Rockets blow 97% win lead, lose 112-108
- The Los Angeles Lakers erased a six-point deficit in the final 30 seconds Friday and beat the Houston Rockets 112-108 in overtime in Game 3, taking a 3-0 lead. - LeBron James scored 29 points and hit the tying 3 with 13 seconds left; Marcus Smart added 21 points and 10 assists, while Alperen Sengun had 33. - Houston now faces elimination Sunday in Game 4 after dropping all three games to a short-handed Lakers team missing Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. (nba.com)
The Lakers wiped out Houston’s late lead Friday night and beat the Rockets 112-108 in overtime, moving ahead 3-0 in their first-round series. (nba.com) Houston led 101-95 with under 30 seconds left in regulation before Los Angeles closed the gap, and LeBron James drilled a tying 3-pointer with 13 seconds remaining. (espn.com) (cbssports.com) The Rockets still had a chance to win in regulation, but James nearly ended it before overtime, where the Lakers opened on a 6-2 run and stayed in front. (espn.com) (nba.com) James finished with 29 points and 13 rebounds in more than 45 minutes. Marcus Smart added 21 points and 10 assists, including eight points in overtime. (nba.com) (espn.com) Houston wasted Alperen Sengun’s 33-point, 16-rebound night and 26 points from Amen Thompson. Reed Sheppard hit a late overtime 3, but the Rockets never got closer than three in the extra period. (espn.com) (nba.com) The result landed harder because Houston was at home and because Kevin Durant missed a second game in the series, this time with a sprained ankle after sitting out Game 1 with a knee injury. (nba.com) (foxsports.com) The Lakers have built that 3-0 edge while also playing without Luka Doncic and with Austin Reaves listed as injured entering Game 4. JJ Redick said after Game 3 that winning on the road “even without KD” was “a huge test.” (nba.com) (foxsports.com) Houston Chronicle and CBS Sports both framed the finish as a collapse, and CBS quoted coach Ime Udoka telling his team to “grow up” after the loss. (houstonchronicle.com) (cbssports.com) Game 4 is Sunday, April 26, at Toyota Center, with the Lakers trying to finish a sweep and the Rockets trying to extend a series that flipped in 30 seconds. (nba.com)
