LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 21: Alperen Sengun #28 of the Houston Rockets drives to the basket during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers during Round One Game Two of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 21, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
LOS ANGELES — Back in March, the Lakers were winning games thanks to an incredibly potent offense. One month later, they’re winning playoff games on the back of their defense.
A necessary change following injuries to Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, the Lakers are suffocating the Rockets. In Game 2, that defense forced 15 turnovers as LA moved ahead 2-0 in the series with a 101-94 win.
For the second straight game, the Rockets were held to under 100 points. As a team, Houston shot 40% from the field and just 24% from deep.
Not even the return of Kevin Durant could spark the Rockets’ offense as he turned the ball over nine times, a playoff career high. Alpern Şengün ended the night with 20 points on 20 shots and was held to 11 points through the first three quarters.
With the Lakers able to take control entering the fourth quarter as a result, they then turned their attention to Durant, who managed just two points on 1-4 shooting in the game’s last 12 minutes.
It was a comprehensive defensive performance that saw the Lakers pull off another stunner to earn their second victory of the playoffs. After the win, Lakers head coach JJ Redick praised his team’s ability to disrupt Houston’s two best offensive threats.
“Both great players,” Redick said. “I think you have to guard them with team defense, and you have to be willing to make multiple efforts, and we did that.
This defensive aggression began in the opening minutes and came from a likely source: Marcus Smart.
With Durant back, Smart tested him immediately. In the opening minutes of the game, Smart poked the ball away from Durant and dove on the floor for the steal. It was a precursor of things to come as Smart ended the game with five steals and Durant turned the ball over nine times, a playoff career high.
The first of 2 early steals from Marcus Smart.
He also just drained his second 3-pointer of the game to give the Lakers an early 12-9 lead. pic.twitter.com/xCtbykkqfV
“I think [Marcus Smart] did a great job defensively,” Redick said. “Obviously, it takes a full team effort to guard Kevin [Durant]. The job that I think our team did, again, he makes shots. He’s an unbelievable player. I think our activity was as good as it could have been.”
Limiting Durant and Şengün was an obvious key to the game. However, it wasn’t the only reason LA won. They put on a total team effort and shut down the Rockets’ offense across all phases.
Thanks to LA’s collective defensive play, they are halfway to a series win and have protected their home court.
It’s shocking that they’ve gotten here without Luka or Austin, but what’s even more surprising is how they’ve earned these wins with their defense.
The Lakers’ offense perhaps can’t reach the levels it could when Luka, the NBA’s scoring champion, was on the floor, but in the playoffs, it hasn’t mattered. Their defense has stepped up and raised its game.
During the regular season, it was hard to imagine LA’s defense improving enough to win playoff games, but they kept making strides throughout the year and are now improving on that end of the floor even with key players absent.
“We trust one another,” Smart said. “The word is elevate for us. And that’s all we’ve been trying to do, elevate our play on both ends.”
It’s the first to four, not the first to two, in a best-of-seven series. So far, the Lakers have done their job, but the job’s not finished. A trip to Houston for the next two games will offer the toughest challenge yet. But as they continue to adapt on the fly this postseason, nothing has yet to indicate it’s a test they can’t pass.
After spending a season dazzling with their offense, the Lakers have made two loud statements in Los Angeles with their defense, putting everyone on notice.
Apr 21, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) reacts after being folded by Philadelphia 76ers guard Kelly Oubre Jr. (9) in the second half of a game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images | Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images
BOSTON — Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla knew the Sixers were destined to turn things around as soon as Game 2 got underway at TD Garden on Tuesday night.
He called it before the opening tip.
“Tonight is going to be a much more difficult challenge,” Mazzulla said pregame. “I expect a better version of the Sixers, and we have to play better as well. Every game, series takes on a life of its own. You don’t have control over that. You just gotta control how you play, how you execute, and how you move on from each timeout to timeout, each run to run, each game to game.”
Philadelphia, without Joel Embiid, laid an egg in Game 1. Coach Nick Nurse admitted the Sixers played “out of character” before falling in a 32-point blowout loss to the Celtics on Sunday. That made the message heading into Tuesday night simple: “Be better,” Nurse said. The difference between falling into an 0-2 deficit or returning to Philadelphia tied 1-1 was clear, and the Sixers operated mindful of that urgency throughout Boston’s 111-97 loss in Game 2.
Sixers guards Tyrese Maxey and V.J. Edgecombe combined to score 59 points, knocking down 11 of Philadelphia’s 19 3-pointers — after combining for 34 points in Game 1. Maxey got going early with 10 points in the first quarter, while Edgecombe found his rhythm with a 16-point second quarter.
BOSTON, MA – APRIL 21: Vj Edgecombe #77 of the Philadelphia 76ers and Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers react in the second quarter of a game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on April 21, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For the Celtics, the shooting woes didn’t improve. Only Sam Hauser knocked down multiple 3-pointers by halftime, going 2-of-5 from deep, while Boston’s missed opportunities carried into the second half. That put added pressure on the defense to contain Maxey and Edgecombe for as long as possible while the offense tried to find its rhythm — but that breakthrough never came.
“You lose a quarter by 11 (points), that’s tough to come back from in a playoff game,” Mazzulla said.
The same Celtics team that led the league in fewest turnovers during the regular season (12.4 per game) committed 13 at home to Philadelphia’s nine.
Jaylen Brown (36 points) and Jayson Tatum (19 points) were the only Celtics to score in double figures. The next leading scorer, Nikola Vučević, provided nine points off the bench and was a minus-7 in over 18 minutes on the floor. Consistency was the biggest struggle for Boston. Even when they cut Philadelphia’s lead down to two points with over 11 minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Celtics couldn’t add the finishing touch to ever gain control and take a second-half lead.
Instead, the Sixers closed out Game 2 on a 20-8 run, forcing Mazzulla to unload the bench and remove the starters for the final 1:52.
“There’s obviously things that we’ll do differently next game — be ready to do next game,” Mazzulla said. “But at the same time, we have to be aware of what’s on the other side of that. They’re a good team, and they put a ton of pressure on those things, and you kind of saw some of that tonight.”
