The Houston Rockets held off a late rally from the Los Angeles Lakers to secure a 119-115 victory on Sunday night. Jalen Green led the charge with 33 points, helping Houston improve to 23-12 for the season.
Amen Thompson returned from a two-game suspension with an impressive outing, posting 23 points and a career-high 16 rebounds. His dunk late in the fourth quarter helped the Rockets maintain their lead after the Lakers had cut a 22-point deficit to just two.
Fred VanVleet delivered the game-saving play, intercepting an inbounds pass intended for LeBron James with seconds remaining. He followed it with a free throw that sealed the victory for Houston.
Anthony Davis spearheaded the Lakers’ efforts with 30 points and 13 rebounds, while James contributed 21 points, 13 rebounds, and nine assists. Despite their efforts, Los Angeles fell to 20-15 on the season.
The Rockets capitalized on points in the paint, outscoring the Lakers 52-40 in that category. Alperen Sengun added 14 points and six rebounds, and Steven Adams provided a spark off the bench with eight points and nine rebounds.
The Lakers made their push with an 11-2 run late in the fourth quarter, led by six points from Davis. A three-pointer from Davis and a basket by James cut Houston’s lead to 117-115 with eight seconds left.
However, VanVleet’s timely steal dashed the Lakers’ hopes of completing the comeback. The Rockets held on despite shooting just 57.9% from the free-throw line, including a key miss by Sengun in the closing moments.
Thompson’s performance was a positive sign for the Rockets, who are missing Jabari Smith Jr. due to a broken bone in his hand. Smith is expected to be out for up to two months, and Thompson has stepped into the starting role effectively.
For the Lakers, Davis carried much of the load, but James struggled early, scoring only five points in the first half. Austin Reaves also had a strong showing with 21 points and 10 assists, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Houston’s balanced attack.
The Rockets’ bench outscored the Lakers’ reserves 29-16, with contributions from Cam Whitmore and Jae’Sean Tate. Houston’s rebounding edge (49-39) and ability to withstand Los Angeles’ late-game surge proved pivotal.
