Lakers Battle Through Injuries, Take 3-1 Series Lead Over Rockets

Regular Season Recap

October-December 2025

Lakers Defeat Clippers 125-122
The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 125-122 in their first game following the All-Star break. Luka Dončić led the Lakers with 38 points, 6 rebounds, and 11 assists. Austin Reaves scored 29 points. LeBron James recorded 13 points and 11 assists. Kawhi Leonard scored 21 points in the first half for the Clippers but exited at the 5:10 mark of the fourth quarter due to ankle soreness.

Lakers Defeat Cavaliers 127-113
The Lakers defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 127-113, leading by as many as 27 points. Luka Dončić scored 42 points with 12 assists and 5 rebounds. Austin Reaves added 19 points and 6 rebounds. The victory marked the Lakers' fourth consecutive win, 13th in 14 games, and 16th in 18 games.

Lakers Lose to Celtics
The Los Angeles Lakers lost to the Boston Celtics in a regular season game. The Celtics demonstrated early dominance and secured a decisive victory. LeBron James scored 20 points. Luka Dončić scored 25 points.

Lakers Experience Three-Game Losing Streak
The Lakers accumulated a three-game losing streak following losses to the Celtics, Magic, and Phoenix Suns. In the game against the Suns, the Lakers lost a double-digit lead in the second half. Luka Dončić scored 41 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists in the loss.

Lakers Defeat Pelicans
The Lakers defeated the New Orleans Pelicans following wins against the Warriors and Kings. The team's defensive performance was notable in the fourth quarter. LeBron James scored 21 points with 7 rebounds and 7 assists. Luka Dončić recorded 27 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists.

Lakers Defeat Rockets 100-92
The Lakers defeated the Houston Rockets 100-92 for their sixth consecutive win. Luka Dončić scored 36 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists. LeBron James added 18 points and 5 rebounds. The Lakers scheduled to play the Rockets again on Wednesday.

Lakers Defeat Rockets in Defensive Battle
The Lakers defeated the Houston Rockets. Luka Dončić led the team with 36 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists. LeBron James scored 18 points with 5 rebounds and 5 assists.

Late Regular Season Games

The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 139-96. The Thunder established a double-digit lead early and extended it to as many as 45 points. Oklahoma City shot 53.9% from the field and 45.2% from three-point range, with 17 made three-pointers.

Luka Dončić sustained a left hamstring injury during the third quarter and exited the game. He finished with 12 points on 3-of-10 shooting. Lakers coach JJ Redick stated that Dončić was scheduled for an MRI.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 28 points. Isaiah Joe added 20 points. Lu Dort scored 14 points in the first quarter. Austin Reaves led the Lakers with 15 points. LeBron James added 13 points.

The 43-point margin of defeat was among the largest in Lakers franchise history, six points short of the record 49-point loss in 2017. The Thunder extended their winning streak to 16 of their last 17 games. The Lakers' four-game winning streak ended.

The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 123-87, completing a season sweep. The Lakers' 87 points were their lowest-scoring performance of the season.

The Lakers played without Luka Dončić, LeBron James, Austin Reaves, Marcus Smart, and Jaxson Hayes, who collectively average 94.6 points per game. Dončić and Reaves were out for the remainder of the regular season due to injuries. James rested due to an arthritic left foot.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 25 points and eight assists. Isaiah Joe made six 3-pointers. Chet Holmgren recorded 15 points and 10 rebounds. Rui Hachimura led the Lakers with 15 points. Drew Timme added 11 points. Rookie Adou Thiero scored a career-high 10 points.

The game was evenly contested until midway through the second quarter, after which Oklahoma City went on a 23-5 run to end the half. The Lakers scored only 22 points in the subsequent 24 minutes of play. During the second quarter, Lakers coach JJ Redick and player Jarred Vanderbilt exchanged words after Redick called a timeout and removed Vanderbilt from the game. Vanderbilt did not return to play.

The Lakers had lost three consecutive games since Dončić and Reaves sustained injuries. Prior to the injuries, Los Angeles had won 13 of 14 games. Dončić was in Europe seeking treatment for a Grade 2 left hamstring strain.

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Golden State Warriors. Golden State guard Stephen Curry did not play due to injury.

LeBron James played 32 minutes and scored 26 points with 8 rebounds and 11 assists. Deandre Ayton scored 21 points with 5 rebounds. Jake LaRavia scored 16 points with 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Luke Kennard scored 14 points with 8 assists. Rui Hachimura scored 12 points. Nick Smith Jr. scored 12 points. Bronny James scored 10 points. Jarred Vanderbilt scored 2 points. Marcus Smart, Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves, and Jaxson Hayes were listed as inactive.

2026 First-Round Playoff Series: Lakers vs. Rockets

Game 1: Lakers 107, Rockets 98

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Houston Rockets 107-98 in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series. The Lakers led by 16 points in the fourth quarter.

The Lakers played without Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and Maxi Kleber. The Rockets played without Kevin Durant, who was a late scratch due to a bruised right knee sustained during a practice on Wednesday.

