NBA action continues as the Lakers travel to Houston to face off against the Rockets. The teams are evenly matched in terms of strength, and the game starts with both sides trading blows. However, towards the end of the first quarter, the Lakers experience a power outage, allowing the Rockets to go on a scoring spree, resulting in a 14-point deficit for the Lakers by the end of the quarter. In the second quarter, the Lakers show some improvement, but their poor shooting from beyond the arc and weak rebounding efforts leave them trailing by 18 points at halftime.
The third quarter sees LeBron James take charge of the offense, nailing four three-pointers and leading the team to within two points. The final quarter is fiercely competitive, with both teams exchanging blows and keeping the suspense alive until the very end. A crucial turnover leads to the Lakers' defeat, 115-119, ending their two-game winning streak. Let's examine the data to see who should be held accountable for the loss.
LeBron James: His strong performance in the third quarter brought the team back into the game, but a missed forced three-pointer and an offensive foul in the fourth quarter put the team in a precarious position. He finished with 8 out of 16 shots made, scoring 21 points, grabbing 13 rebounds, and dishing out 9 assists, with a plus-minus of -13.
Anthony Davis: Despite delivering a full-court effort on both ends of the floor and giving Shengjing a tough lesson, the lack of victory overshadows his performance. He scored 30 points, grabbed 13 rebounds, had 2 assists, and recorded 5 blocks, with a plus-minus of +7.
Austin Reaves: Playing with great positivity and showcasing his organizational skills, he continues to improve with each game. He went 6 for 13, scoring 21 points, providing 10 assists, and committing 2 fouls, with a plus-minus of +12.
Max Christie: Performed well overall, but the final turnover was unnecessary, a cost of growing up. He shot 4 for 8, scoring 14 points, grabbing 6 rebounds, providing 2 assists, and recording 1 steal, with a plus-minus of +14.
Dennis Schroder: A versatile player whose value isn't fully reflected in the stats. He went 5 for 9, scoring 13 points, grabbing 2 rebounds, providing 2 assists, and recording 2 steals, with a plus-minus of -6.