words) phenomenal game with 18 points, six assists, seven defensive rebounds and a blocked shot. Randle said, after the game, this is kind of how his whole preseason has gone during practice.

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