HOUSTON, TEXAS – MARCH 16: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the first quarter of the game against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on March 16, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images) (Kenneth Richmond, 2026 Getty Images)
On Monday night, the Houston Rockets hosted the Los Angeles Lakers in a matchup to determine the third place crown in the Western Conference — at least for tonight.
The Lakers took care of business, taking down the Rockets, 100-92.
Lakers star Luka Doncic finished the game as the leading scorer among both teams, finishing with 36 points. Jabari Smith Jr. led the way for Houston, scoring 22.
The first half was largely a back-and-forth affair without much separation, but Durant led Houston on a 15-8 scoring run in the final five minutes of the quarter to take a 57-51 lead into the locker room.
At halftime, Doncic led all scorers with 23 points — being the only Laker in double figures at the break. Durant and Smith led the Rockets with 16 and 13 respectively.
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About the AuthorMichael Horton headshotMichael Horton
Michael is a Kingwood native who loves visiting local restaurants and overreacting to Houston sports. He earned his BA from Texas A&M University in 2022 and his MA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2023.
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