⏱️How it unfolded
The score against the pace we expected, quarter by quarter.
The score, against the pace we expected
The Lakers fell 18 points behind the pace we expected in the first quarter, then it evened out by full time.
Where it moved
▲ LAL better than we expected
▼ HOU better than we expected
The first quarter was where it moved most, 18 points worse than our numbers for the Lakers.
⚖️What decided it
Why the Lakers won, and why the Rockets did not.
From the game
Made ten threes to their four- Lived at the line, 32 free throws to their eleven
- Looked after the ball, seventeen turnovers to their 25, and outscored them 27-15 off them
A 13-0 run stretched a 8-point lead to 21 in the first quarter
Key battles
🏀Good plays, bad plays
The plays that went each side's way, and the ones each side did to itself.
Lakers
Good plays
- 9-0 run
A 9-0 run cut a 12-point deficit to 3
Q4 6:41 · LAL 78-81 HOU
- 8-0 run
A 8-0 run took them from 7 down to 1 up
Q4 3:29 · LAL 86-85 HOU
- 9-0 run
A 9-0 run from level to 9 points up
2OT 4:15 · LAL 108-99 HOU
Bad plays
- Turnover
Smush Parker turnover
Q4 2:30 · LAL 81-85 HOU
- Turnover
Kwame Brown traveling
OT 3:30 · LAL 89-91 HOU
- Turnover
Andrew Bynum traveling
2OT 4:48 · LAL 99-99 HOU
Rockets
Good plays
- 13-0 run
A 13-0 run stretched a 8-point lead to 21
Q1 2:15 · LAL 10-31 HOU
- 9-0 run
A 9-0 run stretched a 4-point lead to 13
Q4 10:08 · LAL 64-77 HOU
- Lead
Yao Ming hit a 10-foot jumper, Rafer Alston with the assist
OT 3:58 · LAL 89-91 HOU
Bad plays
- Turnover
Rafer Alston bad pass
Q4 0:01 · LAL 89-89 HOU
- Turnover
Shot clock violation
OT 3:03 · LAL 89-91 HOU
- Turnover
Rafer Alston lost ball
2OT 4:05 · LAL 101-99 HOU
📊The numbers
| LAL | HOU | |
|---|---|---|
| 43% | Shooting from the field | 47% |
| 10 | Threes made | 4 |
| 43% | Three-point accuracy | 29% |
| 22 | Free throws made | 9 |
| 55 | Rebounds | 61 |
| 13 | Offensive rebounds | 11 |
| 26 | Assists | 23 |
| -1 | Points in the paint | -1 |
| 9 | Fast break points | 6 |
| 27 | Points off turnovers | 15 |
| 17 | Turnovers | 25 |
| 14 | Steals | 5 |
| 9 | Blocks | 11 |
