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The Los Angeles Lakers continued their winning streak after six games with a tough 100-92 victory over the Houston Rockets in their away game, barely managing to survive a disorganized and low-scoring fourth quarter.
Late in the game, the teams combined for just 12 points in the first eight minutes of the final period, turning the game into a defensive duel. The Lakers, who were experiencing a long scoring drought, relied on excellent shooting and solid defense to once again beat a good playoff opponent.
The Lakers’ first players were Luka Doncic and LeBron James, who both contributed offensively. Doncic opened the scoring aggressively, quickly reaching double figures and finishing the first quarter with 14 points, while LeBron scored, assisted and played very well. Smith Jr. kept Houston in the game by scoring efficiently in the opening minutes.
LEBRON JAMES POSTER —
OH MY GOD. 🔥🔥🔥🔥
– Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) March 17, 2026
Both teams started off with efficient shooting, with both teams shooting near 60%. However, the dynamic has continued to shift. The Lakers even came up against the Rockets for a moment midway through the first quarter, but the Rockets responded with some very timely scores. For example, they scored five points very quickly thanks to Reed Sheppard. During the next quarter, Los Angeles benefited from the energy of Austin Reaves, who was very aggressive even on defense, and even got a few points from the free throw line. Dorian Finney-Smith was one of the players who scored, as he scored three points. On the other hand, Houston was successful inside as Clint Capela even dominated the paint early on. The Rockets finally took the lead by a small margin before the halftime break and left the court leading by six.
After the break, Houston played at an even level while the Lakers responded with a vital run. Luca Doncic got hot again, making quick baskets, while LeBron continued to distribute the ball. A long spurt of 237 meant that Los Angeles not only erased the deficit, but also found itself with a slim lead entering the final quarter.
