LAKERS GAME 3 COMEBACK PUTS ROCKETS ON BRINK OF ELIMINATION!

April 25, 2026 at 8:59 am

FROM ABOVE ARTICLE:

LeBron James turns in a vintage performance and Marcus Smart makes play after play as L.A. stakes a 3-0 series lead.

Experience thwarted youth.

The Los Angeles Lakers are one victory from advancing to the Western Conference semifinals, and the Houston Rockets left their home arena deflated.

The Lakers overcame a six-point deficit in the final 25.4 seconds of the fourth quarter, forced overtime and stunned the Rockets with a 112-108 victory in Game 3 on Friday.

After missing Game 1 with a bruised right knee, Rockets star Kevin Durant missed Game 3 with a sprained left ankle. Houston featured a starting lineup with five players 24 years old or younger.

Houston’s Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., and Amen Thompson each scored at least 24 points. But two costly turnovers and a bad foul at the end of regulation gave the Lakers the window they needed to grab a 3-0 series lead.

No team in NBA history has come back from a 3-0 deficit. Game 4 is Sunday in Houston (9:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock).

Here are four takeaways from Game 2:

1. Wild sequence saves Lakers

After allowing 63 points in the first half, the Rockets tightened their defense and gave up just 38 points in the second half.

Houston led 101-95 with less than 30 seconds to go in the fourth, however, Lakers veteran Marcus Smart got a steal and was fouled on a 3-point attempt by Jae’Sean Tate. He made the three free throws with 25.4 seconds remaining in the fourth. After a Rockets timeout, a Reed Sheppard turnover led to a LeBron James 3, tying the score at 101-101 with 13.6 seconds left in the fourth.

“Horrendous mistakes,” acknowledged Rockets coach Ime Udoka. “I don’t know if you want to say youth or scared of the moment or whatever the case.”

Smart, who had five steals for the second consecutive game, scored eight of the Lakers’ 11 points in overtime. He finished with 21 points, 10 assists, four rebounds and two blocks. Smart made a corner 3 to start overtime and collected an offensive rebound that led to two free throws, turning a one possession game into two possessions.

“He’s a winner. He makes winning plays,” Los Angeles coach JJ Redick said.

Lakers forward Rui Hachimura, who had the other three points in overtime, scored 22 points.

2. Special father-moment for LeBron, Bronny

Bronny James scores the first playoff points of his career, including the first father-to-son assist in NBA Playoff history.

In Game 1, LeBron James and Bronny James made history as the first father-son to play in a playoff game, and in Game 3, they became the first father-son to connect on a bucket/assist when LeBron threw a lob to Bronny for a reverse layup and a 52-40 Lakers lead at the 7:11 mark of the second quarter.

On the Lakers’ previous possession, LeBron set a screen for Bronny who took advantage and made a 3-pointer. It was part of a hot start for Los Angeles. The Lakers made their first seven shots, Hachimura made his first six shots, including three 3-pointers, and LeBron James made his first five shots. At one point, Los Angeles was 11-for-16 from the field and 6-for-8 on 3s.

The elder James had 29 points, 13 rebounds, six assists, three steals and eight turnovers.

“Always appreciate and don’t take for granted what he’s able to do,” Redick said. “I guess I’ve known him now 26 years, and I’ve watched him play for 26 years. We met when we were both about 15 or 16 years old so always enjoy it.”

3. Thompson, Smith, Sengun shine for Rockets

Amen Thompson (26 pts, 11 reb, 4 ast, 3 stl, 3 blk) fills the stat sheet for Houston in Game 3.

It’s easy to see why there is so much promise surrounding the Rockets. Amen Thompson, a blossoming two-way star at 23 years old, had 26 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, three steals and three blocks.

Jabari Smith Jr., 22, scored 24 points on 16 field-goal attempts and was 6-for-10 on 3-pointers, and center Alperen Sengun, 23, produced 33 points, 16 rebounds, six assists and three steals.

Reed Sheppard, the 21-year-old second-year guard who has struggled with his shot, added 17 points and seven assists. He started in place of Durant.

4. Will Durant return for Game 4?

Rockets coach Ime Udoka said Durant sustained a sprained left ankle with 7:22 left in the fourth quarter of Game 2. Durant trailed a play in which Smith scored, and as Durant went for a potential offensive rebound, he turned his ankle. Durant grabbed his ankle but remained in the game.

“Afterwards, it swelled up (with) some tenderness, and it got worse over the next day or so,” said Udoka who indicated that Durant should be available for Game 4.

