HOUSTON — — Luka Doncic scored 36 factors to steer the Los Angeles Lakers to a 100-92 victory over the Houston Rockets on Monday evening within the opener of a two-game collection between groups preventing for Western Conference playoff place.
Los Angeles moved 1 1/2 video games forward of Houston for third within the West standings. There had been 13 lead modifications in a sport that had a playoff ambiance, however the Lakers in the end received their sixth straight.
LeBron James discovered Marcus Smart for a nook 3-pointer that put Los Angeles up 94-90 with 2 minutes remaining. James completed with 18 factors, 5 rebounds and 5 assists.
Doncic hit back-to-back 3-pointers within the fading minutes of the third quarter to provide the Lakers an 83-80 lead after trailing 57-51 at halftime. Doncic was 4 for 12 on 3s within the sport and desires 11 extra to match D’Angelo Russell’s franchise document of 226 in a season.
Doncic had his sixth straight sport with 30 or extra factors however fell simply wanting his twelfth 40-point sport this season. He went 14 for 27 from the sphere.
Jabari Smith Jr. led Houston with 22 factors. Amen Thompson had 19 and Kevin Durant added 18 for the Rockets, who dedicated 24 turnovers in contrast with simply 12 for Los Angeles.
Houston was with out Alperen Sengun, who was coping with decrease again ache. Sengun is averaging 20.2 factors, second solely to Durant for the Rockets.
The Rockets took the primary assembly between the 2 groups this season, 119-96, in Los Angeles on Dec. 25.
The groups meet once more in Houston on Wednesday.
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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA
