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The Houston Rockets were about 25 seconds away from sealing their first victory in the NBA playoffs; instead, they will have to make an unprecedented comeback.
The Rockets blew their final six-point lead against the Los Angeles Lakers after costly turnovers and are now down three games to none.
No NBA team has ever overcome that deficit, and to do so, Rockets head coach Ime Udoka gave his team a stern message.
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Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka talks with Tari Eason during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Toyota Center in Houston on April 24, 2026. (Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images)
“Grow up,” he said, was his message to the team after the loss. “You’re not that young anymore. You’ve been to the playoffs once and now we look at every situation.”
Even with Kevin Durant out for a second game of 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 LeBron James committed back-to-back turnovers that Houston turned into a 101-95 lead.
That’s when everything went wrong for the Rockets. Marcus Smart was fouled on a 3-point attempt with 25 seconds left in the quarter after a Houston turnover and made all three free throws to bring the Lakers within three.
Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka reacts during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers in game three of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, on April 24, 2026. (Troy Taormina/Imagn Images)
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James then stole the ball from Reed Sheppard and his 3-pointer tied the score at 101 with 13 seconds left in the quarter.
Los Angeles then outscored Houston 11-7 in overtime to take a 112-108 victory.
James, 41, who had 29 points, 13 rebounds and six assists, played more than 45 minutes on Friday night. He said that with top scorers Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves injured, he has no choice but to do everything he can.
LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers gestures during the pregame ritual before the first quarter against the Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, on April 24, 2026. (Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images)
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That feeling will have to run through the Rockets locker room if they want to make history.
