Lakers blowout Rockets in Game 6, advance to face Thunder in NBA Playoffs

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Lakers blowout Rockets in Game 6, advance to face Thunder in NBA Playoffs originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The Los Angeles Lakers have eliminated the Houston Rockets. The final score was 98-78. However, this game was a candidate for “the game was not as close as the score would indicate”.  

Outside of free throw percentage, this was a statistically one-sided affair. Houston’s last lead in this game was in the final minute of the first quarter. By the midway point of the second quarter Los Angeles had built a double-digit lead (10). By the middle of the 3rd, the Lakers were up by 20 and would not relinquish that lead the rest of the way. 

The Rockets were at a significant disadvantage coming into this game without the services of Kevin Durant. Who is still a top 10 player in the league. 4th in volume scoring and 11th in points per game. Sengun, Thompson and Smith are very nice pieces, but its a different equation with Durant out of the lineup. 

Up next, the Lakers will face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round of the Western Conference playoffs. OKC was the best regular season team and is the overall No. 1 seed in the playoffs.

However, the Lakers could get good news soon. Luka Doncic missed the first round with a grade 2 hamstring injury. There is a decent chance Luka could be healthy for the round two matchup. Getting back the league’s top scorer (in volume and average) would go along way in making that series must see television. 

NBA PLAYOFFS HQ: Live scores | Full schedule | Updated bracket

Lakers vs. Rockets live updates, highlights from Game 6 of NBA playoffs

Team Stats

LAL HOU
FG 36-89 28-80
Field Goal % 40 35
3PT 12-28 5-28
Three Point % 43 18
FT 14-24 17-24
Free Throw % 58 71
Rebounds 54 45
Offensive Rebounds 15 8
Defensive Rebounds 39 37
Assists 19 13
Steals 4 6
Blocks 9 9
Total Turnovers 11 14
Points Conceded Off Turnovers 10 19
Fast Break Points 19 8
Points in Paint 46 44
Fouls 19 23
Technical Fouls 1 0
Flagrant Fouls 0 0
Largest Lead 29 5
Percent Led 85 14

The Los Angeles Lakers have defeated the Houston Rockets. 

4th Quarter-0:21: Clint Capela makes a two point shot. 

4th Quarter-0:50: Aaron Holiday makes a driving layup. 

4th Quarter-1:19: Jae’Sean Tate makes a running layup. 

4th Quarter-1:46: Josh Okogie makes a 25-foot three-point shot. 

4th Quarter-2:25: Nick Smith Jr makes a 27-foot three-point shot. 

4th Quarter-2:50: Amen Thompson makes a two-point shot. 

4th Quarter-3:28: Jaxson Hayes makes a 2-foot alley oop dunk, assisted by Lebron James

4th Quarter-4:19: Amen Thompson makes a 3-foot driving dunk. 

4th Quarter-4:55: Reed Sheppard makes a 29-foot three-point shot. 

4th Quarter-5:36: Marcus Smart makes a 25-foot three-point shot. 

4th Quarter-6:06: Lebron James makes a 4-foot shot. 

4th Quarter-6:36: Tari Eason makes a 3-foot running dunk. 

4th Quarter-7:09: Rui Hachimura makes a 14-foot shot. 

4th Quarter-9:03: Deandre Ayton tips in a two-point shot. 

4th Quarter-10:51: Lebron James makes a 4-point shot. 

4th Quarter-11:20: Reed Sheppard makes a 9-foot shot. 

4th Quarter-11:35: Rui Hachimura makes a 25-foot three-point shot. 

Team Stats

LAL HOU
FG 26-63 18-59
Field Goal % 41 31
3PT 8-20 3-17
Three Point % 40 18
FT 11-18 16-22
Free Throw % 61 73
Rebounds 37 33
Offensive Rebounds 7 6
Defensive Rebounds 30 27
Assists 13 10
Steals 3 5
Blocks 9 7
Total Turnovers 10 11
Points Conceded Off Turnovers 8 12
Fast Break Points 16 4
Points in Paint 34 28
Fouls 16 17
Technical Fouls 1 0
Flagrant Fouls 0 0
Largest Lead 25 5
Percent Led 81 19

The Lakers lead the Rockets 71-55 after three quarters. 

3rd Quarter-0:37: Alperen Sengun makes a 10-foot shot. 

3rd Quarter-1:43: Amen Thompson makes a 25-foot three-point shot. 

