Lakers oust Rockets, set up semis duel with Thunder

Sports

UNDERDOG but never outfought.

The LA Lakers proved this after they eliminated the Houston Rockets via a 98-78 decision in Game 6 of their Western Conference first-round playoff series on Saturday (Philippine time), May 2.

The Lakers wrapped up the series, 4-2, dispatching the Rockets despite not having Luka Doncic, who leads the league in scoring with 33 points a game.

Houston had its own manpower woes as Kevin Durant only played once in the series.

Still, Houston was still able to make the series more interesting when it racked up to two straight wins after the Lakers surged to a 3-0 lead in the series.

With the series back on their home floor, the Rockets were in the position to force a Game 7. But the Lakers were having none of it.

LeBron James fired 28 points and Rui Hachimura finished with 21 points as the Lakers advanced to the second round for the first time since 2023.

A gargantuan task awaits the Lakers in the semis where they will face the defending champions Oklahoma City Thunder starting Wednesday, May 6.

With Doncic still expected to sit out, the Lakers will have their hands full against the Thunder, the only team in the playoffs to score a sweep in the first round after blanking the Phoenix Suns in their own race-to-four affair.

The Lakers finished off the Rockets behind a 27-3 attack in the second quarter that allowed them to post an 18-point lead at the half. The lead ballooned to as many as 22 in the third quarter that sealed the Lakers’ convincing win.

Amen Thompson scored 18 points and Alperen Sengun added 17 for Houston, which was eliminated in the first round for the second straight season.(CCM)