LeBron James scored 29 points and hit a tying 3-pointer with 13 seconds left in regulation as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Houston Rockets 112-108 on Friday, taking a 3-0 lead in their Western Conference first-round series.
The Lakers overcame a six-point deficit with under 30 seconds remaining to force overtime and can complete a sweep Sunday in Houston. Coach JJ Redick called the win “a huge test,” noting how difficult road playoff victories are, especially against a talented Rockets team even without Kevin Durant.
Overtime opened with a 6-2 run by Los Angeles, capped by a three from Marcus Smart that gave the Lakers a 107-103 edge. Smart later hit two free throws with 35.5 seconds left to push the lead to 111-105. Reed Sheppard trimmed the margin to three with a triple in the closing half-minute of OT, but Smart made one of two free throws to seal the 112-108 final.
James logged more than 45 minutes, also grabbing 13 rebounds and throwing an alley-oop to his son Bronny in the first half. With several key teammates sidelined by injuries, James said everyone has had to shoulder extra responsibility: “Everyone has to do a little bit more because of how much we’re missing. It’s a challenge for all of us and just trying to figure it out together.”
Smart finished with 21 points and 10 assists, and Rui Hachimura added 22 for the Lakers.
Houston — missing Durant again because of an ankle sprain after Durant sat out Game 1 with a knee injury — appeared poised to close the game late when two consecutive LeBron turnovers led to a 101-95 Rockets lead. Coach Ime Udoka criticized Houston’s late-game execution, calling closing out games “a weakness” and pointing to a string of costly mistakes.
Durant was receiving treatment on the injured ankle and was not available to play Friday. Alperen Sengun led the Rockets with 33 points and 16 rebounds, while Amen Thompson added 26 points and 11 rebounds.
Los Angeles led by as many as 15 in the first half but found itself down six late in the fourth. After a Houston turnover, Smart was fouled on a three-point try with 25 seconds to go and calmly sank all three free throws. James then stole the ball from Sheppard and buried the tying 3 to make it 101-all with 13 seconds left. Sengun missed a seven-footer on Houston’s next possession and the Lakers had a look to win in regulation, but James’ last-second attempt rimmed out and sent the game to overtime.