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Talen Horton-Tucker contributed 23 points and
10 assists, Andre Drummond recorded 20 points and 10 rebounds
and Kuzma had 19 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists as Los
Angeles (40-30) won its third straight game.
The Lakers played without LeBron James (ankle) for the 26th time
in the past 28 games. Anthony Davis (adductor) also sat out.
Houston's chance to win was thwarted when Wesley Matthews forced
Kelly Olynyk to fumble the ball. Horton-Tucker recovered it and
was fouled, splitting two free throws with 0.9 seconds left,
missing the second on purpose.
Armoni Brooks scored a career-best 24 points and Olynyk also had
24 for Houston (16-54), which has lost seven straight games and
44 of their past 49. Kenyon Martin Jr. added 20 points and 10
rebounds.
The Lakers lifted last season's championship banner to the
rafters prior to the contest.
Los Angeles is one game behind the Dallas Mavericks and Portland
Trail Blazers as it bids to avoid the play-in round. The Lakers
are currently in seventh place and would be part of that round
if the standings hold.
Houston standout Christian Wood (ankle) missed his fifth
straight game.
Montrezl Harrell scored 16 points for Los Angeles.
The Rockets faced a late eight-point deficit before Martin and
Jae'Sean Tate connected on 3-pointers and Martin split two free
throws with 47 seconds to play to bring Houston within 121-120.
Olynyk followed with two free throws with 22.9 seconds left to
put the Rockets ahead.
Markieff Morris tallied 14 points and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
and Alfonzo McKinnie scored 10 points apiece for the Lakers, who
knocked down 57.1 percent of their shots, and hit 7 of 20 from
3-point range.
Cam Oliver scored 17 points and Tate had 16 for the Rockets, who
made 50.6 percent from the field and were 18 of 42 from behind
the arc.
Los Angeles led 59-53 at the break.
Anthony Lamb completed an 11-2 surge with a 3-pointer as Houston
took a 72-71 lead with 7:13 remaining in the third quarter.
Los Angeles scored seven straight points late in the period to
lead by seven. D.J. Augustin ended that streak by being fouled
while shooting a 3-pointer with 3.4 seconds left and he made all
three attempts to bring Houston within 100-96.
--Field Level Media
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