LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — LeBron James added one other document to his resume as he continues his chase for a fourth profession title.
No one has performed in as many NBA playoff victories.
Rajon Rondo of the Lakers drives the ball in opposition to James Harden of the Rockets throughout Sport Three of the Western Convention Second Spherical in the course of the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Enviornment on the ESPN Broad World Of Sports activities Complicated on Sept. 8, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Getty Photos)
James scored 36 factors, Rajon Rondo sparked a fourth-quarter rally and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Houston Rockets 112-102 on Tuesday night time to take a 2-1 lead of their Western Convention playoff collection.
The triumph gave James his NBA-record 162nd postseason victory, surpassing former Lakers guard Derek Fisher’s 161.
“It’s very humbling,” James mentioned. “It’s one thing that I by no means dreamed of.”
James had seven rebounds, 5 assists and 4 blocks as he helped lead the Lakers’ second-half defensive surge. The Rockets had 64 factors at halftime however had been held to 38 the remainder of the best way.
“No one impacts profitable greater than LeBron James,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel mentioned. “That’s true for this season. That’s why he ought to be MVP. Truthfully, it’s most likely true within the historical past of the sport. No one impacts profitable greater than LeBron James. To see him have that precise numerical statistic is simply indicative of that.”
James reached the milestone with loads of assist from Rondo, who grew to become the primary participant to have a minimum of 12 factors and 5 assists within the fourth quarter of a playoff sport since James for the Cleveland Cavaliers on April 22, 2010, in response to STATS.
Rondo completed with 21 factors and 9 assists. He scored eight straight factors throughout a 10-Zero run early within the interval that put the Lakers forward for good. Rondo assisted on the opposite basket throughout that stretch.
“I simply took what was given,” Rondo mentioned. “It began on the defensive finish for me. Guys discovered me once I was open, and I took the pictures with confidence. And I bought some straightforward layups.”
Anthony Davis had 26 factors and Kyle Kuzma added 14. James Harden scored 33 factors and Russell Westbrook had 30 for the Rockets.
Rockets ahead Robert Covington was taken to the locker room after colliding with Davis within the fourth quarter. The left facet of Covington’s face hit Davis’ proper arm, whereas Covington’s left elbow hit Davis’ proper facet.
Houston coach Mike D’Antoni didn’t have an replace on Covington after the sport.
The sport featured 16 lead modifications and 15 ties, with neither group pulling forward by greater than six factors till the Lakers took management late.
“Too many 50-50 balls we didn’t get, too many instances we simply weren’t sharp,” D’Antoni mentioned. “We simply weren’t fast to the ball or fast to a play and it bought away from us. They hit a variety of good arduous pictures. Tonight they bought us. Subsequent time, we’ll see what we are able to do.”
Rondo assisted on a layup by James that put the Lakers forward with about 10 minutes remaining. Rondo then hit a 3-pointer to present the Lakers an 89-85 benefit, their largest result in that time.
After a Houston timeout, Westbrook missed a shot and Rondo sank one other 3. Rondo then stole the ball from Harden and made a layup to cap the 10-Zero run.
“Playoff Rondo is actual,” Davis mentioned. “His depth picks up. He needs to protect one of the best perimeter man. … He’s capturing the ball very nicely, making the best passes. His IQ is on one other degree.”
LA managed the ultimate interval for the second straight sport. The Lakers blew a 21-point lead in Sport 2 however outscored Houston by 10 within the fourth quarter to win 117-109.
“I simply thought within the second half they performed somewhat bit tougher than we did,” D’Antoni mentioned. “Our legs, we had been somewhat sluggish off a variety of issues, particularly on the defensive finish. We didn’t create sufficient turnovers to run.”
TIP-INS
Lakers: C JaVale McGee returned to motion, taking part in 6 minutes, however G Dion Waiters was unavailable after each gamers had been harm in Sport 2. Vogel mentioned Waiters is daily with a strained groin.
Rockets: Danuel Home missed the sport for what D’Antoni mentioned had been private causes unrelated to COVID-19. Home had scored 13 factors off the bench in Sport 2. … This marked the fourth time in D’Antoni’s tenure that Houston break up the primary two video games of a playoff collection. Within the earlier three situations, the Sport Three victor went on to win the collection.
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