Latest news and updates about the Lakers
The Lakers look set to get an unexpected boost this weekend with the return of Austin Reaves. In a wave of updates that have escalated quickly, Reaves seems set to return to the court this weekend and as soon as Game 3 on Friday. Prior to Game 2 on Tuesday, head coach JJ Redick confirmed […]
Luka Dončić has already had a Hall of Fame-caliber career, with this season being his best yet. He averaged a league-leading 33.5 points per game and was named the Western Conference Player of the Month in January and March. But despite the scoring prowess, dominance, and being the best player on a 53-win team, he […]
It was obvious that Luke Kennard’s importance was going to rise with the Lakers this postseason with their starting backcourt players, Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves out. What wasn’t known was how well he’d do in that situation. Well, two games in, Kennard is playing some of the best basketball of his career. In Game […]
Can someone explain to me how the Houston Rockets are 9.5-point favorites tonight in Game 3 against the Los Angeles Lakers? Sure, I get that the game is in Houston. The Rockets are in desperation mode after dropping the first two games in LA. Role players almost always play better at home than on the […]
The series between the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets shifts to the latter’s homebase on Friday. The Lakers look to take a commanding 3-0 lead in Game 3. Start time and TV schedule Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets When: 5 p.m. PT, Apr. 24 Where: Toyota Center Watch: Prime Video Just when everyone thought the […]
There are still some steps left, but Lakers fans can start getting excited about Austin Reaves returning. Reaves has missed all of the postseason so far, but he is now listed as questionable for Game 3 against the Rockets. He has been doing on-court work, but this is the first time he’s been upgraded to […]
Though Kevin Durant (right knee contusion) did return to the lineup, the Rockets now face a 0–2 series deficit after another mediocre offensive showing in their Game 2 loss. Game 3 of the best-of-seven, first-round playoff series is Friday night inside Houston’s Toyota Center. Tipoff versus the Los Angeles Lakers is at 7:00 p.m. Central, […] The post Despite return of Kevin Durant, Rockets dig deeper series hole appeared first on ClutchFans .
Besides Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, the Lakers have had the rest of their roster available during the playoffs. However, they might be playing without a member of their rotation for Friday’s Game 3. After Thursday’s practice, Lakers head coach JJ Redick said Jake LaRavia is dealing with an ankle sprain and is considered day-to-day […]
The Lakers don’t win Game 2 against the Rockets without Marcus Smart’s efforts. In the opening quarter, he was the most aggressive player on the court. He took seven shots and converted on five of them, including a trio of threes. Smart ended the quarter with 14 points, which was part of a 25-point performance. […]
After the Lakers took Game 1, desperation naturally had to set in for the Rockets. No team wants to fall down 2-0, as those who hold that lead go on to win 92.7% of the time. Houston was held to an abysmal 37% from the floor in the playoff opener, setting the stage for superstar […]
When a team is shorthanded like the Lakers are, the only way to not only survive but thrive is for everyone who is available to step up. The Lakers have gotten that during this postseason from Marcus Smart. One of the ways he’s stepped up is as a vocal leader. As a 12-year veteran and […]
Playoff basketball demands a higher level of intensity. The stakes are raised, which means every possession matters more, every game can swing a series and the focus on physicality has to be elevated. If there’s a player on the Lakers who knows this and is capable of it better than most, it’s LeBron James. At […]
When Marcus Smart joined the Lakers, the hope was that he could remain healthy and become a defensive anchor for this team. After seasons with the Grizzlies and Wizards, he could come to Los Angeles and play better basketball at higher stakes. Well, he’s done all that and more for the Lakers. He’s been a […]
The path to seeing Luka Dončić back on the floor with the Lakers is long and unknown. Ever since he went down with a hamstring strain against the Thunder back in early April, he’s done everything possible to return, including traveling to Spain to get treatment on his injury. Luka remains out indefinitely and isn’t […]
LOS ANGELES — As news broke on Tuesday night that Kevin Durant’s status had been upgraded to available, the collective tension in Crypto.com Arena rose. The tone of seriousness, implications, and magnitude of the game completely changed. Durant was an inferno in the first quarter, hitting every pull-up jump shot, but the purple and […]
In Tuesday’s Brotherhood Playoff Action, Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics lost to the Philadelphia 76ers 111-97; Mason Plumlee and the San Antonio Spurs fell to the Portland Trail Blazers 106-103, while Luke Kennard helped lead JJ Redick’s Los Angeles Lakers to a 101-94 win over the Houston Rockets. Tatum just missed a triple-double with 19 […]
(Please note I am currently in a deep basketball-induced depression and will be in mourning for the next 24 hours – Holly) On Tuesday night, the Rockets and Lakers kicked off Game 2 of the first round. Houston was looking to even things out. This series has been pretty weird so far. I mean, Luka […]
LOS ANGELES — Back in March, the Lakers were winning games thanks to an incredibly potent offense. One month later, they’re winning playoff games on the back of their defense. A necessary change following injuries to Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, the Lakers are suffocating the Rockets. In Game 2, that defense forced 15 turnovers as […]
The Lakers can write a hearty book of all the role players who have stepped up in big moments throughout the franchise’s history. When you win 17 NBA titles, that list is pretty long, in fact. While Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard are not quite at the levels of the elites in Lakers lore, what […]
With Kevin Durant back in the fold and the Rockets desperate to push as hard as possible to take a split back to Houston, the Lakers were able to match the Rockets’ physicality and fend them off down the stretch to hold on for a 101-94 victory and take control of the series with a […]
In a rock fight of a Game 2, the Lakers did just enough to go ahead 2-0 in the series with a 101-94 win over the Rockets. Offense was a precious commodity throughout the contest, a change of pace from the opening game of the series. As the game went on, the defenses took over, […]
Houston Rockets vs Los Angeles Lakers Game 2 – April 21, 2026 Location: Crypto.com arena, Los Angeles, CA TV: NBC/Peacock Radio:KBME Sports Talk 790 / KLTN 102.9 (en español) Online: Peacock Time: 9:30 PM CST Probable Starting Lineups Rockets: Reed Sheppard, Amen Thompson, Tari Eason, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun Lakers: Luke Kennard, Marcus Smart, […]
When Austin Reaves and Luka Dončić went down with their injuries, head coach JJ Redick said it was the team’s responsibility to keep winning long enough for them to come back. Saturday’s victory in Game 1 against the Rockets was the first step in doing just that. The good news is that one of those […]
In the extensive list of stories that could have come out about the Lakers during the postseason, Jaxson Hayes becoming Slovenian could not have possibly landed on anyone’s radar. And yet, on Monday, Hayes confirmed that he had secured his Slovenian passport, making good on a story that popped up earlier in the season. Now, […]
Following the first matchup of any playoff series, both teams, win or lose, return to the drawing board and strategize what they can take forward in future contests. For the Lakers, missing their star shot creators in Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves means the offense will be a journey every night. The regular season numbers […]