Rockets on brink after Lakers surge to 3‑0 lead
- The Los Angeles Lakers beat the Houston Rockets 112-108 in overtime on Friday, April 24, taking a 3-0 lead in their Western Conference first-round series and moving within one win of a sweep. - LeBron James scored 29 points and hit the tying 3-pointer with 13 seconds left in regulation, while Marcus Smart added eight overtime points against a Houston team missing Kevin Durant. - Game 4 is Sunday, April 26, in Houston, with the Lakers trying to finish a series they already lead 3-0 after wins by 107-98, 101-94 and 112-108. (nba.com)
The Lakers are one win from the second round after a 112-108 overtime comeback over the Rockets put Los Angeles up 3-0 in the series. (espn.com) (nba.com) Game 3 turned on LeBron James’ tying 3-pointer with 13 seconds left in regulation, then Marcus Smart scoring eight points in overtime for Los Angeles. (espn.com) James finished with 29 points, 13 rebounds and six assists, while Rui Hachimura scored 22 and Smart added 21 in 39 minutes. (statsdmz.nba.com) (espn.com) Houston got 33 points and 16 rebounds from Alperen Sengun and 26 points with 11 rebounds from Tari Eason, but Kevin Durant did not play because of a left ankle sprain. (espn.com 1) (espn.com 2) The series looked tighter on paper than the scoreline now suggests. The Lakers won Game 1 by nine points and Game 2 by seven before surviving overtime in Houston in Game 3. (nba.com) (espn.com 1) (espn.com 2) Los Angeles has done it while short-handed. NBA.com’s Game 1 and Game 2 recaps noted the Lakers were without Luka Doncic, and ESPN’s Game 3 recap said they capitalized with Durant sidelined for Houston. (nba.com) (espn.com 1) (espn.com 2) Through three games, James is averaging 25.3 points, 9.7 rebounds and 8.7 assists, while Sengun leads Houston at 24.0 points and 11.7 rebounds per game. (nba.com) Game 4 is scheduled for Sunday, April 26, at 9:30 p.m. Eastern in Houston, with Game 5 back in Los Angeles on April 29 only if the Rockets extend the series. (nba.com) (nba.com) For Houston, the math is simple now: no NBA team can lose another game in this series and survive. For the Lakers, one more win ends it. (nba.com)
