NBA: Los Angeles Lakers beat Houston in the finish

With a strong last quarter, the Los Angeles Lakers dominated Houston (112-102). Also, took the lead two to one in the Western Conference semifinals.

The Los Angeles Lakers, who were struggling in Game 3 of the Western Conference Second Round, went one more step up in the fourth quarter against the Houston Rockets. They were 38 points after the break compared to 64 before.

The final ten-point gap (112-102) is the same as in the last period (30-20) with strong performances from LeBron James (36 points, 7 in the second half). Anthony Davis (26 points, 15 rebounds) but also Rajon Rondo (21 points, nine assists). The Lakers now lead the series two-to-one heading into Game 4 on Thursday.

LeBron James captured his 162nd career playoff win. It is the new NBA record. He now leads former Lakers leader Derek Fisher (161) to first place in the standings.

LeBron James’ performance added seven rebounds, five assists and four blocks to his 36 points. The Lakers were mostly able to stifle the Rockets’ offence after the break. They found a tremendous outside relay with veteran leader Rajon Rondo scoring twelve points and five assists in the final period alone.

The former 2008 NBA champion with Boston is coming back from injury. Still, his contribution, both defensively and offensively. He did a great deal for the Lakers who could not find an alternation in the first half.

Houston had set the pace and led by three units at the break (64-61). But the game changed entirely with the rise of the Californian defence. Without a solution around Harden (33 points, 12 in the second half), Houston was diving. Russell Westbrook made stats (30 points, eight rebounds, six assists) but without weighing in at all in the second half and Houston. He was still in the race at the end of the third quarter (82-82) conceded a 17-5 without appeal in the fourth.