The Lakers beat the Rockets for the fourth time in a row and take a qualification to the Conference final that had been missing for 10 years – in 2010 they then won the NBA title – thus breaking the longest abstinence in franchise history. A victory never questioned, immediately put down thanks to the 33-11 with which the Lakers opened the match: an advantage that the Texans have no longer been able to fill.
The protagonist once again is LeBron James, author of 29 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists – no one at the Lakers home does better than him in all three statistical items. For the yellow-violet number 23 it will be the eleventh Conference final of his career; better than 21 of the 30 NBA franchises in their history. LeBron also joins Oscar Robertson and becomes one of two players to have collected at least 250 points, 100 rebounds and 80 assists in the first ten postseason games.