Lakers Extend Winning Streak to Seven, Doncic and James Lead the Charge
The Los Angeles Lakers continued their impressive run, defeating the Houston Rockets 124-116 on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, marking their seventh consecutive victory. Luka Doncic and LeBron James spearheaded the Lakers’ attack, delivering dominant performances.
Doncic and James Dominate in Houston
Luka Doncic led all scorers with 40 points, adding 9 rebounds and 10 assists, coming close to a triple-double. LeBron James contributed 30 points, showcasing remarkable efficiency by making almost all of his shots – missing only one of his 14 attempts, including both of his three-pointers.
Despite a strong showing from Alperen Sengun, who recorded 27 points and 10 assists for the Rockets, Houston was unable to overcome the Lakers’ offensive firepower.
Other NBA Results from March 18, 2026
- Boston Celtics vs. Golden State Warriors: The Celtics defeated the Warriors 120-99, led by a combined 52 points from Jayson Tatum (32 points) and Jaylen Brown (24 points). The Warriors were without Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler.
- Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Brooklyn Nets: The Thunder extended their winning streak to ten games with a 121-92 victory over the Nets. Jared McCain led the Thunder with 26 points off the bench, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 20 points and 6 assists.
- Denver Nuggets vs. Memphis Grizzlies: The Nuggets fell to the Grizzlies 125-118, despite a strong performance from Nikola Jokic (29 points, 14 rebounds, 9 assists) and Christian Braun (26 points). TJ Jerome nearly achieved a triple-double for the Grizzlies with 21 points, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists.
- Los Angeles Clippers vs. Recent Orleans Pelicans: The Clippers suffered their third consecutive defeat, losing to the Pelicans 124-109. Kawhi Leonard scored 25 points with 8 rebounds.
- Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Utah Jazz: The Timberwolves dominated the Jazz 147-111, with five players scoring in double figures. Ayo Dosunmu led the team with 23 points and 9 assists.
- Atlanta Hawks vs. Dallas Mavericks: The Hawks defeated the Mavericks 135-120, with Jalen Johnson finishing with 17 points, 11 rebounds, and 9 assists.
- Toronto Raptors vs. Chicago Bulls: The Raptors won against the Bulls 139-109, led by RJ Barrett with 23 points.
- Portland Trail Blazers vs. Indiana Pacers: The Trail Blazers secured a win against the Pacers 127-119, with Deni Avdija scoring 32 points and 11 rebounds.
Lakers’ Playoff Push
With this win, the Lakers have now won 10 of their last 11 games, improving their record to 44-25. They currently hold a 2.5-game lead over the Rockets in the Western Conference standings. The Lakers have secured the season series tiebreaker against several key Western Conference opponents, including the Rockets, Nuggets, and Timberwolves, and have also won their division, giving them another tiebreaker advantage.
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