The Sixers shot 34.9 percent from three in the regular season, ranking 23rd in the NBA. Their 12.3 made threes per game ranked 22nd, and Tuesday night’s 19 triples (on 48.7 percent shooting) were matched only three times all season.
Boston finished the loss shooting 36.4 percent from the field and 26 percent from three, hoisting 50 attempts from deep. In the regular season, they went 7-12 in games where they shot below 30 percent from beyond the arc, and it again helped the opposition — this time, Philadelphia — pull away with minimal resistance.
Rarely had the Celtics found themselves needing to self-reflect, but each time they did before Tuesday night, Brown was the first to speak up. That remained the case after the team’s first postseason hiccup.
“I just thought they outcompeted us tonight,” Brown said. “I think our intensity level could’ve been better. Defensively, we could’ve been better. We died on some screens. We just gotta be better. It’s the playoffs. They got ball players over there, and they came to play. And any given night, you can lose a game if you don’t come out with the right mindset.”
Tatum, after converting only two of eight 3-point attempts and committing three turnovers, still sounded composed. He pointed to his experience — his ninth trip to the playoffs — noting that losing home-court advantage was nothing new. Last year in the semifinals against the Knicks, after dropping the first two games at home, Tatum and the Celtics bounced back at Madison Square Garden. And this past season, the team went 20–6 in games following a loss.
That track record reinforced his confidence with the series heading to Philadelphia.
“We’ll be better next game,” Tatum assured.
Tatum also backed sharpshooters Derrick White and Payton Pritchard, who combined to go 2-of-14 from three (14.2 percent) in Game 2. White (eight points) and Pritchard (four points) each had rare off nights, muting two of Boston’s most reliable offensive weapons. Still, given the looks Boston generated, Tatum isn’t concerned about their shooting slumps carrying over into Game 3 on Friday night.
“There’s a lot of open looks and looks that they normally make,” Tatum said of White and Pritchard. “I don’t know how many they made this year, but I remember last year both those guys made 250-plus threes. So they’re great shooters. Sometimes the ball just don’t go in, but we never lose confidence in them. They’ll be ready, we’ll all be ready Friday.”
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 21: Adou Thiero #1 and Marcus Smart #36 of the Los Angeles Lakers talk after the game against the Houston Rockets during Round One Game Two of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 21, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Lakers can write a hearty book of all the role players who have stepped up in big moments throughout the franchise’s history. When you win 17 NBA titles, that list is pretty long, in fact.
While Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard are not quite at the levels of the elites in Lakers lore, what they’re doing right now for this Lakers team deserves at least a chapter in that book.
A month ago, they were the fifth starter and the sixth man who excelled in their roles while also having limitations. On Tuesday, they combined for 48 points to move the shorthanded, underdog Lakers to a 2-0 series lead.
Kennard even received MVP chants at the free throw line in the final minute. Even if they came in jest, it’s a perfect snapshot of this moment. A pair of undersized guards have stepped up in back-to-back playoff games and have the Lakers halfway to a series win.
So, let’s dive into the win. As always, grades are based on expectations for each player. A “B” grade represents the average performance for that player.
After taking the role of table-setter in Game 1, LeBron was far more aggressive as a scorer in this one. His two threes to open the second quarter were huge momentum boosts at the time.
At times, particularly late in the first half, his offense out of the post wasn’t quite as efficient, but he spent the third quarter and second half targeting Alperen Şengün and methodically picking apart the Rockets’ defense.
Rui continues to have some adventurous moments, like his blown layup in the fourth quarter that immediately led to a Josh Okogie three.
And yet, he still comes up with some really big shots. His jumper over Kevin Durant late in the fourth was a huge shot to push the lead back to six points. He again had an efficient night and while the complaints will come about his rebounding, we’re in year four of Rui now. That just isn’t ever going to be a regular part of his game.
At the start of this game, Ayton felt like he was a little disengaged offensively. Then Jabari Smith Jr. blocked his layup attempt and told him about it and that woke him up. He immediately tried a poster dunk on the next play and then eventually threw down a ridiculous alley-oop.
He also played well defensively on Şengün. The change to Jaxson Hayes closing the game felt more like a decision made because of Hayes’ ability to switch on to Kevin Durant more than an indictment on Ayton’s play.
After leaving a lot on the table from range in Game 1, Smart made up for it and then some on Tuesday. He came out of the gate drilling threes, helping LA grab control of the game early.
There was still the typical chaotic bad that comes with Smart, including being involved in a string of turnovers in the second quarter. But he’s such a great playoff performer when all the little things matter so much, like him getting a hand on a pass late to force a turnover before finding LeBron for his monster dunk to effectively seal the win.
And yet, my favorite play of the night came minutes into the game when he poked the ball loose from KD, dove on the ground for the steal and found LeBron, who was eventually fouled.
The first of 2 early steals from Marcus Smart.
He also just drained his second 3-pointer of the game to give the Lakers an early 12-9 lead. pic.twitter.com/xCtbykkqfV
While it may not have had quite the same pop or highlight moment as his Game 1 performance, I’d argue this was actually an even more impressive outing for Kennard. Considering that the Rockets certainly had him higher on the gameplan, for him to still finish with 23 points on 8-13 shooting is incredible.
The non-LeBron minutes rely heavily on Kennard to score or create. For now, he’s keeping those lineups afloat as the Lakers were +1 with LeBron off the floor.
That we’re at this point with Kennard is really just hard to believe. With Smart, there’s a pedigree of playoff performances to reference when he has a night like this. With Kennard, this is genuinely unchartered waters.
After a below-average Game 1, Hayes had a great outing in Game 2. Gone were the silly fouls and mental lapses when defending Şengün. As a result, he rightfully closed the game to help the Lakers shut off the Rockets’ water. He did a solid job rotating out onto Durant either by himself or when trapping.
And his extra effort late helped the Lakers gain another possession to ice the game away. It took two seasons, but this is safely Hayes’ best postseason game as a Laker.
