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Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James (23) celebrates with Anthony Davis during the second half of an NBA conference semifinal basketball game against the Houston Rockets on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo / Mark J. Terrill)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Florida – LeBron James had 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 night.
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.
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.
Game 3 is Tuesday.
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.
TIP-INS
Rockets: Houston is 7-1 in the series under Mike D’Antoni when he won Game 1. The only loss was to San Antonio in the 2017 Western Conference semifinals.… Danuel House Jr. scored 13 points.
Lakers: Morris had hit just three 3-pointers in the postseason before making four in Game 2. … James edged out Ray Allen (385) for second on his career postseason list on 3s. Stephen Curry is the leader with 470.
NOT THAT UNUSUAL
Despite the Rockets’ focus on style, D’Antoni said the Rockets aren’t all that different from other NBA teams. “I only saw Miami, for example. (Bam) Adebayo is the only guy who got bigger than us and I don’t know, what two inches bigger? He’s 6-8 or 6-9, I don’t think he’s 7 feet or 7-2, ”D’Antoni said. “So it’s like, I’m looking, I say, ‘Why don’t you say it’s a small ball?’ Because that is what it is “.
DOC IN THE HOUSE
Clippers coach Doc Rivers sat in the seats watching family and potential enemy. His son Austin plays for the Rockets. The Clippers would play as the winner of this series if they beat Denver in the other West semifinal.
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