On March 16, 2026, at the Toyota Center, the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Houston Rockets 100-92 to extend their impressive winning streak to six games. Luka Doncic scored 36 points, grabbed six rebounds, and dished out four assists, leading the way in a game where defense was key in the last quarter.
Even though they only made one of fifteen shots and scored only 17 points in the fourth quarter, the Lakers played great defense and only let Houston score ten points. Deandre Ayton’s seven points and 11 rebounds and Marcus Smart’s clutch three-pointer (11 points total) were key to the comeback win. This toughness made up for a loss on Christmas Day when coach JJ Redick said his team was “punked.”
Doncic’s hot first quarter (16 points on 7-of-10 shooting) set the tone, but Houston was ahead 58-51 at halftime because they were so good at rebounding. LeBron James scored 18 points and Austin Reaves scored 15. The Lakers doubled Kevin Durant all night, holding him to 18 points despite 24 Houston turnovers. The team came back from a 10-point deficit in the third quarter to take an 83-80 lead going into the fourth quarter.
The Lakers start their six-game road trip on a high note, with a rematch against the Rockets on Wednesday night. Maxi Kleber, the backup center, is still out with a back strain, but he should be back soon. Redick said that the team’s defense had gotten better and that role players had stepped up during their winning streak.