This was a pretty brutal night for LaRavia. There was a stretch in the first half where he turned the ball over, then picked up three fouls in under 30 seconds. He absolutely could not handle the Durant assignment throughout the game, which raises some questions about how playable he is.
Hopefully, this was just a one-off bad game because the Lakers are going to need him on the floor to eat up minutes, if nothing else.
Vando continues to offer basically nothing offensively and can’t make the Rockets pay for leaving him open in the corners, but he did a good job of making up for it defensively. He had a couple of nice possessions defensively on Durant and was active on the glass.
In a game where they needed to grind out a win, Vando felt right at home in his minutes.
Grade: B
Bronny James
It was just one shift in the first half for Bronny without anything of note.
JJ Redick
Through two games, JJ Redick is putting on a coaching masterclass. Defensively, he mixed up coverages throughout the game to confuse Durant and the Rockets, oscillating between switching him or trapping him and swarming him with bodies to force the ball out of his hands. It led to nine turnovers from Durant.
Offensively, he adjusted to the Rockets focusing so heavily on Kennard by putting him in the weakside corner in pick and rolls with LeBron, clearing the lane for he and Ayton to connect on lobs or for LeBron to have a wide open lane to the rim. He also did a nice job of changing LeBron’s post-ups in the second half from the elbow with players all around him to a cleared out side of the floor, forcing help to come and leaving someone open.
This has been a drastically different and better performance from Redick compared to last postseason.
Grade: A+
Tuesday’s DNPs: Maxi Kleber, Dalton Knecht, Nick Smith Jr., Adou Thiero
LOS ANGELES — Kevin Durant was back for the Rockets. That made the marquee matchup "LeBron James vs. Durant," a showdown of two of the all-time greats.
LeBron winning that showdown is not why the Lakers are up 2-0 in their series with the Rockets. It's because of their defense, which forced nine Durant turnovers. And it's because the Lakers have Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard. That starting backcourt — forced into action because of the injuries sidelining Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves — combined for 48 points on Tuesday night, made huge defensive plays and 3-pointers, which proved to be the difference. That Lakers' defense held Durant to three points in the second half and hung on at the end for a 101-94 win that has them holding serve on their home court. The Lakers are up 2-0 as the series heads to Houston on Friday night.
LeBron earned his share of the spotlight, finishing the night with 28 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. He even had a reverse dunk at age 41.
"I don't even know what that was about," LeBron said postgame, shaking his head.
The biggest difference in this series through two games is that while both teams are missing key starters — the Rockets have been without point guard Fred VanVleet all season and also don't have center Steven Adams — it's the Lakers who have had players step up and fill the roles of their missing stars. LeBron had nothing but praise for Smart and Kennard.
"He's battle tested," LeBron said of Smart. "Guy has been to the Finals, been in multiple playoff games, big games in his career. So obviously, he's not afraid of the moment, and he's always been assigned with some of the best players ever played this game in his career. So to have someone like that, it just brings a lot of composure to our team."
Smart finished with 25 points, seven assists and five steals, most of those against Kevin Durant, who he guarded much of the night. Kennard finished with 23 points and six rebounds, but did so much more as a playmaker and passer.
"He's a sniper, we understand that, but he does so much more," LeBron said of Kennard. "He does so much more and I think that's what keeps defenses off balance. Sometimes you fall into the fact that he shoots 50 (percent) from 3, and you think that sometimes that's all he can do, but he is so much more than that."
Durant scored 20 points in the first half, but in the second the Lakers threw multiple bodies and different looks at the future Hall of Famer, trying to force the ball out of his hands. It worked, Durant had just three points in the second 24 minutes and nine turnovers for the game.
"I felt good. Glad to be back out there during high-pressure moments. But yeah, bad game for me," Durant said.
Nobody else on the Rockets stepped up. Alperen Sengun had a good box score game with 20 points and 11 rebounds, but that doesn't tell the story of his struggles — he missed bunnies all night and finished 9-of-19 in the paint. The Lakers would double-team Sengun when he had the ball in the post, and he would freeze, which cut off a lot of how the Rockets wanted to score in the halfcourt.
The Lakers' defense also doesn't fear the Rockets' ball handlers or shooters, and Houston isn't making them pay. As a team, the Rockets shot just 24.1% from 3 — Houston needs to hope that home cooking improves their shooting and changes the dynamic of their role players getting outplayed.
"I thought our guys at least matched their sense of desperation, or second efforts, or multiple efforts, all that stuff," Lakers coach JJ Redick said. "I mean, you got to win a bunch of little fights. That could be your catch position offensively, that could be your screens, that could be creating separation, that could be boxing out. But this team requires you to win a bunch of little fights."
The Lakers need to win just two more games to have won the big fight. The Rockets need to show some fight at home, or this is going to be a short series.
LeBron James is a four-time NBA champion and has been the league's Most Valuable Player four times [Getty Images]
LeBron James shone as the Los Angeles Lakers took charge of their NBA play-off series while Victor Wembanyama was concussed during a San Antonio defeat.
The Lakers were without leading scorers Luka Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique), but 41-year-old James continued to show his class.
The 22-time All Star claimed 28 points, eight rebounds and seven assists to lead the Lakers to a 101-94 win over the Houston Rockets on Tuesday.
Fellow veteran Kevin Durant returned for Houston after missing the opening game of the series and scored a team-high 23 points but turned the ball over nine times and claimed just three points after half-time.
The Lakers now lead 2-0 in the first round of the post-season, with the Rockets hosting the next two games in the best-of-seven series.
Wembanyama had scored five points for the San Antonio Spurs when he was injured midway through the second quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers.
The 7ft 4in France international, who has been named this season's defensive player of the year, hit his face on the floor after being knocked off his feet during a drive to the basket.
The Spurs said he had entered the concussion protocol and would not return to the game. They confirmed after Portland's 106-103 win that he had sustained a concussion.
Scoot Henderson scored a game-high 31 points for the Trail Blazers, who levelled the series at 1-1 and are at home on Friday and Sunday.
