Lakers go up 2-0

The Lakers beat the Rockets 101-94 on Tuesday, April 21, to take a 2-0 lead in their first-round Western Conference series. (espn.com) LeBron James finished with 28 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, while Marcus Smart scored 25 points with five 3-pointers and seven assists. Luke Kennard added 23 points and six rebounds for Los Angeles. (nba.com) Los Angeles built a 15-point lead in the second quarter, Houston tied it just after halftime, and the Lakers still closed it out without Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. Dončić remained out with a hamstring injury and Reaves with an oblique injury. (espn.com) The series shifted before it reached Houston because the Lakers won both home games while short-handed. Game 3 is scheduled for Friday, April 24, at Toyota Center. (espn.com) Houston got Kevin Durant back for Game 2 after he missed the opener, but the Rockets still fell behind 2-0. Durant scored 23 points, and ESPN reported the Lakers used Smart as a primary defender on him for long stretches. (espn.com) Kennard has changed the shape of the series in the opening week. He scored a playoff career-high 27 points in the Lakers’ 107-98 Game 1 win, then followed it with 23 more in Game 2. (nba.com) Smart’s return to the postseason has become part of the story, too. After Game 2, Lakers coach JJ Redick said, “He just had a killer game tonight,” after Smart posted 25 points, seven assists and five steals. (nba.com) The Lakers now head to Houston with two wins, a 41-year-old James carrying the offense, and a rotation that has held up even with two regular starters sidelined. (ocregister.com)