Kevin Durant scores 23 for Houston however the Lakers bag a 101-94 win regardless of a depleted staff, with Luka Doncic lacking.
Revealed On 22 Apr 2026
LeBron James compiled 28 factors, eight rebounds and 7 assists to steer the Los Angeles Lakers to a 101-94 victory over the visiting Houston Rockets, taking a 2-0 lead of their first-round Western Convention playoff sequence.
With main scorers Luka Doncic (hamstring damage) and Austin Reaves (indirect pressure) watching from the bench on Tuesday, Marcus Good added 25 factors, together with 5 of 7 from 3-point vary, and Recreation 1 hero Luke Kennard contributed 23 factors, which included 3 of 6 from deep.
“Simply as exhausting as we performed in Recreation 1, we needed to double that in Recreation 2,” James mentioned. “We understood what they wished to come back in [with], the desperation they have been going to have, so we needed to be much more determined. And I believed we performed a hell of a sport.”
Kevin Durant, who missed the opening sport with a proper knee contusion, scored 23 factors for Houston, however he had 9 turnovers and was held to only three factors after half-time.
Houston’s Alperen Sengun paired 20 factors with 11 rebounds, Jabari Smith Jr had 18 factors, and Amen Thompson posted 16 factors and 9 assists.
“The turnovers harm us, however outdoors of the third quarter, [we were] first rate general,” Rockets coach Ime Udoka mentioned. “However 7-for-29 from three, 8-for-20 on second-chance factors, and capturing 40 p.c shouldn’t be adequate … [We’re] defending effectively sufficient, however not scoring. That’s the underside line from these two video games.”
The perfect-of-seven sequence shifts to Houston for Recreation 3 on Friday.
Path Blazers win as Wembanyama suffers concussion
Scoot Henderson poured in a season-best 31 factors because the visiting Portland Path Blazers got here again from 14 factors down within the fourth quarter to outlast the short-handed San Antonio Spurs 106-103 and even their first-round Western Convention playoff sequence at one win every.
The groups will play Recreation 3 on Friday in Portland, and it’s unclear whether or not the Spurs can have Victor Wembanyama obtainable. The NBA Defensive Participant of the 12 months hit his face on the ground within the second quarter and was identified with a concussion. He’s scheduled for additional testing on Wednesday.
The Spurs, led by Stephon Fort’s team-high 18 factors, carried a one-point lead into the fourth quarter however reeled off the primary 13 factors of the ultimate interval to construct their benefit to 93-79. The Path Blazers roared again to take the lead through a 7-0 run capped by a Jrue Vacation layup with 2:02 left and held on from there.
Vacation produced 16 factors and 9 assists, and Deni Avdija added 14 factors for the Path Blazers. The Spurs acquired 17 factors from De’Aaron Fox, plus 16 factors and 12 rebounds from Devin Vassell.
San Antonio Spurs ahead Victor Wembanyama took a tough fall on the courtroom [Eric Gay/AP Photo]
Celtics 97, 76ers 111
VJ Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey mixed to make 11 3-pointers and rating 59 complete factors because the Philadelphia 76ers bounced again to even the Japanese Convention playoff sequence with hosts Boston Celtics.
Seventh-seeded Philadelphia shook off a dismal Recreation 1 efficiency, which included making simply 4 3-pointers in a 123-91 loss, with an entire reversal on the offensive finish. With 19 factors from Paul George, they shot a torrid 19 of 39 (48.7 p.c) from past the arc in Recreation 2.
Jaylen Brown went for a game-high 36 factors, and Jayson Tatum completed with 19 factors to go along with his game-high 14 rebounds for the Celtics. No different Boston participant reached double figures in scoring, a stark distinction to Recreation 1, when the Celtics’ complete beginning 5 notched at the very least 10 factors.
Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey drives to the basket in opposition to the Boston Celtics [Charles Krupa/AP Photo]
