Published April 25, 2026
Buoyed by LeBron James’ 29 points, the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Houston Rockets 112-108 in a thrilling overtime game to take a close 3-0 lead in the NBA playoff series.
James, a 41-year-old superstar playing in his 19th postseason, made a steal and game-winning 3-pointer Friday with 13.6 seconds left in regulation.
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He couldn’t drop a potential winner before the buzzer, but he added a steal and a block in a frenetic overtime period as the Lakers nearly eliminated the Rockets in a best-of-seven Western Conference series.
No NBA team has ever come back from an 0-3 deficit to win a playoff series.
“I’m just trying to take advantage of my opportunities,” James, who had 13 rebounds, six assists and three steals, told broadcaster Prime. “The players believe in me trying to make plays, and I’m lucky to be able to do that.”
The Lakers have a chance to finish the series Sunday in Houston. It’s not the position many expected, with league-leading scorer Luka Doncic out with a hamstring strain and offensive centerpiece Austin Reaves out with an oblique injury.
Alperen Sengan had 33 points and 16 rebounds for the young Rockets, who were without veteran star Kevin Durant with an ankle sprain.
They rallied from an early 15-point deficit and led by six points with less than 30 seconds left in regulation.
But their mistakes caught up with them. Following a Houston turnover, Marcus Smart committed a foul while attempting a 3-point shot.
Smart made all three free throws to cut the deficit to 101-98 and set the stage for James’ game-tying goal.
Sengan missed a potential game-winner, but James missed from beyond the arc to force overtime, and Smart scored eight of his 21 points in the overtime session as the Lakers pulled away.
Celtics stop 76ers
Boston’s Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown each scored 25 points to lead the Celtics to a 108-100 victory over the 76ers in Philadelphia and a 2-1 lead in the Eastern Conference series.
The Sixers won Game 2 in Boston, tying the series at one game apiece.
In a game in which neither team led by more than 10 points, the Celtics took a five-point lead in the fourth quarter.
Tyrese Maxey’s 3-pointer briefly gave the Sixers an 85-84 lead with 8:42 remaining, and Tatum’s 3-pointer with 1:57 left brought Philadelphia within one point and cut Boston’s lead to 100-96.
Tatum, who suffered a torn Achilles tendon in last year’s playoffs and missed most of the season, drained a dagger trey against Boston and Peyton Pritchard made another 3-pointer before the shot clock expired.
“We were just resilient,” Tatum told broadcaster Prime. “We stuck with it. This is a run game. It’s a good team, and you just have to answer.”
Maxey led the Sixers with 31 points. Paul George scored 18 points and rookie VJ Edgecomb added 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Sixers star Joel Embiid is still recovering from an emergency appendectomy earlier this month, but was ruled out just before the game.
“He’s not ready yet,” Sixers coach Nick Nurse said. The team will look to tie the series in Game 4 on Sunday.
Spurs beat Trail Blazers without Wenbang Yama
Stephon Castle scored 33 points and the San Antonio Spurs overcame the absence of Victor Wembaneyama to beat the Portland Trail Blazers 120-108 on Friday night and take a 2-1 series lead.
Dylan Harper added 27 points and 10 rebounds for the Spurs, who trailed by 15 points in the third quarter. Game 4 of the first round series will be played Sunday at Moda Center.
Before the game, Spurs coach Mitch Johnson announced that Wembaneyama would not play as he continues to recover from the concussion he sustained in Game 2 on Tuesday night.
Jrue Holiday scored 29 points for the Trail Blazers, who were making their first home playoff appearance since 2021, but ultimately couldn’t take advantage of Wenbanyama’s absence.
Portland led 82-67 in the third quarter, but the Spurs rallied with a 21-5 run to take an 88-87 lead into the final period. Castle’s stepback jumper and two free throws gave the Spurs a 105-95 lead midway through the fourth, and the Trail Blazers collapsed.
Wembaneyama, the league’s first unanimous Defensive Player of the Year and one of three finalists for Most Valuable Player, collapsed in the second quarter of the Spurs’ 106-103 Game 2 loss in San Antonio.
Mr Johnson did not elaborate on Mr Wenbanyama’s condition, only saying it was progressing. This season, he averaged 25 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and a league-high 3.1 blocks per game. His status for Sunday’s game is unknown.
Luke Cornette started against the Trail Blazers and recorded 14 points and 10 rebounds with Wenbanyama watching from the bench.
Portland went on a 15-2 run in the first half to take a 50-43 lead and then led 65-59 at halftime on Jerami Grant’s 3-pointer.
Near the end of the first half, Fox was called for an offensive foul when he charged toward the basket and elbowed Deni Avdija in the face. Johnson contested the call and had it revoked for a defensive foul on Avdija, who chipped a tooth but continued to play.
