Latest news and updates about the Lakers
It’s widely regarded that a series doesn’t begin until a team loses at home. In that sense, the Lakers got the series started on Friday. The purple and gold secured a win inside what looked to be a half-filled stadium for Houston’s playoff opener, taking advantage of late blunders from the Rockets to end regulation […]
LeBron James powers Lakers to overtime win and 3-0 series lead over Rockets, while Celtics outlast 76ers to go 2-1 up in NBA playoff action
The Houston Rockets fell into a practically insurmountable hole against the Los Angeles Lakers, falling 112-108 in overtime to a team still missing two of its three best players. The Rockets were also without Kevin Durant, but they had a chance to win the game, but fell apart down the stretch and into overtime, with […]
What’s a night of playoff basketball without the Brotherhood? It doesn’t happen very often, and it didn’t happen Friday night. Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics beat the Philadelphia 76ers, 108-100. Luke Kennard helped JJ Redick’s Los Angeles Lakers beat the Houston Rockets, 112-108. Finally, Mason Plumlee and the San Antonio Spurs knocked off the […]
After defending their home court in the first two games, the Lakers headed to Houston knowing they would receive the Rockets’ best punch in Game 3. And that they did. With the news they would be without Kevin Durant for the second time in the series, the Rockets played every bit like a team whose […]
A couple of weeks ago, the thought of the Lakers being lucky injury-wise was laughable. However, now that they’ve played three playoff games, LA is trending in a positive direction with its injuries, and other Western Conference teams are in trouble. The Denver Nuggets are trailing 2-1 in their series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, and […]
A miracle close to regulation saw the Lakers force overtime before controlling the extra session to steal Game 3, 112-108, and take a commanding series lead. Houston trailed by as many as 15 in the first half but was the aggressor for the entire second half. Up six with just under 30 seconds left, the […]
For the second time in this series, the Rockets will be without Kevin Durant. After missing Game 1 with a knee contusion, KD will miss Game 3 on Friday with an ankle sprain suffered in Tuesday’s Game 2 win for the Lakers. This appears to be the play in which Durant tweaked his ankle, coming […]
Houston Rockets vs Los Angeles Lakers April 24, 2026 Location: Toyota Center – Houston, Texas TV:Prime Video Radio:KBME Sports Talk 790 / KLTN 102.9 (en español) Online: Prime Video Time: 7:00 PM CST Probable Starting Lineups Rockets: Reed Sheppard, Amen Thompson, Tari Eason, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun Lakers: Luke Kennard, Marcus Smart, Jake Laravia, Lebron James, Deandre […]
The Lakers look set to get an unexpected boost this weekend with the return of Austin Reaves. In a wave of updates that have escalated quickly, Reaves seems set to return to the court this weekend and as soon as Game 3 on Friday. Prior to Game 2 on Tuesday, head coach JJ Redick confirmed […]
Luka Dončić has already had a Hall of Fame-caliber career, with this season being his best yet. He averaged a league-leading 33.5 points per game and was named the Western Conference Player of the Month in January and March. But despite the scoring prowess, dominance, and being the best player on a 53-win team, he […]
It was obvious that Luke Kennard’s importance was going to rise with the Lakers this postseason with their starting backcourt players, Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves out. What wasn’t known was how well he’d do in that situation. Well, two games in, Kennard is playing some of the best basketball of his career. In Game […]
Can someone explain to me how the Houston Rockets are 9.5-point favorites tonight in Game 3 against the Los Angeles Lakers? Sure, I get that the game is in Houston. The Rockets are in desperation mode after dropping the first two games in LA. Role players almost always play better at home than on the […]
The series between the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets shifts to the latter’s homebase on Friday. The Lakers look to take a commanding 3-0 lead in Game 3. Start time and TV schedule Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets When: 5 p.m. PT, Apr. 24 Where: Toyota Center Watch: Prime Video Just when everyone thought the […]
There are still some steps left, but Lakers fans can start getting excited about Austin Reaves returning. Reaves has missed all of the postseason so far, but he is now listed as questionable for Game 3 against the Rockets. He has been doing on-court work, but this is the first time he’s been upgraded to […]
Though Kevin Durant (right knee contusion) did return to the lineup, the Rockets now face a 0–2 series deficit after another mediocre offensive showing in their Game 2 loss. Game 3 of the best-of-seven, first-round playoff series is Friday night inside Houston’s Toyota Center. Tipoff versus the Los Angeles Lakers is at 7:00 p.m. Central, […] The post Despite return of Kevin Durant, Rockets dig deeper series hole appeared first on ClutchFans .
Besides Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, the Lakers have had the rest of their roster available during the playoffs. However, they might be playing without a member of their rotation for Friday’s Game 3. After Thursday’s practice, Lakers head coach JJ Redick said Jake LaRavia is dealing with an ankle sprain and is considered day-to-day […]
The Lakers don’t win Game 2 against the Rockets without Marcus Smart’s efforts. In the opening quarter, he was the most aggressive player on the court. He took seven shots and converted on five of them, including a trio of threes. Smart ended the quarter with 14 points, which was part of a 25-point performance. […]
After the Lakers took Game 1, desperation naturally had to set in for the Rockets. No team wants to fall down 2-0, as those who hold that lead go on to win 92.7% of the time. Houston was held to an abysmal 37% from the floor in the playoff opener, setting the stage for superstar […]
When a team is shorthanded like the Lakers are, the only way to not only survive but thrive is for everyone who is available to step up. The Lakers have gotten that during this postseason from Marcus Smart. One of the ways he’s stepped up is as a vocal leader. As a 12-year veteran and […]
Playoff basketball demands a higher level of intensity. The stakes are raised, which means every possession matters more, every game can swing a series and the focus on physicality has to be elevated. If there’s a player on the Lakers who knows this and is capable of it better than most, it’s LeBron James. At […]
When Marcus Smart joined the Lakers, the hope was that he could remain healthy and become a defensive anchor for this team. After seasons with the Grizzlies and Wizards, he could come to Los Angeles and play better basketball at higher stakes. Well, he’s done all that and more for the Lakers. He’s been a […]
The path to seeing Luka Dončić back on the floor with the Lakers is long and unknown. Ever since he went down with a hamstring strain against the Thunder back in early April, he’s done everything possible to return, including traveling to Spain to get treatment on his injury. Luka remains out indefinitely and isn’t […]
LOS ANGELES — As news broke on Tuesday night that Kevin Durant’s status had been upgraded to available, the collective tension in Crypto.com Arena rose. The tone of seriousness, implications, and magnitude of the game completely changed. Durant was an inferno in the first quarter, hitting every pull-up jump shot, but the purple and […]
In Tuesday’s Brotherhood Playoff Action, Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics lost to the Philadelphia 76ers 111-97; Mason Plumlee and the San Antonio Spurs fell to the Portland Trail Blazers 106-103, while Luke Kennard helped lead JJ Redick’s Los Angeles Lakers to a 101-94 win over the Houston Rockets. Tatum just missed a triple-double with 19 […]