Luka Doncic recorded 39 points, eight returns and seven assists, and Los Angeles Lakers dressed Western Conference’s No. 3 seed with a solid 140-109 victory over the visiting Houston Rockets on Friday night.
LeBron James had 14 points and eight assists in 22 minutes before setting out the last 19:27 with an obvious injury. James, who has been disturbed by a left groin injury, grimaces just before he was pulled in the third quarter and had his left leg/hip area taped but the team did not immediately announce a disease.
Austin Reaves contributed 23 points, seven returns and six assists, and Dorian Finy-Smith posted to 18 points on six 3 points from the bench for Lakers (50-31). Finne-Smith matched her season best for Treys, previously achieved against Houston on March 31.
Rui Hachimura scored 16 points for Los Angeles, who shot 60.9 percent from the field and made 19 of 37 3-point attempts.
Cam Whitmore established career heights of 34 points and seven 3 points for the rockets (52-28), which held out several players for the second straight game. Reed Sheppard scored 14 points, Nate Williams added 12 and Aaron Holiday took 11.
Houston previously dressed the No. 2 seed and held on Friday Dillon Brooks (Vila), Tari Easton (left leg), the Alperen Sengun (personal reasons), Jabari Smith Jr. (left groin), amen thompson (rest) and peace vanvleet (right ankle).
Jalen Green scored seven points in almost 15 first half before looking at the second half in street clothes. Green offers to play in all 82 regular seasonal games for the second straight campaign.
Houston shot 45.6 percent from the field, including 18 out of 51 from 3-point intervals.
Doncic got 24 points during the first half, when the Lakers shot 65.9 percent from the field while taking an advantage of 78-56. Whitmore had 13 in half for Houston.
Los Angeles led 38-32 after the first quarter and continued his strong game in the second and took a lead of 65-44 on Finy-Smith’s Trey with 4:54. Hachimura emptied a 3-point with 11 seconds left for 22-point half-time bulge.
The Lakers continued to have control during the third quarter. Doncic made three free throw with 0.1 seconds left to give Los Angeles a lead of 107-87.
Jarred Vanderbilt’s Dunk made it 121-98 with 6:22 left in half and left the only excitement to involve Bronny James. He went in with 4:23 to play and made his only 3-point attempt but missed his other three shots.
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