Rockets pummel Lakers behind vintage Harden performance

With Russell Westbrook out for the night with soreness, it would be up to the rest of the Rockets to pick up the slack for the former MVP. Even with current MVP candidate LeBron James out with a sore right groin, it would be a tough task for Houston against the top seed in the Western Conference.

Coach Mike D'Antoni spoke to getting back on track after a rough showing against Portland, where they suffered their first loss of the bubble period. "We have to play faster. We have to go before the double team gets to James [Harden]."

Harden would get off to a fast start and never look back, powering the Rockets to a ___ win over the Lakers on Thursday night.

Harden took on a 2016-17 approach, shouldering almost the entirety of the offense with his co-star out. The result was a ten point first quarter, to go along with four assists.

The Beard got a fair bit of help offensively from his teammates, including some surprising contributors. Jeff Green was perfect from the floor in the first quarter, going 4-4 with eleven points. Ben McLemore, making a spot start for the injured Westbrook, had five quick points.

It was much of the same in the second quarter, with James Harden taking over to end the first half, ending the second quarter with 25 points. McLemore kept up his hot shooting, ending the quarter with 17 points.

Defensively, the Rockets would do a good job on star center Anthony Davis, utilizing timely double-teams and smart traps to limit his points around the rim. Davis was held to 17 points and 12 rebounds for the entire night on 5-8 shooting.

The Rockets also did a great job holding the Lakers to low percentage three-point shots, and securing rebounds to end possessions. The Rockets were only outrebounded by 13 (a positive for the small-ball offense), and held the Lakers to a measly 10.5% shooting from three point distance on the night.

Houston, meanwhile, would light it up from three once again, shooting 36.8% from three on the night. Harden and McLemore would lead the way, as both guards went 5-10 from three.

Things would get a little close in the fourth quarter, with the Lakers managing to claw their way to within six against the Rockets' bench unit. However, Harden would reenter the game and quickly get the Rockets back on track, going on a quick run to put the Lakers away to get their third win in the bubble.

James Harden finished the night with an elite stat line, dropping 39 points (11-19 field goal percentage), to go along with 12 assists and eight rebounds. Ben McLemore would finish with 20 points on 7-13 shots. Jeff Green poured in 15 points from the bench.

The Rockets' record improves to 43-25 with the win. Their next game will be against the Sacramento Kings on Sunday night.