NBA guidelines state that Wembanyama must remain inactive for at least 24 hours and cannot resume full participation for 48 hours.
San Antonio - the Western Conference's second seed - won 12 of the 18 games the 22-year-old missed during the regular season.
VJ Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey combined for 59 points as the Philadelphia 76ers bounced back from a dismal game one to level their series with the Boston Celtics.
Edgecombe claimed 30 points in a 111-97 win at the Eastern Conference's second seed Boston and the 76ers host the next two.
Jaylen Brown scored a game-high 36 points for the Celtics, with Jayson Tatum (19) the only other Boston player to reach double figures.
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 21: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during the game against the Houston Rockets during Round One Game Two of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 21, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
With Kevin Durant back in the fold and the Rockets desperate to push as hard as possible to take a split back to Houston, the Lakers were able to match the Rockets’ physicality and fend them off down the stretch to hold on for a 101-94 victory and take control of the series with a 2-0 lead.
This was a classic grind-it-out playoff affair, with both teams content to slow the pace and steer the game in their direction. But it was the Lakers who found a stronger foothold throughout the contest, seizing control early with a 9-0 run to close the first period and then pushing their lead out to 15 halfway through the second quarter to really put the clamps to Houston.
But just like in Game 1, the Rockets made a push of their own to close the half, feasting on Lakers turnovers and fouls to climb back into the game and trail by just three at the intermission. But in the final two frames, the Lakers were able to keep the Rockets at arm’s length, ultimately closing out the game with heady defensive stops and enough offense to seal the victory.
Here are the biggest takeaways from the big win…
A huge night from the starting backcourt
You’d never mistake Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard for Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, but the Lakers starting guards came up huge all the same with the type of production both Luka and Austin would be proud of.
Smart was second on the team in scoring with 25 points and tied for team lead with seven assists, while also racking up five steals and a block. He connected on eight of his 13 shot attempts, including going 5-7 from behind the arc. Smart set the tone early on both sides of the ball, dropping 11 points in the 1st quarter while doing his best to hound Kevin Durant all over the court.
But even though his defense was typically disruptive, it was Smart’s scoring that provided a huge boost to the Lakers’ offense overall. On a night that the Rockets switched more defensively and did a much better job in holding their ground to not give up the sorts of drives, deep post ups and dives out of the pick and roll that they surrendered in Game 1, Smart’s ability to hit jumpers and get downhill to either score, make a play for a teammate or just draw a foul was critical.
As for Kennard, he carried over his great play from Saturday with another 23 points in Game 2, matching Marcus with 8-of-13 shooting from the field to go along with six rebounds, two assists and three steals. Kennard knocked down half of his six three-point attempts as well as all four of this free throws, and continued to flash a level offensive versatility to go along with a competency of shot creation and burden sharing I, for one, simply did not know was there back when he was acquired at the trade deadline.
What stood out again, though, was the general confidence he’s playing with possession-to-possession. With all the injuries, Kennard has graduated into a much bigger role for sure. And just like he did in Game 1, he took those opportunities and shed any hesitancy in exchange for pure aggression in hunting ways to exploit the defense, often leading to him taking the type of shot he almost certainly would have turned down just a couple of weeks ago — and knock it down too.
Just as Smart started the game hot and looking for his own shot, so did Kevin Durant. In what felt like him making up for missing Game 1, Durant came out looking to set the tone for Houston’s offense, finding the creases in the Lakers’ defense to get to his spots where he could rise up and take his silky jumper. Durant scored 11 points in the first quarter, hitting four of his five shots from the field and both of his free throws.
As the game went on, though, the Lakers started to mix up their coverages on Durant, often sending multiple defenders at him to simply get the ball out of his hands. After his big first quarter, Durant would take just seven shots the rest of the game, connecting on three of them.
He did get to the line and scored 23 points on the night, but he also finished with nine turnovers, many on possessions where the Lakers blitzed him with multiple defenders and forced him to pass into tight windows.
LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 21: Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets looks to pass the ball during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers during Round One Game Two of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 21, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
This is the sort of ratio the Lakers were more than okay living with and was clearly their game plan from the get-go. Durant may have slipped free early in the game to get his and keep the Rockets’ offense afloat, but over the course of the night, they found ways to harass him, forcing him into the sorts of mistakes that the Lakers could then turn into offensive chances going the other way.
LeBron continues to defy all reason
His numbers may not pop to the same degree we have seen in the past — 28 points on 8-20 shooting from the field and 10-14 from the foul line, along with eight rebounds and seven assists — but LeBron was once again the best and most important player on the floor for both teams.
On a night where Houston tried its best to physically wrest control of the contest and set the terms of engagement, it was LeBron who allowed the Lakers to not only stand up to the Rockets’ strength, but to beat it with force of their own.
Whether through his post-ups, power drives or when he absorbed double teams at the top of the floor later in the game and picked out teammates to play with advantage on the other side of the court, LeBron was brilliant in giving the Lakers a pathway for offensive success whenever he was on the court.
LEBRON DRIVES AND THROWS DOWN A REVERSE WINDMILL SLAM 💥
Beyond the forcefulness he brought and the offensive load he carried, though, what stood out most was his mental fortitude and understanding of what was required for nearly every moment of the nearly 40 minutes he spent on the court.
Whether it was a critical defensive rebound early in the game when Houston was trying to conjure a repeat of their Game 1 dominance, him making early rotations out of the team’s traps vs. Durant to ensure Alperen Şengün or Amen Thompson didn’t just get a free lane to the rim or him commandeering possessions by going into the post for no other reason than to ensure the Lakers would get a shot up at the basket, LeBron did so many things to keep his team’s head above water and in the lead.
Just another great playoff performance from a player who has literally been doing this exact thing for decades.
Lakers forward LeBron James elevates for a double-pumping reverse dunk during the third quarter of Game 2 on Tuesday night. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
They did the heavy lifting for the Lakers, combining for 76 points, 16 rebounds and 16 assists to carry the Lakers to a 101-94 win over the Houston Rockets in Game 2 of the Western Conference playoffs Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena.
