LeBron James led a dramatic comeback Friday as the Los Angeles Lakers rallied from 95-101 down with 41 seconds to play in the fourth period against the Houston Rockets to win 112-108 on the road in overtime to take a 3-0 lead in the first-round series of the NBA West playoffs.
While awaiting the return of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, LeBron James put on a new show to prove, once again, that at 41 years of age he is still one of the most decisive players in the league.
LeBron dominates on both sides
LeBron James finished the game with 29 points, 13 rebounds and 6 assists in 45 minutes on the court at the Toyota Center in Houston, where the Lakers took a giant step toward advancing to the playoffs against a Kevin Durant-less Rockets.
The four-time NBA champion, who also provided an alley-oop pass to his son Bronny James, was not only decisive offensively, but defensively as well.
He fought hard until the last minute of extra time, diving to the ground for a split ball with Alperen Sengun.
Without Doncic in all likelihood until the next round and pending the return of Austin Reaves, who could play in Game 4 of the series, Marcus Smart had 21 points and 10 assists.
Rui Hachimura scored 16 of his 22 points in the first quarter.
Rockets collapse and LeBron passes sentence
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The Rockets had it won, despite the absence of their leader Kevin Durant due to a left ankle injury.
But they melted a few steps from the finish line.
Up 101-95 with 41 seconds to play, Jabari Smith committed a naive turnover that Marcus Smart punished with a 3-pointer from the free throw line after suffering another avoidable foul.
The Rockets got possession again, but LeBron James was able to get the ball back and then connected on the three-pointer that sent the game into overtime for the Lakers.
One of the most decisive players in the league
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Houston did not recover from that psychological blow.
It had won only one of the eight overtimes played this season, and succumbed in the first of its postseason.
Without Durant, they wasted Sengun’s 33 points and 16 rebounds and Amen Thompson’s 26 points and 11 rebounds.
Smith scored 24 points, but spoiled his performance with the turnover that ultimately cost his team the game.
The fourth game of the series will be played on Sunday, again in Houston.
With information from EFE
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