LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 21: Los Angeles Lakers guard Luke Kennard (10) and Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) battle for the loose ball as Houston calls a time out during the fourth quarter of game two in an NBA playoff game at Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
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 points, 14 rebounds, and 9 assists in Boston’s loss.
For his part, Kennard had another outstanding game filling in for Luka Doncic with 23 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists.
Plumlee, however, got a DNP.
On Wednesday, Paolo Banchero and Wendell Carter will lead Orlando against Trajan Langdon’s Pistons, while Jared McCain and OKC face off against Mark Williams, Grayson Allen, and Khaman Maluach.
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 22: A clown mask worn by actor Heath Ledger in the 2008 film The Dark Knight is on display at the DC Comics Exhibition: Dawn Of Super Heroes at the O2 Arena on February 22, 2018 in London, England. The exhibition, which opens on February 23rd, features 45 original costumes, models and props used in DC Comics productions including the Batman, Wonder Woman and Superman films. (Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Well, that was a brutal Game 1 in the Thunder/Suns series! I could make excuses like how the Suns were without starting center Mark Williams, and Grayson Allen is still too hurt to trust. I could point out that the Thunder are healthy and have been resting for over a week. The Suns beat the Warriors, hopped on a plane, flew to Oklahoma City, and then had about a day to mentally and physically prepare to take on the defending champs.
He described this Suns team as the monster under the bed. There was more to it than just having players who scare others. A theme was that players like Brooks were doubted, and they used that motivation to instill fear in the league. That’s what they need to re-capture. Let’s consider what a lot of the Suns players have no doubt heard about themselves, a villain origin story, if you will.
Dillon Brooks
Let’s start with the inspiration behind the article!
Narrative: He is just a just a defender. He will be out of the league and playing in China. He can’t control himself. He poked the bear. His mouth writes checks his game can’t cash. The most “punchable face in the league”. He is a “negative to every team he has been on…”.
What the Suns NEED to do this offseason
1) Fire Jordan Ott. Self explanatory. He kills players confidence and doesn’t know how to build a rotation
2) Trade Dillon Brooks for a wing or a good point guard. Bro is a negative to every team he’s been on and ISOs his teams to…
Truth: Brooks brought a hustle and confidence this Suns team has not had since Chris Paul helped guide them to the NBA finals. He set a career-high in scoring and can channel his energy into the game to help his teammates. The Suns needed this pitbull of a player who knows how to fight.
Devin Booker
Narrative: Empty stats player. Can’t hit three’s unless it is in the All-Star game. A weak defender. Not a leader. Often injured. Can’t handle the double team. Point Book doesn’t work. He is too tentative and won’t take over a game.
Truth: Devin Booker is the leader of the Suns. He has averaged over 21 points per game for 10 straight seasons. He doesn’t force shots and will dish to open teammates to the tune of 6 assists a game. He is one of the top players in the game. Oh, he is totally homegrown as well. The #13 overall pick in the 2015 Draft, he has spent 11 seasons and counting with the Phoenix Suns. If you need a basket to win the game, you go to Book.
Jalen Green
Narrative: A bust! He is too streaky. He can’t hit the 3 consistently. Worst defender in the league. Can’t stay healthy. Fails in the playoffs
“Core 7” Update:
1. Jalen Green, 2021 (#2): Bust and total sunk cost. No improvement in four years. Rightfully dumped, but he had enough trade value to get KD.
2. Alperen Sengun, 2021 (#16): The gem of the rebuild. Extended. All-NBA. The team’s backbone. Former backup to Bruno…
Truth: Jalen did have terrible luck with injuries this year, but he is finally healthy now. He had huge games in the Play-In tournament, nearly sealing the win against the Blazers and then pummeling the Warriors to make the playoffs. He is averaging a career-high in steals per game and has turned his athleticism into a major asset on the defensive end.
Mark Williams
Narrative: Dude is made of glass. Poor defender. Only a rim runner. The Lakers actually got cold feet and rescinded a trade for him, leading them later to believe DeAndre Ayton is better.
