Kevin Durant scores 23 for Houston but the Lakers bag a 101-94 win despite a depleted team, with Luka Doncic missing.By ReutersPublished On 22 Apr 202622 Apr 2026LeBron James compiled 28 points, eight rebounds and seven assists to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 101-94 victory over the visiting Houston Rockets, taking a 2-0 lead in their first-round Western Conference playoff series.With leading scorers Luka Doncic (hamstring injury) and Austin Reaves (oblique strain) watching from the bench on Tuesday, Marcus Smart added 25 points, including 5 of 7 from 3-point range, and Game 1 hero Luke Kennard contributed 23 points, which included 3 of 6 from deep.“Just as hard as we played in Game 1, we had to double that in Game 2,” James said. “We understood what they wanted to come in [with], the desperation they were going to have, so we had to be even more desperate. And I thought we played a hell of a game.”Kevin Durant, who missed the opening game with a right knee contusion, scored 23 points for Houston, but he had nine turnovers and was held to just three points after half-time.Houston’s Alperen Sengun paired 20 points with 11 rebounds, Jabari Smith Jr had 18 points, and Amen Thompson posted 16 points and nine assists.“The turnovers hurt us, but outside of the third quarter, [we were] decent overall,” Rockets coach Ime Udoka said. “But 7-for-29 from three, 8-for-20 on second-chance points, and shooting 40 percent is not good enough … [We’re] defending well enough, but not s …
