"The Lakers were connected, apparently having had time to adjust to the loss of their two leading scorers, LeBron James acting as a brilliant playmaker for scorching hot shooters like Kennard, who hit all five of his treys in scoring a career playoff-high 27 points."
"At one end, the Lakers were perfectly executing, the 41-year-old James becoming the oldest player to have 13 assists in a playoff game, Deandre Ayton missing only two of 10 shots inside, so much nifty passing, so many open looks."
"The Rockets were a complete mess, dissolving in two whining technical fouls in the third quarter that sealed their fate."
The Lakers entered the playoffs with significant injuries but faced a Houston Rockets team missing their leading scorer, Kevin Durant. This absence allowed the Lakers to dominate the game, winning 107-98. LeBron James excelled as a playmaker, supporting Luke Kennard, who scored a playoff-high 27 points. The Lakers displayed strong teamwork and execution, while the Rockets struggled without Durant, leading to confusion and missed opportunities. Despite being outrebounded and committing numerous turnovers, the Lakers capitalized on the Rockets' disarray to secure the victory.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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