Truth: Mark has played a career-high 60 games this season. His defense has been much improved as well. His motor is far better than Ayton’s, and he doesn’t play nearly as soft with fadeaway jumpers that Ayton seemed to love.
Grayson Allen
Narrative: Dirty player. All he can do is shoot 3’s. Overpaid. Trade him!
I'll ask again for those not listening:
How in the world do you send a guy like Jordan Goodwin & Gillespie to the bench in favor of Jalen Green and Grayson Allen?
Trick question, you don't and trade Grayson Allen for a TRUE power forward while he has value.
Truth: No player had more Twitter fans calling for a trade than Grayson. In response, he sets a franchise game record for most three’s made in a game and sets career highs in assists per game and steals per game. Grayson can do a little bit of everything and torch the net while doing it.
Royce O’Neale
Narrative: He is undrafted for a reason. Too small to play forward and too slow to play anything else. A streaky shooter. Only brought in because he is friends with Durant from the Brooklyn days. Trade him!
Royce O’Neale: NO DUMB PASSES LEADING TO TURNOVERS IN TRANSITION. Take spot ups with his normal confidence. Try to make some impact defensively while not fouling too much. pic.twitter.com/TSKcJlF9iz
Truth: “Big Meal” O’Neale is a Swiss army knife for the Suns. He agitates bigger players and is long enough to stay in front of most guards. He set career highs in three-point shooting percentage and steals per game.
Collin Gillespie
Narrative: Who?? This guy is a cast-off, minimum contract hustle guy. Couldn’t stay with the Nuggets, and they didn’t even have a true point guard. Undrafted for a reason.
Truth: Collin is the Villain Jr. to Brooks. He has career highs in points, steals, and assists this season. He now holds the Suns franchise record for most three-pointers made in a single season.
Jordan Goodwin
Narrative: Not this guy again! He couldn’t hang with the Suns last time. He can’t hit a three-point shot. All he does is play defense. Undrafted for a reason! Should have kept Jared Butler.
Jordan Goodwin u are staying in China unfortunately u and Jared butler
Truth: Goodwin has continued his three-point shooting success from last year with the Lakers. He is one of the top rebounding guards in the game and has matched a career high in 1.5 steals per game while doing that in 7 fewer minutes per game. Goodwin has become a massive fan favorite, and his energy is infectious.
Oso Ighodaro
Narrative: Who?? This guy isn’t on anyone’s draft boards. He is blocking Maluach’s playing time. He is getting owned inside, and he can’t shoot outside. Terrible push shot.
Truth: There might be no player that Suns Planet Podcast fan KingNacho says we should get rid of more than Oso. However, what if I told you he is having a career year in points, shooting %, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks? Oh, he stayed healthy and played all 82 games. For a 2nd round pick, Oso has been phenomenal as a backup big!
Jordan Ott
Narrative: Who?? This man has no head coaching experience. He runs bad rotations. Too in love with the small ball. Not another Michigan State guy…
Truth: Ott would have been a coach of the year candidate had the Suns stayed healthy. He helped put the team in a position to play aggressive and grinding defense. A major upgrade over Bud and Vogel.
So, what Jake? So, some people doubted these guys.
That, my friends, is the essence of this Sun’s magical season. A lot of these players have been given second chances of sorts. We had some tremendous excitement with this team earlier in the season. We were defying all expectations and succeeding.
Then injuries piled up. Key players didn’t have time to gel. Now they face some adversity, and they are afraid of blowing it.
They need to share the fear with each other, become friends with it, and put that fear into the Thunder.
Steal a game in OKC, win another in Phoenix. We could see the OKC foundation crack a little. I am not predicting we win the series. However, I want to see these villains show they belong. They need to play hard, play smart, and be near perfect. That’s what will change the mood of the series.
It reminds me of that scene in Rocky IV when Rocky cuts the Russian. The Suns need to prove they are the monster under the bed to themselves again. That’s how they show they each deserved this second chance.
DENVER, COLORADO - APRIL 20: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves plays the Denver Nuggets in the first quarter during Game Two of the First Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Ball Arena on April 20, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. 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 Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
“This team will flip the switch in the playoffs”.
