EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Here are three takeaways from the Lakers’ 117-109 victory Sunday over the Houston Rockets in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals.
1. It was more than unusual when LeBron James didn’t score in the fourth quarter of Game 1.
It was an anomaly, an abnormality, whatever you wanted to call it. It was also quickly rectified Sunday.
James had two strong dunks in the first 2:12 of the fourth quarter to help the Lakers push back a Houston surge and tie up the series at 1-1.
James had eight points in the fourth and was tough defensively over the final 12 minutes, blocking two shots and tallying two steals.
His display came at the perfect time for the Lakers, who allowed 41 points in the third quarter and lost what had been a 21-point second-quarter lead.
James finished with 28 points and barely missed a triple-double, adding 11 rebounds and nine assists.
2. Anthony Davis is three inches taller than any Rockets starter. He seemed three feet taller in Game 2.
Davis scored 11 points in the first quarter and was determined to make Houston pay for its small-ball approach from the start. He finished with 34 points in 36 minutes after a relatively quiet Game 1.
He made it look simple Sunday, staying close to the basket for most of his damage. He took one three-point shot but seemingly everything else was in the paint…or close enough to it.
If he keeps imposing his will like this, the Rockets will be hard-pressed to stop the Lakers’ offense.
3. The Lakers got some key efforts from a couple of old-timers.
Rajon Rondo, 34, was a staggering plus-28 in the plus-minus category while Markieff Morris, 31, made four three-pointers in the first quarter.
Rondo battled a thumb injury and back spasms before returning for Game 1, where he looked unsteady. Sunday was a different story, however, as he had 10 points, nine assists and five steals in 29 minutes.
“’Playoff Rondo,’ man,” Morris said, reminding reporters of Rondo’s long-held post-season moniker.
Morris, for his part, had totaled 19 points in six playoff games before Sunday. Then he scored 14 in the first half to help launch the Lakers to a 42-21 lead.
Morris was a late-season pickup by the Lakers after his contract was bought out by Detroit in February, allowing him to become a free agent.
He quickly became part of the rotation but hadn't impacted a game like he did Sunday. In fact, he was scoreless in Game 1.
Game 2 was a different story for Morris and the Lakers, in many ways.