In a playoff game in 2026, LeBron James led all scorers with 28 points and added eight rebounds and seven assists in 39 minutes.
Kevin Durant returned to the Houston Rockets’ starting lineup in Game 2 against the Los Angeles Lakers after missing Game 1 with a bruised right knee.
His presence was welcomed by the Rockets, but it still wasn’t enough to defeat the shorthanded Lakers.
Playing without Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves – both sidelined by injuries – the Lakers took a 2-0 series lead with a 101-94 victory against Houston on Tuesday in a first round Western Conference playoff game.
Game 3 is Friday in Houston (8 p.m. ET, Prime Video).
Here are four takeaways from Game 2:
1. Is LeBron James 41 or 21?
LeBron James continues to defy the effects of aging on professional athletes.
In a playoff game in 2026, the 41-year-old James led all scorers with 28 points and added eight rebounds and seven assists in 39 minutes.
He scored nine points in the fourth quarter – two on a soaring two-handed dunk that gave the Lakers a 99-92 lead with 55.3 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.
James was aggressive, getting to the free-throw line 14 times.
“He brought a level of physicality, and he’s done it throughout his career,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “He’s just really comfortable playing that way whether it’s him on a back-down, getting to the basket or him drawing fouls. He forces you to match his physicality.”
After the game, James told NBC he is “super blessed, super humbled” to play that way at his age. The Lakers need it, too, without Dončić and Reaves, and will need that kind of effort from him to win the series.
2. Smart, Kennard rule in Lakers’ backcourt
No Dončić, no Reaves, no big deal.
Just add Luke Kennard and Marcus Smart to the starting lineup.
Kennard followed up his 27-point performance in Game 1 with 23 points, six rebounds and three steals, and Smart produced 25 points, seven assists and five steals.
Kennard, who led the league in 3-point shooting percentage (47.8%), and Smart were a combined 16-for-26 shooting from the field and 8-for-13 on 3-pointers – including five 3s from Smart.
“He just had a killer game tonight,” Redick said of Smart.
3. Lakers slow Durant after big first half
Durant, who sustained a bruised knee last week in practice, was a game-time decision entering Game 2 and was cleared to play after going through pregame warmups.
Durant looked good in the first half, scoring 20 points. However, he had just three points in the second half and committed nine turnovers.
The Lakers often sent two defenders to Durant when he had the basketball, forcing him into a difficult shot or pass.
“Glad to be out there, playing in high-pressure moments,” Durant said. “But bad game for me tonight.”
Durant took just 12 shots and indicated he needs to shoot more even with the double-teams. “When two, three people are on me and I shoot, we can get an offensive rebound. …I’ve got to shoot more of those and put my teammates in better position,” he said.
Redick and his coaching staff deserve credit for holding the Rockets to under 100 points in each of the first two games. Redick isn’t taking any credit.
“We’re just getting this thing started,” he said. “He’s the type of player who can take over a series. We just have to continue to have great team defense and great activity.”
4. Statistical oddities in Rockets-Lakers series
The 3-ball is playing a role in the series. Through the first two games, the Lakers are shooting 48.9% on 3s and the Rockets are at 29%. Houston had one more made 3 in Game 1, but the Lakers had six more made 3s in Game 2.
Also in Game 2, just two reserves scored – one from each team. Tari Eason scored 10 points for Houston, and Jaxson Hayes had six points for Los Angeles.
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Jeff Zillgitt has covered the NBA since 2008. You can email him at jzillgitt@nba.com, find his archive here and follow him on X.
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