James and Davis help the Lakers hold out to beat the Rockets and tie the series

Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James (23) raises his thumb during the second half of an NBA conference semifinal basketball game against the Houston Rockets on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. | AP Photo

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Florida – LeBron James scored 28 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists, Anthony Davis added 34 points and 10 rebounds and the Los Angeles Lakers tied the Western Conference semifinals by beating the Houston Rockets, 117-109, on Sunday at night. (Monday morning, September 7, 2020 Philippine time).

Markieff Morris scored 16 points for the Lakers. They opened a 21-point lead in the first half, gave up 41 points in the third quarter to fall behind, and then regrouped behind some high-flying plays from James to pull away again.

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James took just 15 shots in Game 1 and didn’t score in the fourth quarter of the Lakers’ 112-97 loss, but was dominant on both ends in the final period of it. He had eight points in the fourth and a powerful blocked shot over Russell Westbrook that flew out of bounds.

James Harden scored 27 points and Eric Gordon made six triples and added 24 for the Rockets, who made 22 triples. PJ Tucker had 18 points and Robert Covington 17, but Westbrook finished just 4 of 15 while scoring 10 points and grabbing 13 rebounds.

The third game is on Tuesday (Wednesday in the Philippines).

The Lakers also lost their first game to Portland in the first round, but they comfortably won Game 2 on their way to four straight victories.

This one seemed like it would be easy, then it seemed like it might not come at all.

But James had a dunk to open the quarter to tie the game and another dunk in a balloon during an 8-0 run that gave them the lead for good. They saved it later in the period with a 9-0 flurry, with two baskets from Davis, to make it 113-101.

The Rockets missed 12 of their first 15 shots and it looked like the No. 1 seed could get them off the floor.

Morris provoked a grand finale in the first quarter. He had a 3-pointer with 1:11 left, then hit again at 52 seconds and a third time with 31 seconds to go, taking the lead to 33-17. Rajon Rondo did one more at the bell to give the Lakers a 36-20 band.

James scored six quick points in the second to make it 42-21. Houston had a good stretch to cut it to nine with just under 5 minutes remaining at the half, but the Lakers quickly ran 10 in a row to push the lead to 61-42, and was 67-51 at the break.

Gordon hit two 3-pointers in a row and Tucker hit one to open the third, forcing the Lakers to call for a quick time-out and take center JaVale McGee to better match. But that didn’t stop the Rockets at all, as Gordon landed a layup and Harden another 3 for a 14-0 start that made it 67-65.

Houston then scored 10 in a row later in the period, with Covington converting a four-point play followed by a triple to start and give the Rockets the lead. They were up 92-90 going to the room.

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