Lakers Edge Rockets in Thrilling Battle Led by Vincent and Finney-Smith
What a game last night at Crypto.com Arena! The Los Angeles Lakers pulled off a hard-fought 104-98 victory over the Houston Rockets, and let me tell you—this one was all about the unexpected heroes. Gabe Vincent and Dorian Finney-Smith absolutely lit it up from beyond the arc, each knocking down six three-pointers and dropping 20 points to give the Lakers the spark they needed.
Luka Doncic was his usual self, contributing 20 points, nine assists, and six rebounds, but it was the Lakers’ depth that truly made the difference. LeBron James added 16 points and eight boards, while Austin Reaves chipped in with 12 points and eight rebounds. The Lakers, now 46-29, have won two straight and are making their push up the Western Conference standings.
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The Rockets didn’t make it easy, though. Amen Thompson led the charge for Houston with 20 points, while Dillon Brooks added 16. Jabari Smith Jr. had a solid night with 15 points and 11 rebounds, and Alperen Sengun filled up the stat sheet with 14 points, seven boards, and six assists. Houston had been on fire, winning 12 of their last 14 games, but the Lakers managed to cool them off—at least for one night.
The game was a back-and-forth battle, with Houston going on an 11-2 run in the third quarter to take a 61-56 lead. But the Lakers responded in a big way, outscoring the Rockets 26-14 over the next stretch to grab an 82-75 advantage heading into the final period.
Then came the clutch moments. With just over two minutes left, Rui Hachimura threw down a huge dunk to push the Lakers ahead 100-95. Houston fought back—Thompson’s driving layup made it a three-point game, and Brooks had a chance to tie it up, but he split his free throws, leaving the Rockets trailing 100-98.
LeBron James, ever the closer, nailed two free throws with 11 seconds left, then came up with a massive block on Sengun to seal the win. Finney-Smith added two more free throws for good measure, and just like that, the Lakers walked away victorious.
This win keeps the Lakers right in the thick of the Western Conference race, as they now sit just 2.5 games behind the Rockets in the standings. With the playoffs approaching, every game matters, and performances like this—where the role players step up big—are exactly what the Lakers need to keep their championship hopes alive.
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