⏱️How it unfolded
The score against the pace we expected, quarter by quarter.
The score, against the pace we expected
The Rockets fell 12 points behind the pace we expected in the second quarter, then it evened out by full time.
Where it moved
▲ HOU better than we expected
▼ LAL better than we expected
The third quarter was where it moved most, 14 points better than our numbers for the Rockets.
⚖️What decided it
Why the Rockets won, and why the Lakers did not.
From the game
Lived at the line, 50 free throws to their 25- Looked after the ball, ten turnovers to their eighteen, and were outscored 26-15 off them
- Went cold from three, seven of 28
Key battles
🏀Good plays, bad plays
The plays that went each side's way, and the ones each side did to itself.
Rockets
Good plays
- 8-0 run
A 8-0 run cut a 13-point deficit to 5
Q2 1:38 · HOU 50-55 LAL
- 11-0 run
A 11-0 run stretched a 4-point lead to 15
Q3 4:09 · HOU 83-68 LAL
Bad plays
Nothing costly of their own making.
Lakers
Good plays
- 8-0 run
A 8-0 run stretched a 3-point lead to 11
Q2 3:31 · HOU 42-53 LAL
Bad plays
Nothing costly of their own making.
📊The numbers
| HOU | LAL | |
|---|---|---|
| 45% | Shooting from the field | 41% |
| 7 | Threes made | 7 |
| 25% | Three-point accuracy | 29% |
| 28 | Free throws made | 20 |
| 71 | Rebounds | 55 |
| 16 | Offensive rebounds | 14 |
| 18 | Assists | 20 |
| 56 | Points in the paint | 46 |
| 27 | Fast break points | 17 |
| 15 | Points off turnovers | 26 |
| 10 | Turnovers | 18 |
| 12 | Steals | 7 |
| 3 | Blocks | 7 |