The infamous switch! The magical, mythical thing that was supposed to exist for the Minnesota Timberwolves to grab hold of, completely change who they are, and become a team much closer to their two years ago-selves on the floor when the games mattered more.
WRONG!
If the indescribable, exhilarating mile-high win on Monday night told me anything, it was the fact that this switch was just an idea all along. It doesn’t exist. It never did exist. It was a Trojan horse to excuse the bipolar nature of a team that saw jaw-dropping lows followed shortly by some of the best regular-season (and now playoff) moments this franchise has ever seen.
All of that is ok. It’s who they are, and for better or for worse, what they are going to be for the remainder of this season. On Monday night, it was certainly for the better.
DENVER , CO – APRIL 20: Donte DiVincenzo (0) of the Minnesota Timberwolves talks to Rudy Gobert (27) during the fourth quarter of the Timberwolves' 119-114 win over the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado on Monday, April 20, 2026. Minnesota tied the best-of-seven series 1-1. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post) | Denver Post via Getty Images
How Much is Too Much?
Throughout the season, every player on the roster alluded in some capacity to how the team identity has procrastination and “winning time” baked into it. Prone to slow starts, letting leads slip, and poor stretches of effort over the last two seasons, a Western Conference Finals appearance last year quickly had many people forgetting about just how inconsistent the Wolves are prone to be throughout the course of an 82-game season.
With continuity being the message heading in, a pattern emulating 2023-24 was expected; a methodical, dominant season after a turbulent prior year that had a new group trying to figure each other out.
As we all know, it didn’t happen. In fact, throughout the season, it felt as though a group branded as continuous tried to test that label and see just how far they could extend their margin of error before holding onto a win or coming back to achieve one.
Enter Monday night.
Just how all-over-the-board did things get?
The Wolves wrapped the first quarter with a -53.8 net rating. Rudy Gobert had the worst of the bunch with a -68. A disaster start that looked like it would culminate in an early exit for the Wolves.
What happened in the very next quarter? You guessed it. a 53.8 net rating, with Gobert leading the way at a 96.7.
Carmelo Anthony was full of praise for Rudy Gobert's defensive effort on Nikola Jokic in Game 2. pic.twitter.com/UpJLlntCLr
They would go on in ostentatious fashion to extend the numbers on paper to a thrilling win in game two. Donte DiVincenzo led the way from a net rating standpoint in the second half, and Gobert would go on to play his now-famous defense on Jokic to seal the deal.
But given time to reflect on a win that wasn’t going to let anyone come back down to earth anytime immediately after, it made me wonder just how continuously close this Wolves team can get to the edge before it does them in.
In a series with Oklahoma City, this level of variance would not get you far. Hell, we’ll see how far it gets them in a series with Denver. We’re two games in, and a great win only goes as far as the next game.
But the “switch” of consistently disciplined basketball that we were all waiting for simply doesn’t exist. In a more intermittent fashion that flips on and off three or four times a game? Sure. I’ll give you that.
But we also have a new factor coming into play.
Throughout the pre and postgame media sessions in games one and two, there seems to be a touch of moxie percolating throughout the team. Living in ambivalence and shrugging their shoulders for much of the season when asked to explain why so many ebbs and flows occurred, it became mind-numbing at points to ask the same questions and see the same results.
How will something like that look in the long run? Only time will tell.
But more so than an on-court switch being flipped, it’s fair to say that there very well could be an attitude switch being flipped on this team. Denver likely brings this side out of them as one of the best rivalries in the league over the last 10 years. I think the Thunder also bring this side out of them – look no further than Chris Finch’s December ejection and the myriad of trash talk aimed at Shai Gilgeous-Alexander from Anthony Edwards.
Finch raved about the in-huddle leadership and togetherness of the team on Monday. Donte DiVincenzo backed everyone up in the locker room, calling Gobert “our Defensive Player of the Year” and Anthony Edwards “Our MVP”. 84 games in, a sudden tone shift in approach looked to be taking shape.
A…switch you could call it?
Perhaps the one being flipped after all, when things have started to hit the fan, isn’t immediately one that’s reflected on the floor, but one in the locker room. Right now, trying to separate from being a prisoner in the moment, it does feel a little different. There does seem to be a wave of nastiness setting in with this team.
