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LeBron James shone as the Los Angeles Lakers took charge of their NBA play-off series while Victor Wembanyama was concussed during a San Antonio defeat.<\/b><\/p>\n
The Lakers were without leading scorers Luka Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique), but 41-year-old James continued to show his class.<\/p>\n
The 22-time All Star claimed 28 points, eight rebounds and seven assists to lead the Lakers to a 101-94 win over the Houston Rockets on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Fellow veteran Kevin Durant returned for Houston after missing the opening game of the series and scored a team-high 23 points but turned the ball over nine times and claimed just three points after half-time.<\/p>\n
The Lakers now lead 2-0 in the first round of the post-season, with the Rockets hosting the next two games in the best-of-seven series.<\/p>\n
“We understood what they wanted to come in [with], the desperation they were going to have, so we had to be even more desperate,” said four-time NBA champion James. “I thought we played a hell of a game.”<\/p>\n
Wembanyama had scored five points for the San Antonio Spurs<\/b> when he was injured midway through the second quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers.<\/p>\n
The 7ft 4in France international, who has been named this season’s defensive player of the year,<\/a> hit his face on the floor after being knocked off his feet during a drive to the basket.<\/p>\n The Spurs said he had entered the concussion protocol and would not return to the game. They confirmed after Portland’s 106-103 win that he had sustained a concussion.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n