LeBron James scored 29 points, including a tying 3-pointer with 13 seconds left in regulation, Marcus Smart had eight points in overtime and the Los Angeles Lakers took advantage of a Houston Rockets team missing Kevin Durant for a 112-108 win Friday night to take a 3-0 lead in the Western Conference first-round series.
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Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. becomes entangled with Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James as he drives to the basket during the first half of Game 3 in a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series Friday April 24, 2026, in Houston. Houston Rockets guard Amen Thompson looks to drive around Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart who reaches in during the first half of Game 3 in a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series Friday April 24, 2026, in Houston.
Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura, right, looks to shoot while under pressure from Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr., left, during the first half of Game 3 in a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series Friday April 24, 2026, in Houston. Houston Rockets guard Amen Thompson loses a rebound in front of Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura during the first half in Game 3 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series Friday April 24, 2026, in Houston.
Houston Rockets forward Dorian Finney-Smith knocks away the ball from Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart, center, as forward Jake LaRavia looks on during the first half in Game 3 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series Friday April 24, 2026, in Houston. James makes tying 3 as Lakers storm back late, win in OT and take a 3-0 series lead over the RocketsLos Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James drives to the basket in front of Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun, left, during the first half of Game 3 in a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series Friday April 24, 2026, in Houston.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James drives to the basket in front of Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun, left, during the first half of Game 3 in a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series Friday April 24, 2026, in Houston. Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. becomes entangled with Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James as he drives to the basket during the first half of Game 3 in a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series Friday April 24, 2026, in Houston.
Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. becomes entangled with Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James as he drives to the basket during the first half of Game 3 in a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series Friday April 24, 2026, in Houston. Houston Rockets guard Amen Thompson looks to drive around Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart who reaches in during the first half of Game 3 in a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series Friday April 24, 2026, in Houston.
Houston Rockets guard Amen Thompson looks to drive around Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart who reaches in during the first half of Game 3 in a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series Friday April 24, 2026, in Houston. Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura, right, looks to shoot while under pressure from Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr., left, during the first half of Game 3 in a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series Friday April 24, 2026, in Houston.
Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura, right, looks to shoot while under pressure from Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr., left, during the first half of Game 3 in a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series Friday April 24, 2026, in Houston. Houston Rockets guard Amen Thompson loses a rebound in front of Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura during the first half in Game 3 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series Friday April 24, 2026, in Houston.
Houston Rockets guard Amen Thompson loses a rebound in front of Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura during the first half in Game 3 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series Friday April 24, 2026, in Houston. Houston Rockets forward Dorian Finney-Smith knocks away the ball from Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart, center, as forward Jake LaRavia looks on during the first half in Game 3 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series Friday April 24, 2026, in Houston.
Houston Rockets forward Dorian Finney-Smith knocks away the ball from Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart, center, as forward Jake LaRavia looks on during the first half in Game 3 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series Friday April 24, 2026, in Houston. HOUSTON — LeBron James scored 29 points, including a tying 3-pointer with 13 seconds left in regulation, Marcus Smart had eight points in overtime and the Los Angeles Lakers took advantage of a Houston Rockets team missing Kevin Durant for a 112-108 win Friday night to take a 3-0 lead in the Western Conference first-round series.
The Lakers rallied from a six-point deficit with under 30 seconds remaining and can sweep the series Sunday night in Houston. Los Angeles opened overtime with a 6-2 run, highlighted by a 3-pointer from Smart to take a 107-103 lead. Alperen Sengun made a basket for Houston before Smart made two free throws to push the lead to 109-105 with 52 seconds left. Smart made two free throws with 35.5 seconds to go to make it 111-105.
Reed Sheppard made a 3-pointer to get Houston within three with less than 30 seconds left in overtime but Smart made 1 of 2 free throws to push the lead to 112-108. Even with Durant out for a second game in this series — this time with a sprained ankle after missing Game 1 with a knee injury — the Rockets were in position to close out the game after James had consecutive turnovers that Houston turned into a 101-95 lead.
The Lakers led by as many as 15 early, but were down six in the fourth before Smart was fouled on a 3-point attempt with 25.4 seconds to go after a Houston turnover and made all three free throws to get the Lakers within three. James, who had 13 rebounds, then stole the ball from Sheppard and his 3-pointer tied it at 101-all with 13.1 seconds to go in the fourth.
The Rockets had a chance to take the lead after that, but Sengun’s 7-footer was off. James grabbed the rebound and called a timeout. He grabbed the inbounds pass and had a chance to win it at the buzzer, but his 3-point attempt bounced off the rim to send it to OT.
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