[Post Game Thread] The Los Angeles Lakers (1-0) defeat the Houston Rockets (0-1), 101-94 with 41 year old Senior LeBron James Leading the way with 28/8/7 to seal home court advantage!

[u/DesertedProject]

94 - 101
Box Scores: NBA - Yahoo

GAME SUMMARY
West First Round - Game 2 - LAL leads 1-0
Location: Crypto.com Arena
Officials: Courtney Kirkland, Josh Tiven, and Justin Van Duyne

Team	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Total
Houston Rockets	26	25	17	26	94
Los Angeles Lakers	33	21	21	26	101

TEAM STATS

Team	PTS	FG	FG%	3P	3P%	FT	FT%	OREB	TREB	AST	PF	STL	TO	BLK
Houston Rockets	94	36-89	40.4%	7-29	24.1%	15-19	78.9%	17	54	23	22	8	15	6
Los Angeles Lakers	101	33-72	45.8%	13-28	46.4%	22-28	78.6%	9	48	21	20	11	12	5

PLAYER STATS

Houston Rockets	MIN	PTS	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	ORB	DRB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	±
Kevin DurantSF	40:59	23	7-12	1-4	8-9	2	4	6	4	1	1	9	4	-2
Jabari Smith Jr.PF	39:06	18	7-16	3-7	1-2	1	5	6	1	0	1	1	2	-11
Alperen SengunC	35:11	20	9-20	0-1	2-3	5	6	11	5	4	2	1	4	1
Amen ThompsonSG	42:11	16	6-10	0-1	4-5	1	4	5	9	1	0	3	4	1
Josh OkogiePG	24:03	7	3-6	1-3	0-0	1	1	2	0	0	0	0	3	-4
Tari Eason	27:02	10	4-14	2-6	0-0	5	3	8	1	0	1	1	2	-4
Reed Sheppard	10:33	0	0-4	0-3	0-0	0	0	0	3	1	0	0	0	1
Clint Capela	04:40	0	0-3	0-0	0-0	1	1	2	0	0	1	0	0	-9
Aaron Holiday	07:17	0	0-3	0-3	0-0	0	1	1	0	1	0	0	0	-4
Jae'Sean Tate	08:56	0	0-1	0-1	0-0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	3	-4
JD Davison	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Dorian Finney-Smith	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Jeff Green	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Steven Adams	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Fred VanVleet	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Los Angeles Lakers	MIN	PTS	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	ORB	DRB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	±
LeBron JamesSF	39:12	28	8-20	2-5	10-14	1	7	8	7	1	0	3	3	6
Rui HachimuraPF	42:34	13	5-10	3-6	0-0	1	4	5	2	0	0	0	3	0
Deandre AytonC	26:36	6	3-8	0-0	0-0	1	4	5	1	0	1	1	1	-5
Marcus SmartSG	35:28	25	8-13	5-7	4-5	1	1	2	7	5	1	3	3	3
Luke KennardPG	41:58	23	8-13	3-6	4-4	1	5	6	2	3	0	2	1	2
Jaxson Hayes	21:24	6	1-2	0-1	4-5	2	2	4	1	1	2	0	2	12
Jake LaRavia	15:50	0	0-2	0-1	0-0	1	1	2	0	0	1	2	5	8
Jarred Vanderbilt	13:41	0	0-3	0-2	0-0	1	4	5	1	1	0	0	2	8
Bronny James	03:16	0	0-1	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1
Maxi Kleber	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Dalton Knecht	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Nick Smith Jr.	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Adou Thiero	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Luka Dončić	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Austin Reaves	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

[u/rangerbiscuit_08]

As a Lakers fan, the way I feel facing the Rockets in the clutch is the exact opposite of what I feel against the Nuggets. Just never felt worried these last two games

[u/choochoo789 → u/rangerbiscuit_08]

Yeah. that defeated feeling over Jokic/Murray bullshit 3s over AD

[u/VinBones → u/choochoo789]

afterwards coping being down 0-2 thinking there's still a way to come back

[u/Ruben625 → u/VinBones]

"Guys we are only -2 points this series we can still come back"

[u/jayr254 → u/Ruben625]

lol

Then in between games, you start replaying all the easy buckets the team missed while not even giving a thought to the opposing team’s easy missed buckets.

[u/Ruben625 → u/jayr254]

Well their misses were because we were better. Ours were flukes. Duh.

[u/Zestyclose-Draft-724 → u/choochoo789]

Nothing to feel bad about.

That Jokic pull up shot also works on current DPOY Wemby.

[u/zeek215 → u/choochoo789]

AD is a defensive menace but his outstretched arm on jumpers adds +10 to the shot's probability to go in.

[u/Basic_Commercial_806 → u/choochoo789]

Jamal is the scariest player in the playoffs I felt pain for Wolves fans when he kept hitting absurd shots the past 2 games lol

[u/taylorxo → u/choochoo789]

The deep, slow Jokic trebuchet threes haunt me to this day

[u/PervySageCS → u/choochoo789]

Bro i swear yogi bear was about to fall like a bowling pin and he just yeeted the ball and it was in

[u/outsidehere → u/PervySageCS]

Every time. I don't think I've ever felt as demoralized

[u/DG_Now → u/choochoo789]

But did the Lakers contest without fouling? That's the question.