James had another near triple-double with 28 points, eight rebounds and seven assists to help the Lakers take a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. He capped his night with a two-handed dunk with 55.3 seconds left to make sure the Lakers didn’t blow a 15-point lead they built in the first half.
Lakers guard Marcus Smart, sprawled on the court, steals the ball from Rockets forward Kevin Durant during the first quarter of Game 2. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Smart had 25 points, seven assists and two rebounds while his defense was outstanding once again. Smart, who was eight-for-13 from the field, drilled a big-time three-pointer late in the fourth quarter to give the Lakers an eight-point lead.
Kennard had 23 points, six rebounds and two assists. His two free throws with 14.3 seconds left capped the scoring.
And once again, the Lakers showed their clutch genes, this time doing so with Luka Doncic (Grade 2 left hamstring strain) and Austin Reaves (Grade 2 left oblique muscle strain), sitting on the bench injured.
The Lakers had the best clutch record in the NBA during the regular season, going 22-8 in games when the score was within five points in the final five minutes. The Rockets on the other hand, went 22-23 during clutch moments, ranking 16th in the league.
“We all got to pick up our play,” James said. “When you’ve got two big guns out like we have, we all got to pick up our play. And that's all it's about. We’re all just trying to contribute, make contributions in all facets of the game, pick up our play. Obviously, we're missing Luka and missing AR, so we’re just trying to seize the opportunity. That's all.”
Kevin Durant returned to play after missing Game 1 because of a right knee contusion, and he was sharp early on, scoring 20 points in the first half. But Durant had just three points in the second half and he had nine turnovers for the game.
With the Rockets hosting Game 3 on Friday night, James said he found no comfort in how the Lakers defended Durant.
“None. That just makes him even madder going into Game 3. No satisfaction,” James, who played 39 minutes and 12 seconds, said. “You know, we did our job. We did that. But the guy's a first-ballot Hall of Famer and he's going to make way more great plays than not. So, we don't have no satisfaction. That game is over and done with, but it's still a tall challenge.”
Lakers guard Luke Kennard takes the ball from Rockets forward Kevin Durant during Game 2 of their first-round playoff series at Crypto.Com Arena on Tuesday. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
The starting backcourt of Smart and Kennard, starting in place of Doncic and Reaves, had the kind of first-quarter scoring display Doncic is known for delivering.
Smart had 14 points in the first 12 minutes, shooting five for seven from the field and three for four from three-point range. Kennard had 10 points in the first, shooting four for six from the field and two for three from three-point range.
"Whether those guys are here or not, obviously we would love for them to be here,” said Smart, who played 35:29. “They elevate us to a whole other level, right? And we understand that. But they're not and there's nothing we can do about it but step our game up for those guys."
During the regular season, Doncic, Reaves and James were the Big Three for the Lakers.
But James has two new mates to help the cause, and Smart and Kennard are holding it down.
It started in Game 1, when James, Smart and Kennard combined for 61 of the Lakers’ 107 points, 14 rebounds and 24 assists.
Houston forward Kevin Durant passes the ball under pressure from Lakers forward Rui Hachimura and center Jaxson Hayes Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
“We know throughout the game we’re going to have the ball in our hands the most, us three,” said Kennard, who played 41:58. “Again, it’s just playing within the flow of the game when we can. Seeing what adjustments they made earlier in the game and just trying to find ways to beat it. I thought we did a good job of staying poised and under control overall. … But, like I said, us three, we know we’re going to have the ball the majority of the time when it comes down to it and we have to be aggressive and look for the right play each time.”
Etc.
When asked about a report saying Reaves has progressed to one-on-one court work and what Doncic is able to do, Lakers coach JJ Redick said, “Yeah, no update on the timeline for either of those guys.”
“Austin has started a return-to-play [plan,] but we don't have any timeline update for him,” Redick added. “And then Luka I think is gonna start some court work here soon. But again, no update on timeline.”
Redick was asked if Reaves returning to play meant he is starting some support work.
“Yeah. But he, again, it's an upper-body injury versus a lower-body injury, so it's different things,” Redick said.
Redick was asked one last time what return-to-play progression looks like for Reaves.
But even with Kevin Durant available and having a hot start, Game 2 played out similarly to the playoffs series-opener, with the Lakers beating the Rockets 101-94 at Crypto.com Arena to take a two-game lead in the best-of-seven first round series.
Durant led the Rockets with 23 points, six rebounds and four assists after missing the first game of the series because of a right knee contusion.
But the Lakers once again stifled the Rockets’ offense.
“There’s a natural flow to series where the team that wins [Game 1] can relax a little bit and the team that loses comes out and plays with more desperation,” coach JJ Redick said. “Our guys at least matched their sense of desperation. Our second efforts, all that stuff. You’ve got to win a bunch of little fights, that can be your catch position, that can be your screens, that can be creating separation, that can be boxing out. But this team requires you to win a bunch of little fights.”
LeBron James scored a team-high 28 points to go with eight rebounds and seven assists. Luke Kennard had 23 points and six rebounds, while Marcus Smart stuffed the stat sheet with 25 points, seven assists and five steals.
What it means
The Lakers have a 2-0 series lead over the Rockets, the first time they’ve done so since winning the 2020 NBA Finals against the Heat.
Since the NBA moved to a 16-team playoff format in 1984, teams that go up 2-0 in a series under the 2-2-1-1-1 home/away pattern have a 245-23 record (91.4% winning percentage of the series).
“It means nothing,” James said. “The series is not won until you win four. It’s the first to four.”
LeBron, who had a game-high 28 points, goes up for a dunk during the Lakers’ 101-94 win over the Rockets in Game 2 of their first-round series on April 21, 2026 in Los Angeles. NBAE via Getty Images
Turning point
When Smart knocked down a corner 3 to give the Lakers a 95-87 lead with 2:23 left in the game.
The shot was not only Smart’s fifth 3-pointer, but gave the Lakers breathing room late.
