Lakers Surge Late And Defeat Rockets For Their Sixth Consecutive Win

HOUSTON — In their first gathering of nan play connected Christmas Day, Lakers coach JJ Redick said nan Lakers were “punked” by nan Houston Rockets and vowed not to fto it hap again.

On Monday, nan Lakers displayed their toughness successful a 100-92 win complete nan Rockets astatine Toyota Center.

Even erstwhile they were faltering successful nan 4th fourth amid a one-for-15 shooting streak, nan Lakers showed their resilience pinch a gritty protect effort that kept them successful nan game. The Lakers scored conscionable 17 points successful nan fourth, but they held nan Rockets to conscionable 12 points en way to their sixth consecutive win.

Luka Doncic led nan Lakers pinch 36 points, six rebounds and 4 assists. LeBron James scored 18 points and Austin Reaves had 15 points.

But 3 large baskets from Deandre Ayton (seven points, 11 rebounds) and a large three-pointer by Marcus Smart (11 points) helped nan Lakers unfastened their six-game travel pinch a win.

The Lakers threw double teams astatine Houston’s Kevin Durant each game, limiting him to 18 points and forcing him into 7 of nan Rockets’ 24 turnovers.

Sitting 3rd successful nan Western Conference, nan Lakers (43-25) will return a 1½-game lead complete nan Rockets (41-26) into their rematch connected Wednesday night.

Doncic sewage disconnected to what has go his emblematic first-quarter starts, scoring 16 points connected seven-for-10 shooting. But Houston took a 58-51 lead astatine halftime aft taking power of nan boards successful nan 2nd quarter. The Rockets turned six violative rebounds into 13 points.

The Lakers besides had a difficult clip scoring, shooting conscionable 32% from nan section and 13% (one for eight) from three-point scope successful nan quarter.

After trailing by arsenic galore arsenic 10 points successful nan 3rd quarter, nan Lakers surged and took an 83-80 lead heading into nan fourth. After what happened successful L.A. backmost successful December, nan Lakers were wished not to fto Houston tally distant pinch nan game.

“We’re playing difficult correct now,” Redick said earlier nan game. “Our defense has been better. ... Just benignant of going down nan line, guys are starring successful nan roles that this squad needs for america to beryllium successful.”

Note: Lakers backup halfway Maxi Kleber did not play arsenic he continues to retrieve from a lumbar backmost strain. “He’s fundamentally been unopen down for 5 days to benignant of heal,” Redick said. “He’s not pinch america correct now, and we dream he’s capable to subordinate america later connected successful nan trip.”