James, Smart steal road win in Houston, hand Lakers 3-0 series lead

Apr 24, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) dunks the ball during the fourth quarter against the Houston Rockets during game three of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. HOUSTON -- “The more desperate team normally wins in the Playoffs. ” That was the wisdom Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick spewed prior to his team’s Game 3 road matchup vs.

the Houston Rockets. The 15-year NBA veteran turned second-year coach is no stranger to the grand stage of the NBA Playoffs, and he made it his mission to inject the appropriate level of desperation into a Laker squad which concocted a 2-0 series lead without their two leading scorers. By nature, the more desperate team was unquestionably the Rockets.

Not only were they on the verge of the dreaded 0-3 deficit which has never been overcome in NBA history, but roughly 90 minutes before tipoff, their 16-time All-Star Kevin Durant was ruled out due to a left ankle sprain sustained from Game 2. But eventually the Lakers embodied that desperation, snatching a mathematically improbable 112-108 overtime victory from the jaws of defeat to claim a 3-0 series lead in Houston. “We talked for the last 10 days about elevating everything for our first road playoff game,” Redick said.

“You have to elevate your poise. You have to elevate your composure, recognizing moments where the crowd’s going crazy when you get down and they make a run. We weathered a lot tonight.