By Matija Šerić
On Friday night into Saturday, in a dramatic showdown, the LA Lakers defeated the Rockets 112–108 in overtime at the Toyota Center in Houston, taking a 3–0 lead in their quarterfinal series. Although most basketball analysts favored Houston before the playoffs, it is becoming clear they were wrong. Riding the brilliance of LeBron James, the Lakers are playing exciting, winning basketball. This is the first major upset of this year’s NBA playoffs, and if the Los Angeles team doesn’t slip, they are set to pull off a huge scalp.
It should be noted, however, that both teams were missing key stars. The Lakers have been without Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves in all three games, while Houston lacked Kevin Durant in Games 1 and 3. Clearly, the absence of “Slim Reaper” (first due to a knee injury, then an ankle issue) has been too much for the Rockets to handle. Still, that doesn’t diminish the Lakers’ wins.
Game 1 – an unusual Lakers victory
The first game was special in many ways. The Lakers won 107–98, led by LeBron, who nearly recorded a triple-double with 19 points, 8 rebounds, and 13 assists. One of the greatest players ever looked like he was 31 instead of 41—unstoppable in the paint, mid-range, and from beyond the arc. He also contributed defensively with two steals and a block.
Of course, LBJ didn’t do it alone. Luke Kennard stepped up with a playoff career-high 27 points, Deandre Ayton added 19 points and 11 rebounds, and Marcus Smart contributed 15 points and 8 assists. Coach JJ Redick managed the rotations well. On the other side, coach Ime Udoka relied heavily on his starting five—Alperen Şengün (19 points, 6 assists, 8 rebounds), Jabari Smith Jr., Josh Okogie, Amen Thompson, and Reed Sheppard—giving minimal opportunities to the bench aside from Tari Eason. The Rockets struggled badly, shooting just 37.6%, while the Lakers were outstanding at 60.6%.
Game 2 – things get serious for Houston
Despite Durant returning, Houston failed to tie the series, as the Lakers secured a 101–94 win to go up 2–0. The Rockets looked solid in the first half, trailing by just three at halftime (54–51). Durant scored 20 in the first half but only three in the second.
The Lakers’ defense was dominant, constantly double-teaming Durant, who struggled with nine turnovers. To make matters worse, he injured his ankle late in the game but stayed on the court.
LeBron shined again with 28 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists. Marcus Smart was his right-hand man, scoring 25 points (five threes) and adding seven assists. Kennard contributed another 23 points. Şengün (20 points, 11 rebounds), Thompson (16 points), and Smith (18 points) played well, but poor shooting plagued Houston again (40.4% overall, just seven made threes).
Jabari Smith’s message to Durant
Two days later, Jabari Smith sent a message through the media, urging his team—and especially Durant—to respond better to double teams. He emphasized aggression, decision-making, and finding ways for Durant to get to his spots despite defensive pressure.
Interestingly, Durant was not even present for Game 3, leading some to speculate that the “Slim Reaper” had effectively checked out of the series.
Dominant LeBron takes Lakers to 3–0
Game 3 was do-or-die for Houston. In NBA history, no team has ever come back from a 0–3 deficit to win a series.
The Lakers started strong, building a 15-point lead and going into halftime up by 11. In the second half, Şengün (33 points, 16 rebounds), Thompson (26 points, 11 rebounds), and Smith (24 points) mounted a comeback, even taking a six-point lead with 35 seconds left.
But crucial plays by Hachimura, Smart, and LeBron forced overtime. Şengün missed a potential game-winner. In overtime, the Rockets ran out of steam.
LeBron delivered another masterclass: 29 points, 13 rebounds, and 6 assists. Smart added 21 points and 10 assists, while Hachimura scored 22.
A staggering stat: the Rockets’ bench scored just three points (Clint Capela 2, Jae’Sean Tate 1). It’s nearly impossible to win games of this magnitude without bench production. In contrast, Jaxson Hayes scored 12 off the Lakers’ bench, and LeBron’s son, Bronny James, added five valuable points.
The Lakers shot 48%, compared to Houston’s 41%. LeBron logged over 45 minutes and emphasized that everyone must step up to compensate for the absence of Reaves and Dončić.
Semifinals: Lakers vs Oklahoma?
With a 3–0 lead, the Lakers are on the brink of paradise. If they avoid a collapse, a long-awaited Western Conference semifinal awaits. Most likely, they will face the Oklahoma City Thunder, who currently lead 2–0 against the Phoenix Suns.
That matchup promises to be fascinating, especially if Dončić and Reaves return. However, OKC may be dealing with issues of their own, as Jalen Williams has reportedly suffered another injury.
In any case, another NBA classic is in the making.
