Los Angeles Lakers use huge comeback to defeat Houston Rockets 111-106

Kyle Irving

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Los Angeles Lakers use huge comeback to defeat Houston Rockets 111-106 image

The Los Angeles Lakers used a huge comeback to come away with a much-needed 111-106 win over the Houston Rockets.

Through the first three and a half quarters, this one was all Rockets. The Lakers looked like they were on their way to another disappointing home loss before kicking things into another gear late in the third quarter.

Trailing by as many as 19 points, the Lakers used a 15-4 run to end the third quarter to cut that deficit to just six points. Kyle Kuzma's nine points and LeBron James' six points led the comeback for Los Angeles.

They continued that run into the fourth quarter outscoring the Rockets 8-2 in the first four minutes to make it a one-point game.

Houston got their lead back up to five but a thunderous dunk from LeBron, followed by a smooth and-1 finish from Brandon Ingram tied the game at 97 with four and a half minutes remaining in the contest.


LeBron knocked down a pair of free throws to give the Lakers their first lead since the first quarter, then each team went over two minutes without a made field goal.

James ended that drought with a strong take to the rim and after another stop, Ingram attacked the basket to earn, and sink, a pair of free throws to give the Lakers a 102-97 lead with under two minutes to go.

Harden responded back with a quick bucket but on the next possession LeBron drove to the rim, collapsed the defence and kicked out to a wide open Reggie Bullock who buried the 3-pointer to make it 105-99.


Harden tried to answer back with another bucket but was called for a charge as he drove to the hoop, fouling him out of the game with 1:24 on the clock – this was Harden's first time fouling out this season.

Frustration set in for the Rockets as Chris Paul and head coach Mike D'Antoni were both assessed technical fouls, leading the way for the Lakers to close out a huge victory to get the post-All-Star break part of the season heading in the right direction.

LeBron finished with 29 points, 11 rebounds and six assists while Ingram had a fantastic night of 27 points and 13 rebounds.

Harden just barely extended his 30-point streak to 32 consecutive games, scoring 30 points to go with six assists and five boards. Paul also fouled out in tonight's contest but not before going for 23 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists.

The Lakers are back at .500 with a 29-29 record, 2.5 games behind the LA Clippers for the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference.

Kyle Irving

Kyle Irving Photo

You read that wrong – not Kyrie Irving. From Boston, graduated from the University of New Hampshire. Sixth season as a content producer for NBA.com's Global editions. Covering the NBA Draft has become his annual "dream come true" moment on the job. Irving has a soft spot for pass-first point guards, with Rajon Rondo and Steve Nash being two of his favorite players of all time.