LeBron James’ dunk in transition kicks off hostilities in this remake of the last Western Conference semifinals. It is precisely the Lakers, serious and diligent on both sides of the floor, who start the best. To do this, the reigning champions are already talking about their collective strike force, around a skillful Anthony Davis and on the basis of a cardboard (18-6).
Taking advantage of LeBron James ‘rest and Davis’ two quick faults, the Rockets then regain color. Led by DeMarcus Cousins, who finds for the occasion the team with which he has never been able to play in 2019/20, the Texans are gradually returning to the game, thanks to their replacements (21-15).
Both renowned for their strong characters, the inevitable Cousins and Markieff Morris heat up and almost come to blows. An altercation which leads to the exclusion of the Californian interior, guilty of having reacted too vehemently to the provocation of his opponent … who had also been cut so that the twin Morris could sign in Los Angeles, last season !
This event will in any case have brought down the pace of this meeting, still dominated by the Lakers (25-21).
The Rockets get frustrated, the Lakers shine
As a little less than a week ago, DeMarcus Cousins will not have lasted long in this game. For having touched LeBron James in the face, he suffered his second technical foul at the start of the second quarter. And without their pivot, yet author of an interesting start, the Rockets will accuse the blow in front of the flashes of “Purple & Gold”. Back from injury, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is particularly valuable because of his activity, which offers many counter-attacks to his family (38-28).
This is not going to get better over time for the tense and frustrated Houston players to say the least. Proof of this is that they accumulate technical faults (three in total for them, at the break!). On the other hand, Frank Vogel’s men are not left out at this level (two) but, unlike their hosts, they recite their scales and punish them particularly in transition. As for Anthony Davis, he continues his carnage in the racket, further increasing the gap (55-36).
If the aggressive John Wall struggles to wake up his teammates, Stephen Silas’ men are unable to respond to the challenge offered by the defending champions. Especially since LeBron James decides to stick their heads under water, just before half-time, taking advantage of the boulevards in attack due to the absence of a circle protector in the Texan workforce. After 24 minutes, the score is therefore final: 65 to 46, in favor of Los Angeles.
Houston’s burst of pride
In full confidence, the Lakers do not give up when they return from the locker room. In control, LeBron James makes the show and also delivers a marvel of passing in first intention for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, left alone in counterattack. The more the chrono scrolls, the more this poster takes on the air of “blow-out” (76-49).
Fortunately, the Rockets can count on the awakening of Christian Wood to put the spirits to the place. So far outrageously dominated by Anthony Davis, the non-drafted interior instigates a 16-2 in order to completely revive his own. Enough to finally take the measure of this Californian defense and stick to the scoreboard (83-70).
Jostled and in the hard offensively, the “Purple & Gold” held up thanks to the activity of their replacements and, at a pivotal moment: when the James / Davis duo was resting. Not having really been able to take advantage of the absence of the two Los Angeles superstars, Houston can bite its fingers, twelve minutes from the end (88-75).
A benchmark victory for Los Angeles
Still without LeBron James, the Lakers finally find what was their strength until the middle of the third quarter: domination in the paint, coupled with a solid defense that offers them easy points in transition. Opposed to the franchise that drafted him in 2015, Montrezl Harrell now symbolizes this advantage better than anyone else. Angelenos in the racket, feasting in front of his vis-à-vis, smaller or lighter than him (104-84).
Four minutes from the end, Frank Vogel can therefore bring out his two best players with the feeling of duty accomplished. Never worried, the reigning champions have indeed just achieved their most successful performance of the season with this quiet success (120-102) on the floor of the Rockets. The latter will have the opportunity to take revenge in two days, for part II of this double confrontation.
Author of 27 points (9/12 on shots), Anthony Davis finished top scorer in this match, while LeBron James (18 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists) was able to save himself in the shadows. Precious, the trio of Talen Horton-Tucker, Kyle Kuzma and Montrezl Harrell brings 46 points and 15 rebounds off the bench. On the Texan side, Christian Wood (23 points) and James Harden (20 points, 6 rebounds, 9 assists) will not have been able to count on such offensive support.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ej-eNZAtUm4
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