Smart also picked up a crucial steal against Durant, who had nine turnovers, before assisting James on a dunk to give the Lakers a 99-92 lead.
Kevin Durant looks to grab a loose ball as Marcus Smart defends during the Lakers’ Game 2 win over the Rockets in Los Angeles. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
MVP: Marcus Smart
Smart made five of the Lakers’ 13 3s and made big plays on both ends of the floor throughout Tuesday.
His scoring total was the third time he reached at least 25 points in a playoff game, which he last did during the 2020 Eastern Conference Finals when he had 26 points in a Game 1 loss to the Heat.
Smart’s playoff career-high is 27 points.
“To be able to be back on this stage again,” Smart said, “making the plays that I’m making with these guys, with this team, this organization, I’m just grateful.
Stat of the game: 9
That was the number of turnovers Durant had on Tuesday, which tied a career high for the most giveaways he’s had in a playoff game
Including Tuesday, Durant’s turned the ball over nine times in a playoff game three times.
Up next
The Lakers-Rockets series will move to Houston for the next two games, with Game 3 taking place on Friday at Toyota Center.
BOSTON — For a few minutes Tuesday, it seemed VJ Edgecombe and the Sixers’ night would be defined by his first-quarter crash to the TD Garden floor after he leapt for a defensive rebound.
Then Edgecombe showed up on the Sixers’ sideline and reminded everyone that he’s more than just a rising star.
In the second playoff game of his rookie year, Edgecombe was downright heroic in a 30-point, 10-rebound performance. Backcourt mate Tyrese Maxey was also excellent in the fourth quarter of a 29-point, nine-assist night and the seventh-seeded Sixers flew home with their first-round playoff series vs. the Celtics tied at 1-1.
“He’s a tough kid,” Andre Drummond said of Edgecombe. “His confidence is something I haven’t seen in a very long time. He plays with a swag that a lot of guys don’t play with when they’re coming up.
“I’m happy that he’s here. He’s playing at a very high level and we need more from him next game, too. So he has to stay prepared.”
Based on all the evidence of his rookie season, readiness shouldn’t be an issue for Edgecombe the rest of this series. Time and again, he’s elevated his play in the clutch, shrugged off rocky shooting starts and attacked whatever’s in front of him.
Even as he’s quizzed teammates on NBA life and digested a constant flow of new information, nothing about Edgecombe’s day-to-day demeanor has betrayed uncertainty.
Has he ever doubted himself as a rookie?
“I just try not to overthink it,” he said. “I try not to put pressure on myself. Everyone else is already putting pressure on us to perform, so I’m not trying to put pressure on myself.
“I’m around a great group of guys that also help me and keep instilling confidence in me just to keep going, regardless of who’s on the floor, who’s not on the floor. It’s just a big shoutout to my teammates and my coaches.”
Those teammates sometimes forget exactly how young Edgecombe is.
In the middle of glowing about Edgecombe’s game at the postgame press conference podium, 35-year-old Paul George looked to his right.
“It’s just impressive, man,” George said of the Sixers’ rookie guard. “Thirty and 10, but it was just what we needed in moments throughout this game where he took over. He kind of just put us at ease when I wasn’t on the floor or Tyrese wasn’t on the floor. He just put us at ease, got to his spots and made big plays. And he had some big rebounds as well.”
There’s still room to grow, but Edgecombe’s jump shooting progress has been exceptional since his freshman season at Baylor. He was fine as an outside shooter in college (34 percent from three-point range), but Edgecombe wasn’t especially smooth off the dribble and lacked craft in the mid-range.
Edgecombe has increased his three-point volume in the NBA and sharpened his mid-range skills. He’s been happy to punish defenses that play drop pick-and-roll coverage and let him walk into pull-up jumpers, give him space in transition, or leave him open for catch-and-shoot chances. After an 0-for-5 day in Game 1, he shot 6 for 10 beyond the arc Tuesday.
“I think we knew where the shots were going to come, where the help was going to be at,” Edgecombe said. “Credit to my teammates. We kept trusting each other. Everyone can make a play on the court. … I was in the spot and they wanted me to shoot the ball.
“It wouldn’t have been right if I didn’t shoot the ball, so I had to shoot the ball. They were wide-open shots. Try to get my teammates their assists.”
Edgecombe also made a visit back to the locker room early in the third quarter. Once more, he returned and thrived.
He had a good-natured but cagy veteran’s answer on his health postgame.
“I just landed on my back, but I’m good. I was able to finish the game, so I’m good,” Edgecombe said, smiling. “That’s all I got for you. Ain’t nothing wrong with me; I’m good.”
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 21: Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) reacts after a big offensive play during the second quarter of game two in an NBA playoff game against the Houston Rockets at Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
In a rock fight of a Game 2, the Lakers did just enough to go ahead 2-0 in the series with a 101-94 win over the Rockets.
Offense was a precious commodity throughout the contest, a change of pace from the opening game of the series. As the game went on, the defenses took over, especially in the closing minutes.
Fortunately, the Lakers held a lead throughout that stretch, doing just enough to keep Houston at a distance throughout the second half. The Rockets finished the game shooting 40.4% from the field and 24.1% from three.
Jabari Smith Jr. got things going early with a triple for the Rockets. LeBron James responded with a steal and a layup on the other end as part of a back-and-forth battle to start.
Kevin Durant was back after missing Game 1 and had seven points. Marcus Smart was leading LA with nine points.
At the first timeout, the Rockets were up by two.
Out of the break, Amen Thompson threw down a dunk, but Smart responded with his third 3-pointer. The Lakers were shooting 61% from the field.
Luke Kennard began to heat up with seven points. At the 2:36 mark, it was a tie game.
Kennard continued to cook, draining a triple that put him in double figures with 10 points. LA ended the first quarter with a 9-0 run to take a seven-point lead.
LeBron opened the second period with consecutive 3-pointers. Smith Jr. responded with a triple for the Rockets. Houston cut the lead down to eight for the Lakers, but Rui Hachimura knocked down a 3-pointer to put LA back up double-digits.
