Luka Doncic was presented with his Western Conference Player of the Month for March and scoring champion awards, and the Los Angeles Lakers then built on their Game 1 win to defeat the Houston Rockets, 101-94.
With that, the Lakers have a 2-0 series lead as their first-round matchup shifts to Toyota Center for Games 3 and 4. It’s the first time the Lakers are up 2-0 in a series since the 2020 NBA Finals.
Marcus Smart was an early spark plug for the Lakers, both with his defense on Kevin Durant, and in providing scoring. Smart opened the game with 12 of the Lakers’ first 15 points. Although he was efficient behind the arc, the Lakers collectively settled for too much on perimeter shooting.
That allowed the Rockets to remain close, led by Durant similarly getting off to a hot start in his return from a right knee bruise. The Lakers started to create some separation as Luke Kennard provided an immediate boost off the bench. Smart, Kennard and LeBron James combined for 30 points on 11-of-16 shooting in the first quarter.
Each of the three finished with more than 23 points.
The Lakers led 33-26 at the end of the first but had already given up seven offensive rebounds.
James opened the second quarter with back-to-back 3-pointers, though momentum slipped away as halftime neared. The Rockets went on a 12-0 run to cut it to a one possession game and trailed just 54-51 at halftime.
The third quarter was a sloppy affair as both teams traded baskets, fouls and turnovers. Jake LaRavia picked up his fifth foul and Durant had to head to the bench shortly after because of his fourth. The Lakers recovered from falling behind and took a seven-point lead into the fourth quarter.
The Lakers forced the Rockets into the bonus with 8:43 remaining in the game but didn’t fully capitalize on it. They nevertheless managed to maintain their lead thanks in some part to the Rockets missing open looks. Houston continued to double-team James and while it took the ball out of his hands, it regularly led to a basket.
One such instance was Rui Hachimura knocking down a midrange jumper that extended the Lakers’ lead to 91-85 with 3:41 remaining in the game. On another similar sequence, Smart was found wide open for a corner 3-pointer.
And when the Lakers needed to put the game on ice, James broke down the defense for slam dunk.
Rockets vs. Lakers playoff schedule
Game 3: Friday, April 24, 5 p.m. PT, Prime Video, Toyota Center
Game 4: Sunday, April 26, 6:30 p.m. PT, NBC/Peacock, Toyota Center
Game 5*: Wednesday, April 29, TBD, NBC/Peacock, Crypto.com Arena
Game 6*: Friday, May 1, TBD, Toyota Center
Game 7*: Sunday, May 3, TBD, Crypto.com Arena
*If necessary
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