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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider LeBron powers short-handed Lakers over Durant's Rockets to seize 2-0 series lead

LeBron powers short-handed Lakers over Durant's Rockets to seize 2-0 series lead

Published Apr 22, 2026 02:14 pm

At A Glance

  • LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeBron James had 28 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, and the short-handed Los Angeles Lakers outlasted the Houston Rockets for a 101-94 victory Tuesday night, April 21, and a stunning 2-0 lead in their first-round playoff series.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, second from right, shoots as Houston Rockets guard Amen Thompson, left, forward Jabari Smith Jr., second from left, and forward Tari Eason defend during the second half in Game 2 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, second from right, shoots as Houston Rockets guard Amen Thompson, left, forward Jabari Smith Jr., second from left, and forward Tari Eason defend during the second half in Game 2 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeBron James had 28 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, and the short-handed Los Angeles Lakers outlasted the Houston Rockets for a 101-94 victory Tuesday night, April 21, and a stunning 2-0 lead in their first-round playoff series.
Marcus Smart had 25 points and seven assists for the Lakers, who have twice overcome the absences of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves with a team effort led by the 41-year-old James. Los Angeles did it again in Game 2 despite the return of Kevin Durant, who scored just three of his 23 points in the second half against the Lakers' tenacious defense.
Luke Kennard scored 23 points for Los Angeles, which nursed a small lead throughout the fourth quarter of Game 2. Smart found James streaking down the lane for a theatrical dunk with 55 seconds to play, and Kennard added two late free throws to ice it.
Game 3 is Friday in Houston.
Alperen Sengun had 20 points and 11 rebounds for the fifth-seeded Rockets, who again struggled offensively even with Durant making his Houston playoff debut. Jabari Smith Jr. scored 18 points and Amen Thompson had 16, but the Rockets made only 40.4% of their shots and managed just seven 3-pointers.
Three days after he missed the series opener with a right knee bruise, Durant took only 12 shots and had nine turnovers to begin his fourth career playoff matchup against the 41-year-old James. The superstars previously met in the NBA Finals in 2012, 2017 and 2018.
Durant’s absence from Game 1 — along with his teammates’ poor shooting and Los Angeles’ exceptionally good shooting — allowed the fourth-seeded Lakers to open with a surprising victory in a series they’re widely expected to lose in the absence of their top two scorers, who both got injured April 2.
Durant blocked Kennard’s shot on the first possession of Game 2, but then got in early foul trouble while the Lakers again streaked to a large first-half lead.
The Lakers couldn’t match their 60% shooting in Game 1, but Smart and Kennard combined for 24 points in an impressive first quarter of Game 2. Los Angeles opened a 15-point lead in the second quarter before Houston evened it right after halftime.
The Lakers are getting exceptional postseason play from Smart, the longtime Celtics guard who joined Los Angeles this season. Although he missed much of the regular-season stretch run due to injury, Smart has immediately added toughness and playmaking acumen to the Lakers' supporting cast.
Both Smart and Kennard went 8 for 13 from the field.
Meanwhile, V.J. Edgecombe had 30 points and 10 rebounds while playing through pain after taking a hard fall on his back early in the game, Tyrese Maxey scored 29 points and the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Boston Celtics, 111-97, to tie their playoff series at one game apiece.
Edgecombe made six of the 76ers' 19 3-pointers. Maxey also had nine assists as Philadelphia bounced back after getting blown out 123-91 in Game 1. Edgecombe is the first rookie to record at least 30 points and 10 rebounds in a playoff game since Tim Duncan on May 5, 1998.
The series shifts to Philadelphia for Game 3 on Friday.
“I think we knew where the shots were going to come from," Edgecombe said. "We kept trusting each other. Everyone can make a play on the court. ... They wanted me to shoot the ball.”
The Celtics cut a seven-point deficit at the start of the fourth quarter to 91-89 before an 11-0 run put the 76ers back in front 102-89 with just over four minutes to play. The Celtics pulled their starters with a little more than a minute remaining.
Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 36 points. Jayson Tatum added 19 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists.

Related Tags

LeBron James Los Angeles Lakers NBA Playoffs Houston Rockets Boston Celtics Philadelphia 76ers
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