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LakerTom says

April 25, 2026 at 8:59 am

FROM ABOVE ARTICLE:

LeBron James turns in a vintage performance and Marcus Smart makes play after play as L.A. stakes a 3-0 series lead.

Experience thwarted youth.

The Los Angeles Lakers are one victory from advancing to the Western Conference semifinals, and the Houston Rockets left their home arena deflated.

The Lakers overcame a six-point deficit in the final 25.4 seconds of the fourth quarter, forced overtime and stunned the Rockets with a 112-108 victory in Game 3 on Friday.

After missing Game 1 with a bruised right knee, Rockets star Kevin Durant missed Game 3 with a sprained left ankle. Houston featured a starting lineup with five players 24 years old or younger.

Houston’s Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., and Amen Thompson each scored at least 24 points. But two costly turnovers and a bad foul at the end of regulation gave the Lakers the window they needed to grab a 3-0 series lead.

No team in NBA history has come back from a 3-0 deficit. Game 4 is Sunday in Houston (9:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock).

Here are four takeaways from Game 2:

1. Wild sequence saves Lakers

After allowing 63 points in the first half, the Rockets tightened their defense and gave up just 38 points in the second half.

Houston led 101-95 with less than 30 seconds to go in the fourth, however, Lakers veteran Marcus Smart got a steal and was fouled on a 3-point attempt by Jae’Sean Tate. He made the three free throws with 25.4 seconds remaining in the fourth. After a Rockets timeout, a Reed Sheppard turnover led to a LeBron James 3, tying the score at 101-101 with 13.6 seconds left in the fourth.

“Horrendous mistakes,” acknowledged Rockets coach Ime Udoka. “I don’t know if you want to say youth or scared of the moment or whatever the case.”

Smart, who had five steals for the second consecutive game, scored eight of the Lakers’ 11 points in overtime. He finished with 21 points, 10 assists, four rebounds and two blocks. Smart made a corner 3 to start overtime and collected an offensive rebound that led to two free throws, turning a one possession game into two possessions.

“He’s a winner. He makes winning plays,” Los Angeles coach JJ Redick said.

Lakers forward Rui Hachimura, who had the other three points in overtime, scored 22 points.

2. Special father-moment for LeBron, Bronny

Bronny James scores the first playoff points of his career, including the first father-to-son assist in NBA Playoff history.

In Game 1, LeBron James and Bronny James made history as the first father-son to play in a playoff game, and in Game 3, they became the first father-son to connect on a bucket/assist when LeBron threw a lob to Bronny for a reverse layup and a 52-40 Lakers lead at the 7:11 mark of the second quarter.

On the Lakers’ previous possession, LeBron set a screen for Bronny who took advantage and made a 3-pointer. It was part of a hot start for Los Angeles. The Lakers made their first seven shots, Hachimura made his first six shots, including three 3-pointers, and LeBron James made his first five shots. At one point, Los Angeles was 11-for-16 from the field and 6-for-8 on 3s.

The elder James had 29 points, 13 rebounds, six assists, three steals and eight turnovers.

“Always appreciate and don’t take for granted what he’s able to do,” Redick said. “I guess I’ve known him now 26 years, and I’ve watched him play for 26 years. We met when we were both about 15 or 16 years old so always enjoy it.”

3. Thompson, Smith, Sengun shine for Rockets

Amen Thompson (26 pts, 11 reb, 4 ast, 3 stl, 3 blk) fills the stat sheet for Houston in Game 3.

It’s easy to see why there is so much promise surrounding the Rockets. Amen Thompson, a blossoming two-way star at 23 years old, had 26 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, three steals and three blocks.

Jabari Smith Jr., 22, scored 24 points on 16 field-goal attempts and was 6-for-10 on 3-pointers, and center Alperen Sengun, 23, produced 33 points, 16 rebounds, six assists and three steals.

Reed Sheppard, the 21-year-old second-year guard who has struggled with his shot, added 17 points and seven assists. He started in place of Durant.

4. Will Durant return for Game 4?

Rockets coach Ime Udoka said Durant sustained a sprained left ankle with 7:22 left in the fourth quarter of Game 2. Durant trailed a play in which Smith scored, and as Durant went for a potential offensive rebound, he turned his ankle. Durant grabbed his ankle but remained in the game.

“Afterwards, it swelled up (with) some tenderness, and it got worse over the next day or so,” said Udoka who indicated that Durant should be available for Game 4.

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