Kevin Porter Jr. Leads Rockets To Victory Over Short-Handed Lakers
HOUSTON — Jabari Smith Jr.'s three-game stretch of scoring 20 or more points came to an end Wednesday night. But the 18 points he scored inside the Toyota Center was enough for the Houston Rockets to pick up a 114-110 win over the Los Angeles Lakers.
With Smith taking a backseat, Kevin Porter Jr. led the way for the Rockets with a game-high 27 points on an efficient 11-for-17 shooting, nine rebounds and six assists. He helped the Rockets take an early 31-19 lead over the Lakers with 12 points in the first quarter.
Alperen Sengun contributed to Houston's hot start with six points in the first period. He finished the game with 13 points, nine rebounds and six assists after missing the previous game due to a left groin strain.
The Rockets held an 18-point advantage with 2 minutes and 33 seconds left in the second quarter. And by halftime, the Rockets held a 62-48 lead.
Los Angeles began to cut into the Rockets' lead in the third quarter. The Lakers outscored Houston 26-21, which led to the Rockets holding an 83-74 lead entering the fourth quarter.
The Lakers came within four points by the 10:17 mark of the final period, but Smith put the Rockets ahead by 10 with back-to-back triples.
In the absence of Anthony Davis and LeBron James, the Lakers had five players who scored in double figures. Austin Reaves led the Lakers with a team-high 24 points. D'Angelo Russell added 18 points in the loss.
A rough night for Jalen Green:
Jalen Green had a forgettable game against the Lakers. He ended the night with 11 points on 4-for-13 shooting, 2-for-6 from behind the arc. Green came into the game averaging 25.2 points on 40.6 percent shooting from the field.
Rockets vs. Lakers regular-season series tied at 1-1:
With the win, the Rockets have tied their three-game regular-season series against the Lakers. Houston will close their series against Los Angeles on April 2 inside the Toyota Center.
Up Next:
The Rockets will continue their six-game homestand Friday night against the New Orleans Pelicans for a two-game mini-series that ends Sunday night. Houston will play the final game of their current homestand Monday against the Golden State Warriors.
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