Will the one on the floor come next, or will the intangible tone switch fade in and out like the tangible on-court one did for much of the regular season?
The Lakers did it again, beating the Houston Rockets, 101-94, and taking a 2-0 lead in their first-round playoff series with their two top scorers sidelined with injuries.
LeBron James was a brute. Luke Kennard was a sharpshooter. And Marcus Smart an emotional leader, welcoming floor burns, throwing his 6-3 body at 6-11 Kevin Durant, doing whatever was necessary.
Smart's impact was easy to discern. What was impossible to witness is a conversation Lakers coach JJ Redick said he had with Smart.
Redick brought it up after the game. He said the conversation took place earlier this month. After the Lakers lost three straight games, including two shellackings against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
"I'm not going to share (with) you the details," Redick said during a postgame press conference at Crypto.com Arena, "but the biggest thing was just, because he has the voice he has, he can help create the belief and the confidence in our group. And I think he's done that."
Said Smart, "I think I was living for this moment."
It was scintillating, as Smart finished with 25 points on 8-of-13 shooting, including 5-for-7 from 3-point range, seven assists and five steals. He also played his signature physical defense. He also made key contributions in Game 1 with 15 points, eight assists and two blocks.
And since that conversation between Redick and Smart? The Lakers are 5-0.
Very favorable analytics
After nine stellar years with the Celtics, Boston shocked Smart by trading him to Memphis before the 2023-24 season. Less than two seasons later, Smart was packing yet again, this time traded to the lowly Washington Wizards.
He was humbled again after the 2024-2025 season when Wizards bought Smart out of his contract.
In the offseason, the Lakers signed Smart to a two-year deal even though injuries had limited him to 54 games the previous two seasons.
"It's easy to sort of write somebody off as being older and not being as good," Redick said. "But all the analytics defensively, the analytics as a secondary playmaker, they all were very favorable. So we felt really comfortable bringing him on board."
Said Smart, "…I could have been out the league, right? Injuries and things like that. So to be able to be back on this stage again, making the plays that I'm making with these guys, with this team, this organization, I'm just grateful."
This season he has played in 64 games and reasserted himself as a team leader. He finished the regular season sixth among the Lakers in scoring with 9.3 points per game, fourth in assists with 3.0 per game, second in steals with 1.4 per game. He also is sixth in minutes played with 28.5 per game.
In the first two games in the Lakers’ first-round playoff series, Smart showed he can fill up box scores. He has combined for 40 points, 15 assists, six steals and three blocks in the team’s two victories.
Marcus Smart's full impact
But Lakers forward Rui Hachimura said the box scores do not reflect Smart’s full impact.
"… I think he get us going as a team, especially in the start of the game," said Hachimura, who later added, "He make all the big plays that doesn't show on the stats, too."
Smart said everything has been heightened with Doncic and Reaves out and the Lakers in need of players who can help fill the void.
"And my whole life, I've been that guy that you can just throw in certain spots whenever you need," Smart said, calling himself a Swiss Army knife. "That's me filling in the gaps, whatever we need, whenever we need it."
Lakers forward LeBron James goes up for a layup between Rockets forward Tari Eason and center Alperen Sengun during the third quarter of Game 2 of their first-round NBA playoff series on Tuesday at Crypto.com Arena. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
Who knew?
LeBron James flying down the lane unchecked for a pumping over-the-shoulder slam.
Marcus Smart diving and scrapping and leading cheers with a scream.
Luke Kennard stepping to the free-throw line and hearing the chant, “MVP! … MVP! … MVP!”
Who knew?
Without their two best players, facing the quicker and more bruising Houston Rockets in the first round of the playoffs, who knew the Lakers would do what they did Tuesday night at a roaring Crypto.com Arena?
They’re shorthanded but big-hearted. They’re lacking in skill but overflowing with hustle. Their two leading scorers are on the bench, but that doesn’t matter when everyone else is flying around the court.
They should be losing but keep winning, two nights and counting now after a 101-94 victory over the Rockets gave them a two-games-to-none lead.
