The Los Angeles Lakers have followed a pattern this postseason: lose Game 1, win everything else. That’s what happened against the Portland Trail Blazers, when the Lakers lost their first game and wiped out the rest of the series, and so far that’s what’s happening against the Houston Rockets. Houston took Game 1, but after a 117-109 back and forth win, the Lakers drew the series 1-1. LeBron James and Anthony Davis, held on 45 points in Game 1, combined in 62 efficient points to go together with 21 rebounds and 13 assists.
The Rockets, meanwhile, failed to maximize an absolutely incredible night of shooting. 22 out of 53 3-point shooting exits don’t grow on trees and now the Rockets will need to figure out what adjustments are needed before a critical 3 match on Tuesday. They may have thrown the opening punch, but the Lakers absorbed it and reacted in kind.
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