The Los Angeles Lakers were able to defeat the Houston Rockets on Monday. What is the significance of it?
The Los Angeles Lakers went into Houston on Monday and defeated the Rockets, 100-92. Here is why it matters, plus a couple of takeaways.
The Standings
The Lakers and the Rockets entered Monday’s matchup as the occupants of the third and fourth seeds in the Western Conference, respectively.
A win by Houston would have jeopardized Los Angeles’ place in the standings, but the Lakers did not let that happen. Now, they are a game and a half in front of the Rockets.
This game was also the first of two consecutive matchups between these teams as they will meet again on Wednesday in Houston as part of the Lakers’ six-game road trip.
Luka Leads the Way
Luka Doncic did what he does best on Monday: Score.
Doncic notched a game-high 36 points on 14-27 shooting from the field. From February to March, Doncic has increased his scoring average from 27 points per game to 34.1 points per game. He is also shooting 39.8% from 3-point range during March.
Austin Reaves’ Defense
It was not the best shooting night for Austin Reaves, but he made sure to show up on the defensive end.
Reaves only shot 5-18 from the field and missed all eight of his 3-point attempts, but he was able to grab four steals and a block in place of a good offensive performance. In a game decided by eight points, his defense made an impact.
Reaves’ shooting splits have decreased slightly from February to March, but he is still averaging 22.5 points per game while shooting 40% from beyond the arc.
LeBron Does Enough
At 41 years old, LeBron James is not going to provide 25-plus points a night, but his efficiency and basketball IQ allow him to remain a highly effective player.
James had 18 points in the win on 7-13 shooting from the field. He only attempted three shots from the perimeter and was able to hit one of them, and he only had one turnover. By the end of the game, his plus-13 rating was the highest on the team.
However, James is not going to shy away from showing off his athleticism, just see the clip below.
A Low Volume Shooting Night
If the score already was not enough of an indicator that this game was not one for offense, then the number of shots expanded on that point.
Doncic ended up being the only player from both teams to take at least 20 shots, while the other stars on the floor in James and Kevin Durant combined for 29 shots. Needless to say, there weren't any heat checks or high volume shooters.
The Lakers, who have now extended their winning streak to six games and are 9-1 over their last 10, will try to keep the momentum up against the Rockets on Wednesday.