Some predicted they would be swept, but they could be doing the broom bit. Some predicted they would be bullied, but they’re doing most of the punching.
They say a series doesn’t start until the home team loses a game, but, believe it, this series is already over.
In two games the Lakers have proven that even without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, they are a better team than the Rockets.
They’re tougher. They’re smarter. They’re better coached. They’re more complete. What more do you need to see?
Three days after James led them by being the facilitator, he carried them by being the scorer.
Three days after Kennard made every big shot, he made every big shot. Three days after Smart’s intensity filled the Lakers with energy and inspiration, well, he did it again.
Lakers guard Luke Kennard drives past Houston forward Jae'sean Tate during Game 2 of their playoff series at at Crypto.Com Arena on Tuesday. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
The Lakers need this sort of team-wide fight just two more times in the next five games, and, while Houston might steal a win or two, aside from Durant the Rockets don’t seem composed enough to clear that sort of hurdle.
“Our group has, in aggregate, been an incredibly resilient group,” said Redick. “We have the confidence and belief and certainly the collective competitive spirit to be on this stage.”
Houston is done, just like Durant was done Tuesday night after scoring 20 points in the first half. No, he wasn’t eventually hampered by the knee contusion that kept him sidelined for the opener. He was knocked silly from the body blows the Lakers applied from all sides, holding him to just one basket in a second half that was a defensive coaching masterpiece.
“Obviously it takes a full team effort to guard Kevin,” said Redick. “Our activity was as good as it could have been.”
Durant said the Lakers couldn’t have played better, claiming that this gives the Rockets hope.
“They’ve presented the best version of them so far, the first two games, and we haven’t played well,” he said. “So hopefully we get back home, play well.”
Houston is done, even though the Rockets will indeed be home for Game 3 Friday and Game 4 Sunday. What the Lakers are doing well, it travels. Defense travels. Hustle travels. Tough screens travel. Ball movement travels.
“I thought our guys at least matched their desperation,” said Redick. “You’ve got to win a bunch of little fights. This team required you to win a bunch of little fights.”
They won most of those little fights, particularly after the Rockets pulled within three with 5:58 remaining. Houston never got closer as the NBA’s best clutch team — the Lakers were 22-8 in tight quarters — put their foot down and stomped out any Rockets hope.
The finish was epitomized in the final minutes when, leading by five, Smart had a lunging, slapping steal before throwing a perfect bounce pass to a driving James, who finished with a dunk.
Lakers forward LeBron James leaps up for a reverse slam against the Houston Rockets during Game 2 of the first round of the NBA playoffs at Crypto.Com Arena on Tuesday. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
Smart had five steals to go with his seven assists and 25 points, his playoff experience is showing and his work ethic is contagious.
“He just had a killer game,” Redick said of Smart, later adding, “Because he has the voice he has, he can help create the belief and confidence in our group.”
Smart said it’s all about, as his coach often says, meeting the moment.
“The word is, ‘elevate' for us, and that’s all we’ve been trying to do, is elevate our play on both ends,” he said.
James, meanwhile, had 28 points in 39 minutes, an amazing workload for a 41-year-old, especially considering he played 38 minutes in Saturday’s opener. And to think he still operates with such brute force that he was shoving Rocket defenders all over the court.
“He’s literally a Mack truck,” said Redick. “He forces you to match his physicality.”
Then there was Kennard scoring 23 points after scoring 27 on Saturday, a revelation that, given his shooting history, everyone should have seen coming.
Face it, he would be mostly invisible if Doncic and Reaves were playing. But Kennard said the team has bought into the feeling that they can survive without them.
“I know we just kind of flipped the switch,” he said. “We told each other, this is what we got right now. We’ve got to believe in what we have.”
What they will eventually have is a shocking first-round win.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - APRIL 19: Mascot The Coyote of the San Antonio Spurs rides a motorcycle during the game between the San Antonio Spurs and the Portland Trail Blazers during Round One Game One of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 19, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. 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 (Photos by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Spurs are heading to Portland for games 3 and 4 of the best of 7 series. While they are away, fans are invited to gather at The Rock at La Cantera to cheer on the Silver & Black with fellow fans.
