LeBron James leads Lakers' rout of Rockets to close out series - BERITAJA

HOUSTON — LeBron James knew what was astatine liking successful this first-round playoff bid and that it was connected his shoulders to meet the infinitesimal and person his teammates travel his lead.

James simply elevated his play for illustration he has truthful galore times complete his illustrious 23-year NBA career, playing pinch a intent and consenting the Lakers to a 98-78 win complete the Houston Rockets connected Friday nighttime astatine the Toyota Center.

His 28 points, 8 assists and 7 rebounds is why the Lakers won the best-of-seven series, 4-2, complete the Rockets and is why L.A. will meet the defending NBA champion Thunder connected Tuesday nighttime successful Oklahoma City successful the 2nd information of the Western Conference playoffs.

James and the Lakers had been connected the verge of collapsing successful these playoffs, their commanding 3-0 lead trim to 3-2.

But the Lakers and James fto the Rockets cognize they were going to enactment the people successful Game 6 by building a 25-point lead successful the 3rd quarter.

Rui Hachimura fto James and the Lakers cognize he had travel to play, scoring 21 points connected eight-for-15 shooting and a sizzling 5 for 7 connected three-pointers. Hachimura besides had six rebounds.

Lakers defender Marcus Smart dives down Rockets halfway Alperen Sengun for a loose shot during the first half of Game 6.

(Ashley Landis / Associated Press)

Austin Reaves started successful Game 6 and Luke Kennard, who had started the first 5 playoff games and the past 5 regular-season games, came disconnected the bench. Reaves did his portion for the Lakers pinch 15 points.

Deandre Ayton had conscionable 7 points, but his 16 rebounds and protect beingness was conscionable arsenic powerful.

Marcus Smart was the protect catalyst for the Lakers. He had 2 blocks, 1 successful which he conscionable raised up to swat a changeable by Tari Eason successful the 3rd 4th while past falling down backwards successful the process. Smart scored 7 points, but it was his defense that helped the Lakers limit the Rockets to 34.2% shooting and 17.9% from three-point range.

After grabbing his past rebound pinch 3 minutes and 17 seconds near pinch the Lakers starring by 26 points, James raised his manus to travel retired of the game. He near pinch 3:07 remaining having played 37 minutes.

The Lakers built a 19-point lead successful the 2nd quarter, doing it down James’ thrust and a beardown defense that stifled the Rockets early successful the frame.

James had 18 points successful the first half, shooting 7 for 14 from the section and 2 for 4 from three-point scope that helped the Lakers support a 49-31 lead astatine the half.

He besides had 4 assists and 3 rebounds.

Lakers guardant LeBron James, center, is fouled by Rockets halfway Alperen Sengun, right, connected a layup successful the first half of Game 6.

(Ashley Landis / Associated Press)

On the defense, the Lakers worked difficult and put the Rockets connected their heels successful the first 24 minutes.

The Lakers held the Rockets to 28.6% shooting and 16.7% from three-point range. The Rockets turned the shot complete 10 times successful the first.

James past opened the 3rd 4th pinch a turn-around move successful the station to springiness the Lakers a 20-point lead.

Returning to Houston for different crippled was not the extremity of the hoops world for the Lakers.

Even if each the momentum had shifted distant from the Lakers and to the Rockets, L.A. still had the lead successful the series.

Even if the Lakers had grounded to adjacent retired the Rockets doubly and had seen their three-game lead driblet to 1 game, L.A. had nary prime but to beryllium fresh for the adjacent moment.

In the eyes of Lakers coach JJ Redick and his group, being backmost present is “exactly wherever we’re expected to be.”

“So, you surely don’t want to driblet 2 games successful a row,” Redick said. “You surely don’t want to consciousness for illustration you’ve fixed the different squad assurance and momentum. But anterior to the series, and if you said we were up 3-2, coming present for a close-out crippled and AR would beryllium back, we’d beryllium ecstatic.

“So, I said this aft Game 2, that this point was conscionable getting started. I don’t deliberation immoderate of america expected a afloat sweep. We cognize they’re a awesome hoops squad and they were going to proceed to play, proceed to fight. We’ve sewage to lucifer that tonight.”

The Lakers did.