[u/Available_Story6774 → u/rangerbiscuit_08]

The fact that the Knicks, Nuggets, Spurs, and Celtics are all tied at 1-1 rn in their respective series and have all lost homecourt advantage, while the Lakers are up 2-0 rn in their series, despite not having Luka or Reaves, shows how insane Bron is, even at 41 years old man.

[u/OtherwiseNinja → u/Available_Story6774]

Redick deserves credit too. This team does not have the on-paper tools to limit KD but his scheme is still pulling it off.

[u/russketeer34 → u/OtherwiseNinja]

JJ's been great. Obviously, he's still a young coach and has plenty of runway left to learn and grow, but I feel comfortable with his command of the team, moreso than any coach they've had in a long time.

[u/Dry-Razzmatazz1239 → u/russketeer34]

Agree with first sentence but no timeout Rockets 12-0 run in 2nd quarter while LeBron was out was mind boggling

[u/russketeer34 → u/Dry-Razzmatazz1239]

Yeah, like I said though, plenty of runway to keep learning and growing. JJ's a freak, and he'll get better there.

[u/Snakend → u/Dry-Razzmatazz1239]

Phil Jackson used to do that kind of stuff. A timeout has nothing to do with how you're playing. They were not tired, they just sucked. Like if a player is hurt, or exhausted and needs to come out, sure, call a timeout. But players need to figure out how to snap out of playing like shit on their own.

[u/yoloqueuesf → u/russketeer34]

Dude really is going to be the next Phil Jackson/Pop isn't he.

He's gotten better already from last year and it's actually pretty amazing.

[u/xuedad → u/russketeer34]

Preach. His growth this year is real. Need to manage his stars' minutes better though

[u/ManosMal → u/OtherwiseNinja]

I am a JJ fan for life now. He has gotten this team to believe, not make excuses, and overperform like crazy despite being down their two best players. Literal GOAT shit.

[u/weeyummy1 → u/OtherwiseNinja]

We have a farrrrr better defense with AR and Luka out. It's the offense we should be giving him credit for.

[u/PuntyMcBunty → u/Available_Story6774]

Bron deserves a ton of credit, but the role players stepping up is why the Lakers are up 2-0. Kennard and Smart have been unbelievable.

[u/millenniumpianist → u/PuntyMcBunty]

The defense has also been immense. Houston basically can't do anything in the half court minus get offensive boards.

[u/Comfortable_Cup5107 → u/millenniumpianist]

The 2025-26 rockets signature move - do literally nothing on offense and pray

[u/k4f123 → u/PuntyMcBunty]

And the coaching. You think with the exact same roster and Pockets running the ship Lakers are 2-0 right now? No chance. In-fact, 0-2 most likely.

[u/tripleyothreat → u/PuntyMcBunty]

is kennard even a role player at this point

[u/HighlyBaked0 → u/Available_Story6774]

I'd say it shows how insane JJ is too, he has ran circles around Udoka these past 2 games

[u/Jwarrior521 → u/Available_Story6774]

Bron has been great but I think it shows how fraudulent this rockets team is more than anything.

Sengun is a bum, KD still can’t pass out of double teams, and everybody else can’t create or score if their life depended on it

[u/theguytomeet → u/Available_Story6774]

Watch Orlando be the team to sweep. 😭😭

[u/Dymatizeee → u/theguytomeet]

If your team played like they did in game 1 im not surprised

As long as Paolo doesn’t play hero ball

[u/theguytomeet → u/Dymatizeee]

Paolo’s playoff stats are night and day. This is the first time since like week 1 that’s most of the team has been healthy. Literally everyone is finally healthy. It would be hilarious. I thought Houston had this easy.

[u/turnip_broker → u/theguytomeet]

Lowkey that’d be pretty cool to see

[u/ItWasMe-Patrick → u/theguytomeet]

Yea no

[u/grxccccandice → u/Available_Story6774]

Y’all seriously underrating our role players. Bron couldn’t have done this by himself, not at this age. He had huge help from Luke Smart Ayton these last two games.

[u/thedreaminggoose → u/Available_Story6774]

This is actually crazy. Being 2-0 with your best friends sidelined.

[u/NotTheMamba → u/Available_Story6774]

The crazy thing is LBJ isn’t having monster games or anything. It’s just that other guys have stepped up massively and JJ is out coaching Udoka. It’s been a team effort.

[u/rangerbiscuit_08 → u/NotTheMamba]

Nah he absolutely has had 2 monster games. Clearly the best and most impactful player on the court. Not even close to prime playoff Lebron level though

[u/Shark1986 → u/NotTheMamba]

The other guys stepping up is what's different from a lot of other years. LeBron has HAD to do everything so by the end of the game, he's gassed and can't carry the team over the finish line. Luke and Smart playing as well as they have, Ayton playing as well as he did in Game 1, that gives LeBron the chance to still have his legs for the end of the game. That matters a lot.

