Doncic and James Lead Lakers to Victory Over Rockets

Lakers extend winning streak to seven games with 124-116 win over Rockets

Mar. 19, 2026 at 4:23am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Luka Doncic and LeBron James combined for 70 points to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 124-116 victory over the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on Wednesday. Doncic fell just shy of a triple-double with 40 points, 10 assists and 9 rebounds, while James scored 30 points on 13-of-14 shooting. The Lakers extended their winning streak to seven games and took the season series against the Rockets 2-1.

Why it matters

The win keeps the Lakers in third place in the Western Conference standings, 1.5 games ahead of the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Lakers' strong play down the stretch is an encouraging sign as they look to secure a favorable playoff position.

The details

Doncic and James took over the game in the fourth quarter, with Doncic hitting a clutch three-pointer and James making a key steal and layup to help the Lakers pull away. The Lakers also played strong defense, forcing the Rockets into 4 turnovers in the first quarter. Despite the Rockets getting center Alperen Sengun back from injury, the Lakers were able to control the boards and the pace of the game.

  • The Lakers extended their winning streak to 7 games with the win.
  • The Lakers took the 3-game season series against the Rockets 2-1, winning both games in Houston.

The players

Luka Doncic

The 24-year-old All-Star guard for the Lakers had 40 points, 10 assists and 9 rebounds, just missing a triple-double.

LeBron James

The 41-year-old Lakers superstar scored 30 points on 13-of-14 shooting, adding 5 rebounds and 2 assists.

Alperen Sengun

The Rockets' All-Star center returned from a back injury to play in the game.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The beauty of the night was when Doncic threw a no-look lob pass to James for a dunk and then when Doncic drilled a three-pointer with 58.4 seconds left for a 120-111 Lakers lead.”

— Broderick Turner, Sports Reporter

“Doncic yelled at the crowd and ran down court shaking his head. When the Rockets called a time out, the Lakers bench all ran over to Doncic, hugging him, slapping him and James nudging him for a job very well done.”

— Broderick Turner, Sports Reporter

What’s next

The Lakers will look to continue their strong play and extend their lead in the Western Conference standings as the regular season winds down.

The takeaway

The dominant performances by Luka Doncic and LeBron James showed the Lakers' potential as a championship contender, with the two superstars complementing each other perfectly to lead the team to a key victory over a Western Conference rival.