The Houston Rockets were once more bullied on the backboards Thursday, yet again it mattered little in terms of the final score.

The Rockets (43-25) improved to 3-1 since the restart with their 113-97 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, winning despite a minus-14 rebounding margin.

By fully leaning into a small-ball lineup, the Rockets knowingly sacrificed rebounding in favor of opening the floor offensively for the penetration talents of guard Russell Westbrook and their gaggle of shooters.

When the Rockets face the Sacramento Kings on Sunday near Orlando, the odds are good that another disadvantage on the glass will play out. Yet despite securing only 65.9 percent of available defensive rebounds in the bubble, the lowest mark in the NBA since the restart, the Rockets continue to thrive via effort and advantages elsewhere.

“I think we’ve been fighting and competing,” said Rockets guard James Harden, who on Saturday was named one