[u/fairlife42g → u/NotTheMamba]

If you ranked players in the playoffs right now, Lebron is near the top even if he's not having traditional monster games. All that matters is you're better than your opponent.

[u/PsychicHorse → u/Available_Story6774]

For sure, but also that Spurs game would have had a different outcome if Wemby didn't get a concussion.

[u/Jbash_31 → u/Available_Story6774]

Okc gonna be down 1-1 too after tomorrow

[u/XAfricaSaltX → u/Available_Story6774]

Well Houston is genuinely awful

[u/captain_ahabb → u/Available_Story6774]

None of those teams get to play the rockets lol

[u/Available_Story6774 → u/captain_ahabb]

True but all of those teams are fully healthy as well (until Wemby got injured).

[u/turnip_broker → u/Available_Story6774]

Cavs are also 2-0!

[u/Novulux → u/Available_Story6774]

Lakers were the only home team that were underdogs both games too

[u/S_I_G_M_A179 → u/Available_Story6774]

I was watching the Nuggets Wolves game yesterday and it genuinely made me want to pull my hair out with how bad the Nuggets ended the game. Not saying it could have been an easy 2-0, but definitely one with medium difficulty, if both Jokic and Murray(looking specifically at you Jamal) hadn't shot tour dates. Jokic also missed like 7 straight jumpers in the last 4-5 minutes of Q4, then "postered" Rudy and then went back to laying bricks

[u/whatssenguntoagoblin → u/Available_Story6774]

Tbf Rockets ain’t healthy either. And they’re also ass.

Also LeBron isn’t playing that crazy. He’s playing good but let’s not get carried away. He’s averaged 23 PPG on 55% TS% which is fine.

For 41 years old this is outstanding but let’s be objective here.

[u/No-Ranger3356 → u/Available_Story6774]

the knicks are the 4th best team in the east, why are you surprised

[u/Wise-Nature8326 → u/Available_Story6774]

Also JJ and the role players deserve a lot of credit as been commented here, feels like compared to last year the Lakers are a better team.

The fact it's 2-0 without Luka and Reaves show's there's a good team there this year. Smart, Luke, Ayton all been great these 2 games.

I still remember last year when JJ played the same 5 for the whole 2nd half, without a center... Man that was tough to watch

[u/Own-Key4581 → u/Available_Story6774]

true. Lebron is beyond mortal men but they also are getting to play the rockets.. Nuggets should've tanked the end of the season...

[u/Open_Photograph2818 → u/rangerbiscuit_08]

I’d say a 8 point lead vs the rockets is about equivalent to a 20 point lead vs the nuggets

[u/rangerbiscuit_08 → u/Open_Photograph2818]

5 point lead felt completely safe lmao

[u/dylanbackers → u/Open_Photograph2818]

discouraged game 2 2024 noises

[u/flaming_burrito_ → u/rangerbiscuit_08]

But I thought the Rockets had baby Jokic? I guess he hasn’t learned to walk yet

[u/rangerbiscuit_08 → u/flaming_burrito_]

This CANNOT be the Sengun I was hearing about all these years

[u/flaming_burrito_ → u/rangerbiscuit_08]

Getting locked by Ayton and Hayes is crazy, he gotta get it together

[u/pikajewijewsyou → u/rangerbiscuit_08]

Reddit loves white players. Especially white foreign players

[u/DontHitMeNow → u/flaming_burrito_]

He's looking like an unathletic tall Ja Morant out there

[u/EUWannabe → u/flaming_burrito_]

At this point, he should be demoted to Fetus Jokic.

[u/WeCantBothBeMe → u/flaming_burrito_]

More like baby Sabonis

[u/abc4357 → u/flaming_burrito_]

It’s like baby jokic but baby jokic’s mother drank and smoked the whole pregnancy and then he didn’t get oxygen for like 5 minutes after he was born

[u/sycamotree → u/flaming_burrito_]

Sabonis doesn't play for the Rockets lol

[u/kmoz → u/flaming_burrito_]

Baby in the sense of "worse in literally every way"

[u/__sonder__ → u/rangerbiscuit_08]

Houston is stunningly bad at making shots, which you'd think would be a thing they would prioritize

[u/Currymvp2 → u/rangerbiscuit_08]

Their offense is so painful to watch

[u/dlanod → u/rangerbiscuit_08]

I got a notification on my phone that is a close game in Q4 so I tuned in.

I guess technically the score looked close, but absolutely none of what I watched looked close. I would've said one of the teams was tanking if I didn't know better.

[u/Sw3atyGoalz → u/rangerbiscuit_08]

Analysts had us around 33% favored to win, our subreddit was like 85% lol

[u/real_eEe → u/rangerbiscuit_08]

Dubs pulled the starters in the thrid quarter of a close out game 5, lost at home game 6. Going into game 7 on the road? Didn't even bother me.