Thirty seconds. Six points. In most arenas, those numbers mean a series is tied. But in Houston on Friday night, they were just the backdrop for a legendary Lakers heist; Yankee Scores reports…
LeBron James hit 29 points, including a tying 3-pointer with 13 seconds left in regulation, Marcus Smart had eight points in overtime, and the Los Angeles Lakers capitalised on a Houston Rockets team without Kevin Durant to win 112-108 on Friday night and take a 3-0 series lead in the Western Conference first round.
The Lakers overcame a six-point deficit with less than 30 seconds left and have a chance to sweep the series on Sunday night in Houston.
The Lakers started overtime with a 6-2 run, including a 3-pointer from Smart to lead 107-103. Houston’s Alperen Sengun scored a basket, but Smart made two free throws to make it 109-105 with 52 seconds remaining.
Marcus Smart’s Overtime Takeover
Smart made two free throws with 35.5 seconds left to make it 111-105. Reed Sheppard hit a 3-pointer to cut Houston’s deficit to three points with less than 30 seconds left in overtime, but Smart made 1 of 2 free throws to make it 112-108.
Smart had 21 points and 10 assists, while Rui Hachimura had 22 points for the Lakers.
The Void Left by a Scoring Legend
Despite Durant missing a second game in this series – this time with a sprained ankle after missing Game 1 with a knee injury – the Rockets had a chance to end the game after James had two turnovers that Houston converted into a 101-95 lead.
Family business https://t.co/bMEfzVuV7q pic.twitter.com/wzxA5Onw1B
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) April 25, 2026
Sengun had 33 points and 16 rebounds for the Rockets. Amen Thompson had 26 points and 11 rebounds.
The Lakers led by 15 points early but trailed by six in the fourth before Smart was fouled on a 3-point attempt with 25.4 seconds to go after a Houston turnover and made all three free throws to get the Lakers within three.
James, who had 13 rebounds, then stole the ball from Sheppard, and his 3-pointer tied it at 101 with 13.1 seconds to go in the fourth.
Houston could have led after that, but Sengun’s 7-footer missed. James grabbed the rebound and called a timeout. He caught the inbounds pass and had a chance to win it at the buzzer, but his 3-point shot missed to send it to OT.
