The Lakers won two consecutive victories on the enemies of the western conference eliminations on Monday by overthrowing the Rockets at home, 102-98.
Although it was almost all their three big ones making the big lifting against the grizzly groves, the players intensified Houston. Dorian Finney-Smith and Gabe Vincent had nights of monster out of the bench, combining to reach six points at 3 points each for 40 combined points.
Luka Dončić finished with 20 points, six rebounds, nine assists and two interceptions. LeBron James scored 16 points with eight rebounds. Austin Reaves finished with 12 points and eight rebounds. The trio was combined to shoot just 16-38 from the land and 3-14 from the beach.
The Rockets took a rapid advance of four shoulders of their great man, Alperen şengün. The Lakers had trouble converting to their shots. Şengün continued to have his way in painting and was up to six points. The enemy of Los Angeles, Dillon Brooks, has also emptied a 3 -point wide pointer.
Los Angeles picked up their defense and this led to an offensive burst of nine consecutive points, giving them their heads. Houston was on a three-minute drought to score until Amen Thompson made a lay-up.
Then hit a score crisis, spent three minutes without bucket. The Rockets took advantage of it, setting up five consecutive points. This turned into a low score battle, the two teams have trouble finding their offensive pace. Houston held a three -point lead at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter started with Jabari Smith Jr. to take fire, marking eight fast points. Houston revealed their defensive pressure, forcing it to work for their shots. However, LeBron drew a three on a leg to help maintain the violation of the afloat.
Jordan Goodwin has torn the Brooks balloon and converted to a lay-up. Los Angeles was down four with less than seven minutes to do in half-time despite a brutal 17% shot from behind the arc.
Gabe returned to the bench again, reversing three 3 points for the Lakers. Although the Lakers drew 34% from the field, they kept it near. Meanwhile, Luka put şengün on skates before wearing it to Dorian for three.
A pair of Luka’s free throws equaled the match at halftime.
The Lakers opened the second in half going from the front of four. Between the two teams, five 3 points were overthrown early. Jaxson Hayes spent a slow offensive night but marked on an empathetic dunk. Brooks scored five points for the Rockets.
Dorian continued his solid score with nine more points on three 3 points. LeBron had a hard time going in the first half, but found his rhythm this quarter, adding five essential points.
With three minutes to play in the quarter, the Lakers played chaotic basketball with some missed reversals and shots. They are breastfeeding a two -point lead which went to five after three other gabes.
Gabe Vincent and Dorian Finney-Smith combined to hit 10 three of the bench for Lakers tonight. They were both enormous in Memphis too.
– Dave McMenamin (@mcten) April 1, 2025
Gabe spilled three others, which was his fifth in the match. Between him and Dorian, they had made 11 long -range looks. Rui Hachimura had a difficult period from the field but finally saw the ball go through the hoop for a 3 -point pointer.
At the end of the third, it increased by five years.
The last manager started with the Lakers taking a seven -point lead, but he quickly disappeared when the game turned into a Slugfest with the two teams playing offensively. Replied it whenever the rockets were close enough to tear off the head.
Thompson scored five points, helping Houston staying at a distance from strike. With 5:42 to play, the Rockets made a two -point match.
Three free throws, one by Luka and two by Gabe, put it by five halfway. Smith Jr. nailed a rider to bring him closer again. Los Angeles had drought for a four-minute to score up to a luka lay-up.
Houston broke down on the defensive, which led Lebron to find Rui alone for an important late basket.
A flight from Dillon Brooks led to two free throws, but he divided the pair to keep a two -point match with 20 seconds to play. LeBron made two free throws to push the advance of the four with seconds on the left.
He also blocked şengün on the other side. Brooks had a late 3 -point look that missed – predictable – and DFS closed his big night with two gifts.
The main dishes to remember:
One thing is certain, this Lakers team knows when they need to launch it and get important victories.
Dorian and Gabe could win this team an eliminatory match or two with just their offensive firepower behind the arc.
The next Lakers match is against the Golden State Warriors on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. PT.
You can follow Karin on Twitter in @Karinabcarians.
