Harden and the Rockets take on Los Angeles with 1-0 series lead

Updated Sep. 5, 2020 3:22 a.m. ET

Associated Press

Houston Rockets (44-28, fourth in the Western Conference during the regular season) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (52-19, first in the Western Conference during the regular season)

Lake Buena Vista, Florida; Sunday, 8:30 p.m. EDT

LINE: Lakers -5.5; over/under is 224

WESTERN CONFERENCE SECOND ROUND: Houston leads series 1-0

BOTTOM LINE: The Houston Rockets take on the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference second round with a 1-0 lead in the series. The Rockets won the previous matchup 112-97. James Harden scored 36 points to help lead Houston to the victory and Anthony Davis totaled 25 points in defeat for Los Angeles.

The Lakers are 36-10 against Western Conference opponents. Los Angeles is 7-3 in games decided by 3 points or fewer.

The Rockets are 28-19 in Western Conference play. Houston is eighth in the NBA scoring 14.6 fast break points per game. Russell Westbrook leads the Rockets averaging 4.7.

TOP PERFORMERS: LeBron James leads the Lakers averaging 2.2 made 3-pointers, and is scoring 25.3 points per game while shooting 34.8% from beyond the arc. Davis is averaging 22.6 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.6 blocks over the last 10 games for Los Angeles.

Harden leads the Rockets averaging 4.4 made 3-pointers, while scoring 34.3 points per game and shooting 35.5% from beyond the arc. Eric Gordon is averaging 17.6 points over the last 10 games for Houston.

DURING THE PLAYOFFS: Lakers: Averaging 113.8 points, 47.2 rebounds, 24.7 assists, 8.7 steals and 6.3 blocks per game while shooting 47.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.5 points on 43.5% shooting.

Rockets: Averaging 110.6 points, 43.0 rebounds, 21.1 assists, 9.8 steals and 3.8 blocks per game while shooting 44.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 103.1 points on 42.9% shooting.

INJURIES: Lakers: None listed.

Rockets: Luc Mbah a Moute: out (knee).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by , and data from ,.