NBA – The LA Lakers host the visiting Houston Rockets for their 4th and final meeting of the 2018 - 2019 NBA Regular Season at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.
Both teams are coming from a loss before the 2019 All – Star break and one of these teams will get back in the winning column after the game.
Prior to the game the Rockets is 3 – 0 over the Lakers in their head to head matchup this season. The Rockets won their first meeting 124 – 115, their second meeting 126 – 111 and their third meeting with 138 – 134. LeBron James has only missed their third meeting due to groin injury and is available to play in their final meeting.
Meanwhile, Lakers superstar LeBron James promise to the media that he will be in his playoff mode as soon as the 2nd half of the season starts.
In the game, the visiting Houston Rockets are in much control of the first half despite an early foul trouble to the reigning KIA MVP James Harden. The Rockets outscored the Lakers in the 1st quarter 32 – 22 posting an early double digit lead and 26 – 30 in the 2nd quarter to end the 1st half, 58 – 52 just up by 6 points.
In the 3rd quarter, the Rockets are looking good starts to pull away in the game posting their biggest lead of 19 points, but the Lakers find their way to get back in the game just losing by 1 point in the 3rd quarter, 32 – 31 Rockets still up by 7 points 90 – 83.
In the 4th and Final quarter, LeBron James showed up in playoff mode as his promise to lead the Lakers in getting back in the game outscoring the Rockets in the final quarter 28 – 16 to come away from a come from behind win 116 – 111.
Lakers are now back in the winning column, but remains in 10th spot in the West with 29 wins and 29 losses which currently 2.5 games behind in the playoff brackets. While the Rockets extend their losing skid into 2 but remains in 5th spot in the West with 33 wins and 25 losses.
LeBron James finish the game with 29 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists while James Harden, who fouled in the in the game scored game high 30 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assist.