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LAKE BUENA VISTA, Florida: Los Angeles Lakers play from behind again in these NBA playoffs.
James Harden scored 36 points and the Houston Rockets walked away from the Lakers 112-97 on Friday night (Saturday in Manila), in the second straight round the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference lost its first game.
Russell Westbrook added 24 points, nine rebounds and six assists, and Eric Gordon had 23 points for the Rockets, the No. 4 seed who had only one day off after needing seven games to win his first-round series.
They sure didn’t look tired, flying around the court all night to make up for the size disadvantage they face with their small ball style. They forced 17 turnovers that led to 27 points and played the much bigger Lakers even on the boards.
The Lakers never led after the first quarter and the Rockets opened the quarter with a 16-3 run, converting a 6-point lead on a 101-82 band at Harden’s basket with 7:15 to play.
Anthony Davis scored 25 points and 14 rebounds for the Lakers. LeBron James had 20 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.
Game 2 is Sunday.
The Rockets pledged to play small in February, believing they were not made to compete with the best in the West by playing conventionally. They debuted their style with a win over the Lakers in Los Angeles and showed again why they think it can work.
They were constantly on the defensive move, deflecting passes and cornering fumbles.
It’s the kind of plays they have to make when starting a lineup that doesn’t have anyone taller than 6-foot-8-inch Robert Covington. They opened the game with 6-3 Gordon tagging James and Harden defending 7-foot JaVale McGee.
The Lakers played only for the second time in 11 days. They beat Portland in Game 4 of their series on Aug. 24, but then did not play again until five nights later, after the playoffs were delayed as players and the NBA pledged to end the season after the season. Milwaukee Bucks decision not to play a game. as a statement against racial injustice.
They didn’t appear to have any rust at first, breaking to a 7-0 lead. But the rest of the first quarter was tight from there, Houston led 29-28 after Rajon Rondo’s final shot came after the buzzer. The Lakers never led again.
The Lakers are one of the biggest sports franchises, their 16 championships one behind Boston for the most in NBA history. But they are in the second round for the first time since 2012, a month before James won his first NBA title and Davis was selected with the first pick.
And it was a tough start, just as it was when the Blazers beat them in Game 1 of the last round.
Gordon scored Houston’s first 9 points of the fourth quarter before Westbrook’s 3-pointer extended the lead to 97-82 with 9:07 left. Gordon then scored again before Harden’s basket as Davis tried to get a load out and finished the run.
Harden hit a triple for the last basket of the half and a 63-55 lead, giving him 25 points at the half.
Suggestions
Rockets: Houston played the last game of the first round, beating Oklahoma City 104-102 on Wednesday. … Austin Rivers scored 10 points off the bench.
Lakers: Assistant coach Jason Kidd missed the game because of what coach Frank Vogel said were severe back spasms. They are already without an assistant Lionel Hollins, who did not join them at Disney for the reboot and has been working remotely. … The Lakers maintained their regular starting lineup, keeping JaVale McGee as the center.
Rondo is back
Rondo got his first bubble action when he signed up for the Lakers in the first quarter. Scored 8 points. Rondo missed all eight seeded games while recovering from right thumb surgery, then was bothered by spasms in his back when he was ready to play during the first round.
Postseason past
This is the ninth postseason meeting between the teams, with the Lakers leading 5-3. They went on to win the championship after the last one, a 4-3 win in the 2009 Western Conference semifinals.
