FSM Essential Recap: Lakers vs Rockets - Game 78 - 2023

FSM Essential Recap: Lakers vs Rockets – Game 78 – 2023

Franchise Sports Media

Los Angeles Lakers (40-38) | Houston Rockets (19-60)

 

The Los Angeles Lakers are now on a three-game winning streak after defeating the Houston Rockets 134-109.

The Lakers vs Rockets played at the Toyota Center on Sunday.

The Los Angeles Lakers won their third straight game to move to 40-38 with their win over the Houston Rockets. They’re the seventh seed in the West, half a game behind both the sixth-seeded Golden State Warriors and the fifth-seeded Los Angeles Clippers. 

“We always say we want to get stronger as the season gets longer and be playing our best basketball at the right time,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said. “Well, the time is definitely right and everybody’s in a good rhythm starting with (Anthony Davis) first and foremost. He understands wholeheartedly what we need him to do and he’s coming out and trying to do that.”

Davis had another explosive performance, totaling 40 points (15-of-20 FGs, 10-of-12 FTs), nine rebounds, and two blocks. This was his third straight game with 38+ points. 

Anthony Davis took over once again

“We’re getting greedy,” Davis said. “We’re not satisfied.”

The start of the Lakers vs Rockets first half. 

Davis’ last three games (All Lakers road wins): 38.7 points (65.2 percent overall), 11.7 boards, and two blocks per game.

“I’m in a great rhythm, feeling good,” Davis said. “Feel like I’m back to myself before the injury. We are all playing well. The guys are making it easy for me.”

LeBron James had himself a night as well, finishing with 18 points (8-of-18 FGs, 1-for-7 3s), 10 rebounds, and 11 assists. With that triple-double, James tied Jason Kidd for the fourth-most triple-doubles in NBA history (107). Magic Johnson is next, he’s sitting third on the list with 138 triple-doubles.

“We just want to put ourselves in the position to compete for a championship,” James said. “It’s a journey and obviously we don’t have as much chemistry as a lot of other teams that have aspirations to win a championship, but we’ve been building over the last month or so.”

“Mentally we’re in a great space,” Austin Reaves said about the team mindset considering how they started the season. “Since the trade deadline, I feel like we’ve (played great). We have really good confidence and good energy.”

Reaves finished the game with a solid 18 points (4-for-7 FGs, 9-of-10 FTs) and eight assists. Rui Hachimura made some huge contributions off the bench, as he had 20 points (10-of-14 FGs), 12 rebounds, and three blocks.

The end of the Lakers vs Rockets first half. 

However, the Lakers did miss out on some production from D’Angelo Russell, who left the game early due to injury.

The start of the Lakers vs Rockets second half. 

“It was definitely precautionary,” Ham said of the decision to hold Russell out for the second half with the left foot issue. “He could have continued if we needed him. Didn’t want to risk it.”

Despite being held out, Russell still logged 15 minutes and produced six points, three rebounds, and four assists. After counting this victory, James, Davis, and Russell are 5-0 as a trio, via @statmuse.

“These last four games are very important for our team,” James said. “Not only wins and losses but also the chemistry side as well. We need to continue to build what we’ve been building over the last month or so. We’ll see what happens.”

For the Rockets, Alperen Sengun notched his third straight double-double with 18 points (9-of-17 FGs) and 15 rebounds, Jalen Green scored 24 points (7-of-21 FGs, 2-for-7 3s, 8-of-8 FTs) and Kevin Porter Jr. chipped in 20 points (7-of-16 FGs, 6-for-10 3s). Before this stretch, Sengun had one double-double over the previous nine games played.

The Rockets made 13 out of 34 triples (38.2 percent), while the Lakers shot 9-for-30 (30 percent) from beyond the arc.

The Lakers committed only six turnovers, while Houston turned the ball over 10 times and ceded 15 points off of them to Los Angeles.

The Lakers dominated on the fast break, totaling a 20-9 points advantage, along with outscoring the Rockets 68-56 with points in the paint.

The final score of the Lakers vs Rockets was 134-109, Los Angeles. 

The Lakers now take on the Utah Jazz Tuesday, April 4th, at 6:00 p.m. PST. The game is on NBA League Pass and Spectrum SportsNet.

 

– Jake Ideguchi-Furukawa – Franchise Sports Media

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