Lakers hold off Rockets to score important home win amid playoff seedi

The Lakers have “recognized the magnitude” of every game they have to play as the season winds down, their coach JJ Redick saying they have to play each of them with an urgency to determine their own playoff seeding fate in the super-competitive Western Conference.

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It really is simple for the Lakers: Keep winning and that will improve their seeding in the unforgiving West.

And win the Lakers did on Monday night, pulling out a gritty 104-98 win over the Rockets at Crypto.com Arena. It was an especially significant win because the fourth place Lakers are chasing second-place Houston in the Western Conference standings.

LeBron James came through in the clutch from the free-throw line and on defense, with big-time contributions from key role players Gabe Vincent and Dorian Finney-Smith as Luka Doncic fought through a poor shooting night and a banged up left elbow.

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James sealed the game with two free throws with 11.1 seconds left and an emphatic block of Alperen Sengun with eight seconds remaining, keeping the Lakers ahead by four.

James finished with 16 points, eight rebounds and four assists.

“This year in particular, it’s so close and people are jumping each other, falling behind, whatever the case may be,” James said about following the standings. “I don’t do it every day, but it’s talked about pretty much all the time and you kind of see where you’re at. For us obviously, our mission is to lock in a playoff spot and not have to play in the play-in. So, we understand what’s at stake.”

Finney-Smith and Vincent played a huge part in the Lakers’ success against the…