LeBron James poured in 29 points, including a clutch three‑pointer with 13 seconds left, to lift the Los Angeles Lakers to a 112-108 victory over the Houston Rockets. The win snapped a six‑point deficit in the final 30 seconds and pushed the Lakers to a commanding 3-0 lead in the Western Conference first‑round series today.

Kevin Durant missed his second outing in the series after a sprained ankle, leaving Houston without its top scorer. Despite the absence, the Rockets struggled to close games, allowing LeBron’s turnovers to translate into a 101-95 lead before the Lakers rallied. Coach Ime Udoka blamed the team’s late‑game mistakes for the loss.

Smart finished with 21 points and 10 assists, while Rui Hachimura added 22 points for Los Angeles. Alperen Sengun led Houston with 33 points and 16 rebounds, and Amen Thompson chipped in 26 points and 11 rebounds. The Lakers’ depth proved decisive as Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves sat out with injuries.

With this victory, Los Angeles can sweep the series Sunday in Houston, effectively ending the Rockets’ playoff run. The win underscores the Lakers’ resilience when star players like Durant are sidelined. Meanwhile, Houston’s inconsistency in the fourth quarter remains a concern as the team seeks to regroup for the next postseason matchup.