LeBron James’ triple-double not enough as Lakers lose to Rockets in OT

The music echoed close to the loading dock as a shirtless LeBron James went via pregame power coaching, rapping together with each phrase because it got here out of the speaker.

Teammates arriving on a later bus walked previous and noticed their chief smiling and singing, his presence already felt even earlier than Frank Vogel mentioned James can be again on the courtroom. However the pregame vibes have been met with on-court realities, the reality being that the Lakers should be near nice in opposition to anybody, even one of many NBA’s worst groups, the Houston Rockets.

Rookie Jalen Inexperienced scored 10 of his 32 factors in extra time because the Lakers obtained out-gunned in a 139-130 extra time loss.

A triple-double from James, probably the greatest offensive video games of Russell Westbrook’s season, close to 50-percent taking pictures? None of it may separate the Lakers from the Rockets, the 2 groups locked in a detailed recreation for practically each possession, together with the final one within the fourth.

However the incapacity to get stops and the shortcoming to shut out the younger Rockets in regulation, meant the Lakers needed to carry heavy legs into the ultimate moments of a recreation the place it turned more and more clear they may not win.

Carmelo Anthony missed a possible winner when a driving James zipped the ball to the perimeter, setting the stage for the Rockets to easily dash previous the Lakers in extra time for Houston’s seventeenth win of the season.

James completed with 23 factors, 14 rebounds and 12 assists after lacking one recreation with a knee harm, and Westbrook scored 30 factors on 50 p.c taking pictures.