3 takeaways from Lakers’ Game 2 win vs. Rockets

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 2-0 lead.

This was a classic grind-it-out playoff affair, with both teams content to slow the pace and steer the game in their direction. But it was the Lakers who found a stronger foothold throughout the contest, seizing control early with a 9-0 run to close the first period and then pushing their lead out to 15 halfway through the second quarter to really put the clamps to Houston.

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But just like in Game 1, the Rockets made a push of their own to close the half, feasting on Lakers turnovers and fouls to climb back into the game and trail by just three at the intermission. But in the final two frames, the Lakers were able to keep the Rockets at arm’s length, ultimately closing out the game with heady defensive stops and enough offense to seal the victory.

Here are the biggest takeaways from the big win…

A huge night from the starting backcourt

You’d never mistake Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard for Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, but the Lakers starting guards came up huge all the same with the type of production both Luka and Austin would be proud of.

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Smart was second on the team in scoring with 25 points and tied for team lead with seven assists, while also racking up five steals and a block. He connected on eight of his 13 shot attempts, including going 5-7 from behind the arc. Smart set the tone early on both sides of the ball, dropping 11 points in the 1st quarter while doing his best to hound Kevin Durant all over the court.

But even though his defense was typically disruptive, it was Smart’s scoring that provided a huge boost to the Lakers’ offense overall. On a night that the Rockets switched more defensively and did a much better job in holding their ground to not give up the sorts of drives, deep post ups and dives out of the pick and roll that they surrendered in Game 1, Smart’s ability to…

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Publish date : 2026-04-22 06:48:00

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