HOUSTON — Jalen Green shone with a stellar performance, scoring 33 points, while Fred VanVleet made a crucial late-game steal that helped the Houston Rockets secure a close 119-115 victory against the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night.
Amen Thompson also made his mark, contributing 23 points and a personal-best 16 rebounds, making a strong return following a two-game suspension. Houston managed to clinch the win after leading by as much as 22 points during the game.
With just eight seconds remaining, a basket from LeBron James brought the Lakers within striking distance at 117-115. Following that, Alperen Sengun missed one of two free throws, leaving the door open for Los Angeles to equalize.
However, VanVleet intercepted an inbounds pass meant for James, securing possession for Houston. He then converted one of two free throws to help seal the win for the Rockets.
On the Lakers’ side, Anthony Davis led with a commanding performance, scoring 30 points and pulling down 13 rebounds. LeBron James contributed 21 points, 13 rebounds, and nine assists to his team’s effort.
Los Angeles made a significant push with an 11-2 run, largely thanks to six points from Davis, narrowing the gap to two points with four minutes left on the clock. A dunk from Thompson ignited a 7-2 run for the Rockets, extending their lead to 115-108 with two and a half minutes remaining.
With a minute to play, the Rockets maintained a seven-point lead until Davis sunk a three-pointer, tightening the score to 117-113, just before James’s basket brought the game even closer.
**Observations**
For the Lakers, Davis was a force throughout the match, but James had a quiet start, managing only five points by halftime.
For the Rockets, Thompson’s display on Sunday was encouraging. He started in place of Jabari Smith Jr., who faces a two-month recovery period after fracturing a bone in his hand.
**Deciding Moment**
The pivotal play of the game was VanVleet’s crucial steal that ensured the Rockets held their lead.
**Significant Stat**
The Rockets dominated in the paint, scoring 52 points compared to the Lakers’ 40.
**Next Games**
The Lakers are set to visit Dallas on Tuesday night, while the Rockets will travel to Washington that same night.