Luke Kennard scored a playoff career-high 27 points for the Lakers. LeBron James recorded 19 points and 13 assists. Deandre Ayton contributed 19 points and 11 rebounds. Marcus Smart scored 15 points with eight assists. All five Lakers starters scored at least 14 points. The Lakers shot 60.6% from the field and 52.6% from three-point range. The Lakers committed 18 turnovers, which Houston converted into 24 points. The Lakers were out-rebounded on the offensive glass, allowing Houston 21 offensive rebounds and 23 second-chance points.

For the Rockets, Alperen Sengun scored 19 points. Amen Thompson added 17 points. Jabari Smith Jr. had 16 points and 12 rebounds. The Rockets shot 37.6% from the field and 33.3% from three-point range. The Rockets committed 13 turnovers.

LeBron James stated: "That's what it has to be — a collective group. When you're missing so much firepower like we are right now with AR and Luka being out, we all have to do our job and maybe have to do a little bit more, protect one another offensively and defensively, and I think we did that tonight."

Rockets coach Ime Udoka said: "We won a lot of areas, but just shot poorly. That's going to be tough to beat, but there are some things we left on the table, opportunities missed."

Lakers coach JJ Redick said: "It's just our play-off mentality. You can't worry about who's in or out of the line-up. It's our gameplan. It's our standards. It's how we play, and we've built towards that. I thought our guys just responded well and met the moment."

Kevin Durant's injury status was listed as a bruised knee, with a potential return for Game 2.

Game 2: Lakers 101, Rockets 94

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Houston Rockets 101-94 in Game 2 at Crypto.com Arena. The Lakers lead the series 2-0.

The Lakers established an early lead with a 9-0 run to end the first quarter and extended it to 15 points in the second quarter. The Rockets reduced the deficit to three points by halftime. The Lakers maintained their lead in the second half.

LeBron James scored 28 points with 8 rebounds and 7 assists. Marcus Smart scored 25 points with 7 assists and 5 steals. Luke Kennard scored 23 points with 6 rebounds. The three players combined for 76 points, 16 rebounds, and 16 assists.

Kevin Durant returned to the Rockets' lineup after missing Game 1. He scored 23 points and had 9 turnovers. He scored 11 points in the first quarter. The Lakers employed defensive strategies involving multiple defenders against Durant after the first quarter.

Marcus Smart stated: "Whether those guys are here or not, obviously we would love for them to be here... But they're not [playing] and there's nothing we can do about it but step our game up for those guys."

James said: "We all got to pick up our play. When you've got two big guns out like we have, we all got to pick up our play." Regarding defending Durant, James said: "None. That just makes him even madder going into Game 3. No satisfaction... the guy's a first-ballot Hall of Famer and he's going to make way more great plays than not."

Lakers coach JJ Redick stated there is no timeline for the return of Dončić or Reaves. Redick said Reaves has started a return-to-play plan and that Dončić is expected to begin court work soon.

Game 3: Lakers 112, Rockets 108 (OT)

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Houston Rockets 112-108 in overtime at Toyota Center to take a 3-0 series lead. The Lakers overcame a 6-point deficit with 30 seconds remaining in regulation.

With 30 seconds left and the Rockets leading 101-95, Jabari Smith Jr. threw a backcourt pass that was intercepted by Marcus Smart. Smart drew a shooting foul from Jae'Sean Tate and made all three free throws. On the next possession, LeBron James stole a dribble from Reed Sheppard, recovered the ball, and made a three-pointer with 13 seconds remaining to tie the game at 101-101 and force overtime.

In overtime, Smart opened with a three-pointer and later saved a rebound leading to a Rui Hachimura layup.

LeBron James scored 29 points with 13 rebounds. Marcus Smart scored 21 points with 10 assists and 5 steals. Rui Hachimura scored 22 points. Kevin Durant did not play for the Rockets due to a sprained ankle.

NBA teams have a 159-0 record when leading a playoff series 3-0. The Lakers were without injured scorers Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic.

Game 4: Rockets 115, Lakers 96

The Houston Rockets defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 115-96 in Game 4 at Toyota Center. The Lakers hold a 3-1 series lead.

The Rockets' Kevin Durant did not play for the second consecutive game. He was expected to return for Game 5. Lakers guard Austin Reaves was expected to potentially play for the first time in nearly a month in Game 5 but would be limited. Luka Doncic was not expected to return soon.

The Lakers committed 23 turnovers, had 17 steals against them, and missed 17 of 22 three-point attempts. LeBron James scored 10 points on 2-of-12 shooting with 8 turnovers. Marcus Smart had 3 baskets and 4 turnovers. Luke Kennard scored 7 points, missing all three three-point attempts. Deandre Ayton was ejected in the third quarter after a flagrant foul on Alperen Sengun. He had 19 points and 10 rebounds at the time.

The Rockets outscored the Lakers 34-18 in the third quarter and led by 25 points entering the fourth. No NBA team has overcome a 3-0 series deficit (teams are 159-0). Four teams have forced a Game 7.

Lakers coach JJ Redick said: "It's obviously very challenging without your two leading scorers to generate offense."

LeBron James said: "It started with me obviously. My turnovers were unacceptable."

Marcus Smart said: "Just a little bit of lackadaisical from us. ... We'll be all right."