Friday, April 24th, Game 3- San Antonio Spurs at Portland Trail Blazers
The party starts at 9:00 p.m. CST with tip off taking place at 9:30.
There will be a DJ, giveaways, and more.
Text PLAZA to 210-444-5940 for more information.
“While the Spurs are on the road, we bring the Frost Bank Center energy to Frost Plaza! Join us for the Official Spurs Watch Party experience including:
Appearances from The Hype Squad & The Coyote
Sets by DJ Quake and the energy of Zay Zay to keep the vibes high
Exclusive Giveaways: Win official Spurs gear and prizes throughout the night.
Special Activities & Photo Opportunities
Fans are encouraged to bring their own chairs and blankets. There is food for purchase and beverages from Ice Ice Dady, Lil Bros BBQ Shack, and the CrawDady kiosks, and Roca & Martillo.”
Go Spurs Go!
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Wembanyama was diagnosed with a concussion, and, since Game 3 is just two days away, on Friday, April 24, San Antonio should prepare to be without its All-Star phenom at least one game – if not longer.
So, how does that change things for the Spurs?
Well, the fourth quarter on Tuesday, April 21, was pretty indicative. The Trail Blazers made half of their 20 attempts in the period, and they weren’t shy about working the ball down low; six of their field goals were in the paint and five were literally at the rim. They doubled the Spurs’ output in the paint, scoring 12 points to San Antonio’s 6.
It’s a safe assumption – the safest assumption? – that Portland would not have been so aggressive in attacking the rim had Wembanyama been posted down low; Wembanyama led the NBA with 3.1 blocks per game and just became the first unanimous Defensive Player of the Year winner in league history.
Just look at the on/off numbers from this season, when the Spurs allowed 103.6 points per 100 possessions with Wembanyama on the floor, versus 113.7 when he was off.
So, presuming Wembanyama misses Game 3, the first priority for the Spurs will be to shore up the interior.
"Obviously, that’s a big piece that’s going to be missing, but we’ve played games without him," Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox told reporters after the game. "We’ve played games without a plethora of guys. …
"You say ‘next man up mentality’ but the entire team has to step up because he leaves a big hole in the lineup, both offensively and defensively. And obviously we don’t know how long he’s going to be out, but we’ve got to be ready to play without him."
Although the Spurs played very well this season in games Wembanyama missed, going 12-6, the playoffs do present different challenges.
For one, teams have the ability to make micro adjustments game-to-game to neutralize a team’s strengths or attack its weaknesses.
So, what might San Antonio do?
Backup center Luke Kornet would almost certainly start in Wembanyama’s place, and he would be tasked with establishing the tone for San Antonio’s low-post defense. But because Wembanyama is a singular talent, Kornet alone cannot fill that void.
The Spurs guards and wing players will need to be hyper-aggressive and will have to try to prevent paint touches to make Kornet’s job easier. But also look for rookie forward Carter Bryant to take on a bigger role.
At times this season when the Spurs have been without Wembanyama, they’ve also deployed a small-ball unit to change the pace of the game, with Bryant – who is officially listed at 6-foot-6 – as the center in those lineups.
Those units have relied more on speed and tempo, but it’s unclear whether the Spurs would want to resort to that style of play for the majority of a game.
"We definitely have gone to it, and we’ll kind of have to sit down as a staff and really think about the game holistically," Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said after the game of Bryant as a small-ball center. "Can we get through a game doing that, or do we need to play somebody else? So that will be the conversations we’ll have.
"But I do think those guys have – throughout the year and even tonight – showed some good moments doing that."
Either way, Fox’s point from above stands. Whether Kornet or Bryant (or both) take on more responsibility, San Antonio’s success without Wembanyama will require all its players to operate a little differently. All the while, however, they must maintain the same culture and intensity that got them here.
"It’s the playoffs," Spurs forward Keldon Johnson said after the game. "Even if we didn’t play a lot without him, we’ve got to figure it out. But we have, so we just stick to what we do, honestly. We fall back on our habits. We’ll clean some things up and we get ready for a good game in Portland."
