Lakers Secure Playoff Spot with Dominant Win Over Rockets

LOS ANGELES, California — The Los Angeles Lakers secured the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference playoff race with a decisive 140-109 victory against the Houston Rockets on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. The win marked the Lakers’ first 50-win season since 2020 and set the stage for their playoff journey next week.

The Lakers entered the game needing a win to clinch their playoff position, while the Rockets, already secured as the second seed, opted to rest key players. Despite this, Houston opened the game with back-to-back three-pointers, but Lakers guard Luka Doncic quickly responded by assisting LeBron James for an alley-oop, igniting the home team.

James then added a three-pointer and passed to Jaxson Hayes for an easy basket, setting the tone for the Lakers. Doncic led a strong offensive showing, scoring 15 points in the first quarter, helping the Lakers build a 38-32 lead. In the second quarter, the Lakers extended their advantage, with their solid defense facilitating fast-break opportunities.

By halftime, the Lakers had built a comfortable 78-56 lead, due in part to quick buckets from Rui Hachimura. The Rockets, however, came out fighting in the third quarter, cutting the deficit to 15 points before the Lakers regrouped with key contributions from Austin Reaves and Doncic. After James appeared to tweak his groin and temporarily exited the game, the Lakers maintained their edge, ending the third quarter ahead 107-87.

In the fourth quarter, the team continued to dominate, allowing James and Doncic to rest as they prepared for the playoffs. “It just gives us a couple more days to be very prepared for whatever matchup we have,” Reaves said post-game.

Doncic’s performance was a highlight of the night, as he scored 39 points on just 19 shots in 31 minutes. Reaves added 23 points while Dorian Finney-Smith and Hachimura contributed 18 and 16 points, respectively. James left the game with 14 points and eight assists after just 22 minutes of play.

“The whole locker room is literally the water,” Hachimura said, referencing the jubilant atmosphere following the victory. “Straight water.” Lakers head coach JJ Redick expressed pride in the team’s accomplishment, highlighting the significance of achieving a 50-win season, especially in the competitive Western Conference.

Despite a few injury concerns, such as James’ groin issue, which he later addressed after the game, the Lakers showcased their readiness for a deep playoff run. “That’s gotta be the only goal,” Doncic said. “We have the team to do it.”

The Lakers will close the regular season on Sunday afternoon against the Portland Trail Blazers. With their playoff spot secured, they are expected to rest key players in preparation for the postseason.