HOUSTON β Luka Doncic scored 36 points to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 100-92 victory over the Houston Rockets on Monday night in the opener of a two-game series between teams jockeying for Western Conference playoff position.
The Lakers, who improved their record, used a strong defensive effort in the fourth quarter to secure the road win. Key contributions came from across the roster to complement Doncic's scoring output.
The Rockets, led by Alperen ΕengΓΌn's 24 points, kept the game close but were unable to overcome the Lakers' late push. The two teams are scheduled to meet again in Houston on Wednesday night to conclude the mini-series.