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 21: Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets guards LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the game 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
(Please note I am currently in a deep basketball-induced depression and will be in mourning for the next 24 hours – Holly)
On Tuesday night, the Rockets and Lakers kicked off Game 2 of the first round. Houston was looking to even things out.
This series has been pretty weird so far. I mean, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves weren’t even playing for Los Angeles, and then Kevin Durant got hurt. He had a bad bone injury and ended up on the injured list just hours before Game 1, so he had to miss it. But then, in Game 2, he was suddenly good to go – it was a pretty surprising turnaround. From the start, it was obvious he was the best player on the Rockets, always scoring the most points.
However, the second game got off to a similar start, despite Durant being on the court. The Rockets’ defense was pretty weak at the beginning, and they allowed LA to take the lead just like they did in the first game. If Houston wanted to catch up, they would have to step up their defense, and Durant would have to come through with some big plays on offense. It was going to be tough, but they needed him to be a hero if they wanted to get back in the game. The pressure was on, and it would be interesting to see how they responded.
Houston was able to calm things down with a stronger defense. However, the Lakers, with LeBron James leading the way, were still in control and held a steady lead for most of the first three quarters. The fourth quarter was a lot more competitive, with both teams giving it their all. Unfortunately for the Rockets, they just couldn’t seem to catch a break – they kept giving up easy baskets on defense and couldn’t capitalize on their open chances on offense, which made it tough for them to cut into the Lakers’ lead.
At the very least, Durant changed the game, which gives hope for the rest of the series. He scored 23 points on only 12 shots, and he also had s6 rebounds and 4 assists, although he did have 9 turnovers, which was a major factor.
Alperen Sengun had a hard time in Game 1. People spoke about him a lot throughout Tuesday’s game. I, for one, hoped Sengun would bounce back after game one, but that was not the case, as he didn’t do much better against DeAndre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes, scoring 20 points on 20 shots.
This Friday, April 24, at 7 p.m. CT, the Rockets and Lakers will face off in a really important Game 3. If you want to catch the action, you can tune in on Prime Video. Now, the series is heading to Houston for the next two games, and the Rockets really need to come out on top in these ones if they want to stay in the running. It’s a big deal for them, and they’ll be looking to make the most of their home court advantage.
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.
New York Knicks (53-29, third in the Eastern Conference) vs. Atlanta Hawks (46-36, sixth in the Eastern Conference)
Atlanta; Thursday, 7 p.m. EDT
LINE: Hawks -1.5; over/under is 216.5
EASTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: Series tied 1-1
BOTTOM LINE: The Atlanta Hawks and the New York Knicks are in a 1-1 series tie in the Eastern Conference first round. The Hawks defeated the Knicks 107-106 in the last matchup on Tuesday. CJ McCollum led the Hawks with 32 points, and Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 29.
The Hawks are 27-25 against Eastern Conference opponents. Atlanta is 20-26 against opponents over .500.
The Knicks have gone 35-17 against Eastern Conference opponents. New York ranks fourth in the Eastern Conference with 45.6 rebounds per game led by Karl-Anthony Towns averaging 11.9.
The 118.5 points per game the Hawks average are 8.4 more points than the Knicks give up (110.1). The Knicks are shooting 47.8% from the field, 0.4% higher than the 47.4% the Hawks' opponents have shot this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Jalen Johnson is averaging 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds and 7.9 assists for the Hawks. Nickeil Alexander-Walker is averaging 20.2 points and 3.4 assists over the last 10 games.
Brunson is averaging 26 points and 6.8 assists for the Knicks. OG Anunoby is averaging 2.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Hawks: 6-4, averaging 117.7 points, 43.6 rebounds, 27.6 assists, 8.7 steals and 5.0 blocks per game while shooting 48.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.7 points per game.
Knicks: 6-4, averaging 110.7 points, 43.0 rebounds, 25.8 assists, 8.1 steals and 3.5 blocks per game while shooting 48.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 106.2 points.
INJURIES: Hawks: Jock Landale: out (ankle).
Knicks: None listed.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