Smart, LeBron and Kennard were all in double-figures with 14, 12 and 10, respectively.
Deandre Ayton scored his first points of the half on a lob from Smart. Kennard and Smart then added a combined five more points to give Los Angeles a 15-point lead, forcing a Rockets timeout.
Houston responded in a big way with a 12-0 run to get back in the game. By the 2:15 mark, it was a one-point game.
Hachimura stopped some of the bleeding with a triple. The teams shot a string of free throws as the quarter wound down. At halftime, it was a three-point Lakers lead.
Every postseason, I see Rui Hachimura hitting shots and elevating his game.
Smith Jr. scored on a dunk to start the third period, making it a one-point game. Smith Jr. then converted on a layup that put Houston up by one. Kennard responded with a 3-pointer to give LA the lead back.
Ayton and LeBron took the game over, scoring a combined seven points to help Los Angeles gain a cushion on their lead. Hachimura pitched in with his third triple of the game.
The Lakers were up by eight at the 6:32 mark.
With the fourth quarter nearing, LA was still up, having picked up its defense. Kennard connected with Hachimura for a dunk that gave the crowd a jolt of energy. Alperen Şengün scored four in a row for Houston.
Turnovers were an Achilles heel for Los Angeles as they had 11. At the end of the third, the purple and gold were up by seven.
The Lakers lead the Rockets 75-68 after three. They are 12 minutes away from being up 2-0 in the series.
Jaxson Hayes opened the final frame by converting on a three-point play. Thompson answered on the other end by converting on his own three-point play.
Houston was still within reach after scoring four straight. At the 7:40 mark, LA was up six.
Kennard scored again on a midrange jumper, pushing his point total to 21. Josh Okogie drained a triple for the Rockets. LeBron answered with a layup on the other end.
The playoff intensity was high as both teams were fighting through tight defenses. The Lakers were doing well defending KD, who struggled through the double teams.
Los Angeles was nursing a four-point lead when Hachimura knocked down a big-time midrange jumper.
After a basket from KD, both teams exchanged triples, making it a five-point lead for LA. Smart was fouled and converted on both, pushing the lead to seven with 1:51 left. Şengün then dunked on the other end.
LeBron responded with a monster two-handed dunk to put LA back up seven.
Şengün converted on the other end, but Houston did absolutely nothing else worthy of being talked about down the stretch as Kennard drained two free throws to seal the win.
Key Player Stats
LeBron finished with 28 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Smart ended with 25 points, seven assists and five steals. Kennard had 23 points with six rebounds.
Hachimura pitched in with 13 points and five rebounds. Ayton scored six points with five rebounds. Hayes had a nice game off the bench, tallying six points and four rebounds while closing the game.
Game 3 will be on Friday against the Houston Rockets at 5:00 PM PT.
NFL MVP Matthew Stafford and his star wide receiver Puka Nacua took a break from offseason workouts with the Los Angeles Rams to catch all the action on the hardwood for the NBA Playoffs.
Stafford and his wife Kelly sat courtside for Game 2 between the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday night.
Stafford wore a black hat pulled low, and beside him, Kelly, wore a No. 8 Kobe Bryant jersey.
Matthew Stafford and his wife Kelly Hall attend a game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Houston Rockets on April 21, 2026 at Crypto.com Arena. NBAE via Getty Images
Across the court, and a few rows up in the tunnel suites was Nacua, soaking it all in and watching his quarterback across the court.
Nacua, fresh off a personal reset at a rehab facility in Malibu, is back working out at the Rams’ facility in Woodland Hills.
Michael J. Duarte
The Rams’ stars were just some of the famous athletes and celebrities in the building for Game 2. Seated next to Nacua was Green Bay Packers linebacker Micah Parsons, and actor Scott Speedman.
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SAN ANTONIO, TX -APRIL 21: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs holds his head after falling to the court against the Portland Trailblazers in the first half of Game Two of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Frost Bank Center on April 21, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Everything about the night felt like it was setting up for another San Antonio statement. The crowd was buzzing. The series leaned their way. And early on, even adversity didn’t seem like it would matter.
Then everything unraveled.
The San Antonio Spurs watched a 14-point fourth quarter lead disappear Tuesday night, falling 106-103 to the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 2 and evening their best of seven series at 1-1. What should have been a commanding 2-0 series advantage instead turned into a painful lesson in how quickly playoff momentum can swing.
The first turning point came long before the final minutes. Midway through the second quarter, Victor Wembanyama crashed to the floor on a drive and struck his chin on the hardwood, leaving the game and later entering concussion protocol. He finished with just five points in 12 minutes and his absence reshaped everything San Antonio wanted to do on both ends.
“I just know he has a concussion, and he’s in the protocol, and we’ll obviously take the proper and appropriate steps,” Spurs Head Coach Mitch Johnson said after the game.
Still, the Spurs didn’t fold. They absorbed the blow, fought back from an early deficit, and slowly took control. Despite missing their franchise centerpiece, San Antonio leaned on its depth and defensive effort to claw its way back. A balanced scoring effort: led by De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, and Devin Vassell; helped stabilize the offense, even if efficiency wasn’t always there.
By the fourth quarter, it looked like resilience would define the night. The Spurs opened the period with a 13-0 surge, building a double-digit lead that stretched to 14 points with under nine minutes to play. At that moment, the game, and perhaps the series, felt firmly in their control.
Then came the unraveling.
Portland caught fire from beyond the arc, hitting timely threes and chipping away at the deficit possession by possession. San Antonio, meanwhile, stalled. The ball stopped moving. Shots stopped falling. And in the game’s most critical stretch, the Spurs failed to score a field goal over the final three minutes.
“I thought we weren’t as poised as we were in Game 1,” Johnson said. “We weren’t as sharp to start the game tonight. We weren’t on the same page or organized. We’ll be better in Game 3.”
A late Portland run, fueled by Scoot Henderson’s 31-point explosion and clutch execution down the stretch, flipped the game entirely. By the time San Antonio tried to respond, it was too late.
