NBA: Luka Doncic puts up 36 as Lakers power past Rockets

Luka Doncic led the way with a game-high 36 points as the visiting Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Houston Rockets 100-92 on Monday.

The win evened the season series between the two teams ahead of their third and final matchup on Wednesday in Houston. The Lakers also extended their hold on the Western Conference’s third seed, moving 1½ games ahead of the Rockets.

LeBron James contributed 18 points, five rebounds, and five assists for Los Angeles, while Marcus Smart added a timely corner 3-pointer and finished with 11 points. Deandre Ayton chipped in seven points and 11 rebounds, hitting consecutive baskets late in the fourth quarter to help the Lakers seize control.

Smart gave the Lakers a 94-90 lead off a James assist with two minutes remaining. Ayton then grabbed an offensive rebound and dunked, followed by a layup, pushing the lead to 98-90 with just 43.4 seconds left. James capped the scoring with a transition dunk off the Rockets’ 24th turnover, the ninth of the fourth quarter.

Jabari Smith Jr. led Houston with 22 points and eight rebounds, helping the Rockets briefly take an 88-85 lead before Los Angeles’ late surge. The Lakers applied aggressive double-teams on Kevin Durant, who scored 18 points but committed seven turnovers. Houston managed only 12 points in the final period.

Amen Thompson added 19 points and 12 rebounds, while Reed Sheppard contributed 11 points off the bench for the Rockets, who were without All-Star center Alperen Sengun due to a back issue.

Doncic scored 16 points in the first quarter, but Houston countered inside with Thompson, who had three dunks in the opening frame to fuel the Rockets’ 20 paint points. The Lakers built a six-point lead, but Sheppard’s daring drive to the basket brought Houston within 29-28 by the end of the first quarter.

The Rockets tied the game at 37-37 on a Clint Capela three-point play, then regained the lead when Dorian Finney-Smith hit a 3-pointer for a 49-46 advantage late in the second quarter. The teams combined for five lead changes and four ties in the second, and Durant’s layup just before halftime put Houston ahead 57-51 at the break. -Field Level Media/Reuters