LeBron lifts Lakers 2-0
- LeBron James poured in 28 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists in Game 2 to push the Lakers to a 2-0 series lead. - His near-triple-double performance keyed Los Angeles' road victory and late-game control. - The Lakers now hold a two-game cushion early in the first round, shifting pressure onto their next opponent. (x.com)
LeBron James scored 28 points Tuesday night as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Houston Rockets 101-94 and took a 2-0 lead in their first-round Western Conference series. (nba.com) James added eight rebounds and seven assists in 39 minutes, and the Lakers closed the game with a 26-26 fourth quarter after leading 75-68 entering the final period. (espn.com) The matchup was Game 2 of the No. 4-seed Lakers’ series against the No. 5-seed Rockets, and the win kept Los Angeles unbeaten through two home games at Crypto.com Arena. (nba.com) NBA.com’s playoff page lists Game 3 for Friday, April 24, with the Lakers carrying a 2-0 edge into the next stop of the series. (nba.com) The result put more weight on Houston’s next two games because teams that fall behind 2-0 in a best-of-seven series have little margin left for error. (espn.com) James, now 41, led all scorers in Game 2 and scored nine points in the fourth quarter, including a dunk that pushed the Lakers ahead 99-92 with 55.3 seconds left. (nba.com) The Lakers did it while short-handed, according to the Associated Press recap carried by ESPN, which described Los Angeles as missing key rotation help even as it held Houston under 100 points again. (espn.com) Through two games, the series averages on NBA.com show the Lakers at 104.0 points per game and the Rockets at 96.0, with James leading Los Angeles at 23.5 points and 10.0 assists per game. (nba.com) For now, the series belongs to James and the Lakers, who have turned two home wins into a 2-0 cushion before Game 3 on April 24. (nba.com)