The loss wasn’t just about one run — it was about missed opportunities. Free throws left points on the board. Defensive lapses opened the door. And without Wembanyama anchoring the paint, the margin for error vanished. Even strong contributions elsewhere, including a steady effort from Luke Kornet off the bench, couldn’t offset the late-game breakdown.
“Have to be more physical with him. No catch-and-shoots. No easy, off-the-dribble pull-ups,” Spurs forward Devin Vassell said of Henderson. “We’re going to make it a lot harder for him, because obviously, he’s feeling way too comfortable.”
And beyond the scoreboard, the bigger concern lingers. Wembanyama’s status moving forward now looms over the series, with concussion protocol introducing uncertainty at the worst possible time.
Instead of heading to Portland with full control, the Spurs now find themselves in a fight. Game 2 was there for the taking, even without their star. But in the playoffs, letting one slip can change everything.
Now, the question isn’t just how San Antonio responds. It’s whether they can regroup, and recover, before the series slips with it.
Game Notes
Without Wemby in the game, Luke Kornet had another solid night off the bench. He had 10 points and nine rebounds in 28 minutes.
Stephon Castle had 18 points, but shot just 7-for-20 from the floor. He will need to be better in Game 3 without Wemby in the lineup if the French star misses Game 3.
Despite the loss, it the game came down to the little things. San Antonio went 20-for-28 from the free throw line. Make those eight free throws and the Spurs win by five points.
De’Aaron Fox went 6-of-16 for 18 points. It will be interesting to see if he takes control in Game 3 or if Portland will now gameplan for that if Wembanayama is out.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JULY 7 : Ace Bailey #19 of the Utah Jazz works to the basket against GG Jackson II #45 of the Memphis Grizzlies during the second half of an NBA Summer League game at the Jon M. Huntsman Center on July 7, 2025 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Utah Jazz announced the return of the Salt Lake City Summer League for 2026. Once again, it will be a four-team, six-game event hosted by the Utah Jazz. Here are the details:
It will inc
It will include four teams: Utah Jazz, Atlanta Hawks, Memphis Grizzlies, Oklahoma City Thunder
It will be held at the Jon M. Huntsman Center at the University of Utah
It will be held on July 4th, 6th, and 7th
Tickets go on sale in May for the general public and can be purchased at SLCSummerLeague.com.
It will be held at the University of Utah for a second time because the Delta Center will be closed for renovations.
This has the potential to be an electric summer league. Utah, Atlanta, and Memphis all have great odds to get top picks in the draft in the upcoming lottery. Even the Thunder have a shot at a top pick because they own the Clippers’ 12th pick. On top of that, it’s likely we’ll see Ace Bailey play again. It could be an electric atmosphere if the Jazz combine Bailey with one of the top players in the draft. That, of course, will be decided on May 10th in the upcoming draft lottery.
For most of the regular season, Landry Shamet was one of the best minimum contracts in the league.
Recently, though, he’s playing … well, like a player on a minimum contract.
His rough end of the regular season has now bled into the start of the playoffs. In the first two games of this first-round series against the Hawks — which is tied 1-1 heading to Atlanta — he shot 1-for-6 from 3-point range and 1-for-7 overall.
Knicks guard Landry Shamet’s end-of-season struggles have carried over into the playoffs NBAE via Getty Images
It got so bad that coach Mike Brown opted to give Jose Alvarado — who appeared to be out of the playoff rotation — some playing time over Shamet in the second and fourth quarters.
Shamet’s shooting slump has endured. In the 16 games he played from the start of March to the end of the regular season, he shot just 30.4 percent from deep, while also missing five games due to a knee injury.
In the 35 regular-season games he played prior to March, he shot 42.9 percent from 3-point range.
One thing that has been noticeable so far in these playoffs is the Knicks’ lack of a backup point guard behind Jalen Brunson. Brown has said he is comfortable with Shamet and Miles McBride there, but neither is a natural point guard, and both have struggled.
They acquired Alvarado ahead of the deadline, but despite a hot start to his Knicks tenure, he has largely not looked capable of owning that role.
There was a brief period in the middle of the season when it seemed like Tyler Kolek was cementing himself in the role, but he subsequently fell out of the rotation.
McBride and Shamet have shared the court for 23 minutes across the two games.
The Knicks have a minus-1.9 net rating in that time.
If their struggles continue or worsen, the Knicks bench suddenly looks thin.
CJ McCollum said he doesn’t view himself as a villain, even though the MSG crowd treated him like one with obscenities and boos.
But his teammate thinks he’s embracing it. They all are, too.
“CJ, that got him going,” Jonathan Kuminga said after Game 2. “I think he enjoyed that. The crowd shouldn’t really do that or say that. I think that really got him going and got all of us going — just the energy.”
The Lakers courtside seats felt more like a Hollywood red carpet.
Here’s the list of actors, musicians, and athletes in attendance for the showdown between Kevin Durant and LeBron James:
AJ Dybantsa, Su’a Cravens, Jake Shane, Will Ferrell, Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua, Quentin Lake, Scott Speedman, Byron Allen, Trevor Ariza, Will Anderson Jr., Sebastian Maniscalco, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Iman Shumpert, Jay Mohr, John David Washington, Ray Nicholson, Diane Cannon, Max Kellerman, Micah Parsons, Finneas, Tinashe, Shannon Sharpe and more!
Some of the celebrities spotted courtside for Rockets vs. Lakers Game 2:
AJ Dybantsa, Su'a Cravens, Jake Shane, Will Ferrell, Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua, Scott Speedman, Byron Allen, Trevor Ariza, Will Anderson Jr., Sebastian Maniscalco, Iman Shumpert, Jay Mohr, John David… pic.twitter.com/99CLPvKfGI
NBAE via Getty ImagesNBAE via Getty ImagesNBAE via Getty ImagesNBAE via Getty ImagesNBAE via Getty ImagesNBAE via Getty ImagesNBAE via Getty ImagesNBAE via Getty ImagesMichael J. DuarteMichael J. Duarte
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