Lakers’ ruthless 27-3 surge buries
Rockets 98-78 in Game 6, sets up Thunder series
[May 02, 2026]
By KRISTIE RIEKEN
HOUSTON (AP) — LeBron James had 28 points and the Los Angeles Lakers
eliminated Houston with a 98-78 win in Game 6 of their Western
Conference first-round playoff series on Friday night by holding the
Rockets to a season low in points.
The No. 4 seed Lakers move on to meet the top-seeded Thunder with
Game 1 Tuesday in Oklahoma City.
Los Angeles has advanced to the second round for the first time
since 2023 when it lost to Denver in the West finals despite missing
top scorer Luka Doncic for the entire series.
“For us to be written off a few weeks ago and win a playoff series
is a big deal,” coach JJ Redick said.
The Lakers used a 27-3 run in the first half to take an 18-point
lead at halftime. They led by 22 with about three minutes left in
the third quarter before Houston went on an 8-2 run to cut the lead
to 71-55 entering the fourth.
But Los Angeles opened the quarter with a 10-3 spurt, with five
points from Rui Hachimura, to make it 81-58 with about seven minutes
left.
“In order for us to win we had to protect the ball, we had to
rebound and we had to be physical, make them take tough shots,”
James said. “I thought defensively we came in with a great game plan
and we executed that thing to a T.”
Hachimura added 21 points with five 3-pointers.
Redick raved about what James meant to his team not only Friday
night but throughout the season.
“He just has this ability to set the tone for the entire group and
he did that again tonight and our guys responded,” Redick said.
Amen Thompson had 18 points and Alperen Sengun added 17 for Houston,
which is heading home after a first-round playoff loss for a second
straight season after losing to the Warriors in seven games last
year.
“Everybody’s disappointed, no doubt," coach Ime Udoka said. “Not
what we expected coming into the game tonight or the series in
general. We all thought that we'd be taking it back for a Game 7."
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Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura (28) controls the ball
against Houston Rockets guard Reed Sheppard (15) during the first
half of Game 6 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series in
Houston, Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
The fifth-seeded Rockets had won two straight after
falling into an 0-3 hole. They forced Game 6 despite missing
superstar Kevin Durant for all but one game of this series because
of a knee injury followed by an ankle issue.
But they were felled by poor shooting Friday, making just 35%
overall and were particularly bad from long range. After making 26
3-pointers combined in the last two games, the Rockets made just 5
of 28 3-pointers Friday with Reed Sheppard going 1 for 10.
The Lakers trailed by 5 with five minutes left in the first before
using a 27-3 run to take a 38-19 lead with about seven minutes left
in the second quarter. Hachimura, Jake LaRavia and James all made
3-pointers in that stretch to help Los Angeles build the lead on a
night the Lakers made 12 3s.
The Rockets couldn’t get anything going early in the second quarter.
They got one free throw from Sheppard but missed 11 shots before he
made the team’s first field goal in the period with 6:55 left before
halftime.
That didn't spark anything for Houston and the Lakers led 49-31 at
halftime.
Austin Reaves added 15 points for the Lakers in his second game back
after missing more than three weeks with an oblique injury and
Deandre Ayton had seven points and 16 rebounds.
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