3rd Quarter-2:27: Jabari Smith Jr makes a 4-foot shot. 

3rd Quarter-4:48: Amen Thompson makes a 3-foot dunk. 

3rd Quarter-5:45: Austin Reaves makes a 9-foot shot. 

3rd Quarter-6:26: Rui Hachimura makes a 25-foot three-point shot. 

3rd Quarter-8:31: Deandre Ayton makes layup

3rd Quarter-9:50: Tari Eason makes a 25-foot three-point shot. 

3rd Quarter-10:15: Rui Hachimura makes a 22-foot three-point shot. 

Halftime: Lakers 49, Rockets 31

Team stats

Halftime Lakers Rockets
FG 18-45 12-42
Field Goal % 40 29
3PT 6-13 2-12
Three Point % 46 17
FT 7-11 5-8
Free Throw % 64 63
Rebounds 28 21
Offensive Rebounds 6 3
Defensive Rebounds 22 18
Assists 10 5
Steals 3 1
Blocks 7 6
Total Turnovers 6 10
Points Off Turnovers 4 12
Fast Break Points 14 4
Points in Paint 22 20
Fouls 8 11
Technical Fouls 1 0
Flagrant Fouls 0 0
Largest Lead 19 5

2nd Quarter- 29.4 seconds- Lakers on 7-0 run up 49-31. 

2nd Quarter- 1:29- 10 turnovers by Houston after a shot clock violation

2nd Quarter- 2:14- LeBron James misses both free throws. 42-31 Lakers up

2nd Quarter- 2:46- Teams trade buckets with Lakers up 42-29

2nd Quarter- 5:11- Austin Reaves layup puts Lakers up 40-25. 7 points in 11 mins for Reaves. 

2nd Quarter- 5:48- LeBron James draws a foul. No-call after a Houston challenge and jump ball with Lakers winning the tip.  

2nd Quarter- 6:07- Houston gets some much-needed scoring with a quick 6-0 run. Lakers up 38-25 

2nd Quarter- 7:14- Houston 0-15 from the field and down 38-19. One offensive rebound in the game. 

2nd Quarter- 9:10- Houston’s first point of the quarter stops a run, but nothing big.  

2nd Quarter- 9:26- TV timeout. Los Angeles opens the quarter blazing with James leading the way. 

2nd Quarter- 10:19- 9-0 run for Lakers to open the quarter. Now up 32-18. Seven points in the stretch for LeBron James

End of 1st Quarter: Lakers 23, Rockets 18

Team Stats

1st Quarter Lakers Rockets
FG 9-25 7-19
Field Goal % 36 37
3PT 3-7 2-7
Three Point % 43 29
FT 2-3 2-4
Free Throw % 67 50
Rebounds 15 12
Offensive Rebounds 3 0
Defensive Rebounds 12 12
Assists 6 4
Steals 1 1
Blocks 3 4
Total Turnovers 1 4
Points Off Turnovers 0 3
Fast Break Points 5 4
Points in Paint 12 10
Fouls 3 5
Technical Fouls 0 0
Flagrant Fouls 0 0
Largest Lead 7 5

1st Quarter- 47.8 Seconds- Lakers miss back-to-back 3-pointers

1st Quarter- 2:18-  Jabari Smith Jr. knocks down 2-of-3 free throws to cut LA’s lead, 23-18

1st Quarter- 2:34-  Rui Hachimura nails a 3-pointer to up LA’s lead 23-16

1st Quarter- 2:50- Lakers take a 4-point lead off Jake LaRavia 3-pointer, 20-16

1st Quarter- 6:12-  TV Timeout. Both teams are trading buckets, but Rockets up 14-11

1st Quarter- 7:29- Deandre Ayton splits free throws with Houston up 10-9

1st Quarter- 8:20- Austin Reaves jumper cuts the Rockets lead to 10-8 

1st Quarter- 9:50- Amen Thompson put Rockets up 7-4 early

1st Quarter- 11:39- Rockets open the game with a 3-0 lead

Tip-off from Houston

Injuries: Rockets: Fred VanVleet: out for season (acl), Steven Adams: out for season (ankle), Kevin Durant: out (ankle).

Lakers: Luka Doncic: out (hamstring).

How to Watch Los Angeles Lakers (3-2) vs. Houston Rockets (2-3) Game 6 NBA Playoffs

Friday, May 1

Tip-off: 9:30 p.m. ET
TV: Amazon Prime 
LA leads the series 3-2 

More NBA Playoffs news:

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