When the Lakers They were paired with Rockets in the Playoffs and it was known that they would not play that series or Luka Doncic and Austin Reavesmany were quick to predict a 4-0 in favor of the Texans. Now that same result can occur, but with changed protagonists. It is the yellows that dominate 3-0 after winning in Houstonin extra time, 108-112.
LeBron James and to a large extent Marcus Smart have made the wait for Doncic and for Reaves be much sweeter. What began in Los Angeles almost as a surprise has been cemented in Houston as a reality: the passing of the Lakers into the second round very much on track, burning little energy, necessary later, and giving an unusual feeling of superiority.
Lakers comeback
The Rocketsagain without Kevin Durant This time due to an ankle problem (he missed the first game due to a knee problem) he is close to closing the season in a very turbulent way. And there is already talk, for example, of the transfer of Alperen Sengun as a first consequence to the very real possibility of being eliminated by the Lakers.
They could/should have won the third match, when they faced the last 30 seconds of regulation time with an advantage, 101-95 after two losses of LeBron James that the Rockets transformed into baskets. But three free throws smart 25 seconds away and a basket of three from his own James at 13 after a recovery they tied the game. Then Sengun and lebron They could avoid the extension, but they failed.
Dorian Finney-Smith battles for a ball with Marcus Smart.
The Lakers were better in overtime, mainly because of the eight points of smart in that period. His triple made it 2-6 and 103-107 for the Lakers which the Californians ended up doing well. smart He finished with 21 points and 10 assists and five steals. Only magicJohnson (three times) he reached those numbers with the Lakers in a Playoff game. Rai Hachimura He contributed 22 points.
Above all he was ‘The King’ with 29 points, 13 rebounds and a new demonstration of that pact by which he has defeated the Father Time. His leadership in the three games of the series has left the Rockets on the edge of the abyss and Lakers heading to the second round of the Playoffs. They have one left: “The game is not over until zero appears on the clock“. It was the decisive basket number 151 of lebron in the Playoffsabsolute leader of this ranking since 1996 ahead of Kobe Bryant who achieved 104.
In the Rockets, Sengun He contributed 33 points and 16 rebounds and Amen Thompson26 and 11. The feeling of failure in the Texan team is absolute when they are one defeat away from closing the season.
