HOUSTON -- LeBron James and Russell Westbrook both had triple-doubles and the Los Angeles Lakers broke a season-high, five-game skid with a 132-123 win over the Houston Rockets on Tuesday night.
James said, "The hardest thing to do in this league is win. So when you win you never take it lightly."
James had 32 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists for his third triple-double this season, and his fifth consecutive 30-point game. Westbrook scored 24 points in his seventh season of the season with 12 rebounds and 10 assists.
Houston stuck around for most of the night, but James took over late to allow the Lakers to walk away and hand the Rockets a fifth consecutive defeat.
"For us to fight through this together and bring it home the way we did with LeBron and Russell, I think it's a big step in that," said assistant coach David Fizdale. The fifth game in a row for coach Frank Vogel due to COVID-19 protocols.
The Rockets went past one when James was called for a goal by Jalen Green on a lap that would have put Houston on top with 2 minutes. But the Lakers challenged the call and it was overturned. Carmelo Anthony scored a 3-pointer a few seconds later to take a 120-116 lead.
James then added two free throws, and his one-handed sting made it 124-116 in less than 90 seconds after Houston's turnover.
Kevin Porter Jr.'s 3-pointer got Houston within five before hitting James again, making a layoff to extend the lead to 126-119 with less than a minute to spare. James then made four free throws to secure the win.
"I feel like I'm in pretty good offensive territory right now," he said.
Green, the second overall pick in this year's draft, led the Rockets with 24 points, missing 15 of the last 16 games with a strained left hamstring.
Houston coach Stephen Silas said, "We expected to win. We had no problem standing in front of them, holding back. They had some great players who played very well. Russell, LeBron with triple-doubles With the triple-double and Melo doing his job. It was tough."
Anthony had 24 points off the bench the night James started in the center and big men Dwight Howard and DeAndre Jordan did not play.
James said it was the first time he had started at center at any level of basketball.
"I've never played center before in my life," he said. "I've always been on the wing or handling the ball."
Fizdale on Tuesday night raved about the versatility James showed in his role.
"This man is unbelievable," he said. "As basketball people we're all so lucky to see what we're going through with this guy."
The Lakers took the lead with the last five points of the third quarter and opened the fourth quarter 6-0 to level 103-92 in 11 minutes.
Green then reduced the deficit to 105–102, scoring two 3-pointers during a 10–2 surge to Houston.
Porter had 22 points and nine assists in the previous 12 matches after missing him with an injured thigh. Christian Wood also scored 22 runs.
Josh Christopher tied it on lay-up with less than a minute to go in the third quarter. But the Lakers scored the last five points of the quarter, limiting Westbrook's 3 to a 97–92 lead in the fourth quarter. Westbrook pointed to the LA bench and smiled broadly as he left the court after the shot.
TIP-INS
Lakers: Fizdale, said that Vogel was getting close to returning but he wasn’t sure exactly when he could rejoin the team. ... Trevor Ariza, Kent Bazemore, Austin Reaves and Rajon Rondo missed the game because of health and safety protocols. ... Wayne Ellington missed the game for an illness that the team said was not COVID-19 related.
Rockets: D.J. Augustin, Kenyon Martin Jr., Garrison Mathews and Jae’Sean Tate were out because of health and safety protocols.
BILES AT BASKETBALL
Olympic gold medal-winning gymnast Simone Biles took part in the team's first shot promotion for charity before the game. Biles didn't make the free throw but Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta still donated $1,000 to the team's foundation in her name for the effort.
UP NEXT
Lakers: Visit Memphis Wednesday night.
Rockets: Host Miami Friday night.