Tipster profile image
Victor Petkov
twitter iconlikedin iconlikedin icon
Head of Content authorBadge
Last Updated:

3 min read

Lakers dominate Rockets, clinch No. 3 seed and division title
google news logo Follow us
Add comment
Luka Doncic led Los Angeles with 39 points for the 140-109 win on Friday night

Luka Dončić dropped 39 points along with eight rebounds and seven assists to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a dominant 140-109 win over the short-handed Houston Rockets on Friday night. With the victory, the Lakers secured the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference playoffs and won the Pacific Division — only the second time they’ve done so in the last 13 seasons. It also marked just their second 50-win season in the last 14 years.

Austin Reaves added 23 points for Los Angeles, while LeBron James scored 14 before sitting out the final 19 minutes of the game. Dončić, too, only played through the third quarter before resting, as the Lakers cruised to their sixth win in their last eight games.

The comfortable win means James and Dončić will get at least a week of rest before the playoffs begin.

The Rockets were missing most of their core players, with Alperen Şengün, Dillon Brooks, Fred VanVleet, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason, and Jae’Sean Tate all out. That left Houston without six of their top seven scorers. Still, rookie Cam Whitmore stood out with a career-high 34 points.

Bronny James, LeBron’s son, checked into the game for the final 4:23.