Lakers blowout Rockets in Game 6, advance to face Thunder in NBA Playoffs originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The Los Angeles Lakers have eliminated the Houston Rockets. The final score was 98-78. However, this game was a candidate for “the game was not as close as the score would indicate”.
Outside of free throw percentage, this was a statistically one-sided affair. Houston’s last lead in this game was in the final minute of the first quarter. By the midway point of the second quarter Los Angeles had built a double-digit lead (10). By the middle of the 3rd, the Lakers were up by 20 and would not relinquish that lead the rest of the way.
The Rockets were at a significant disadvantage coming into this game without the services of Kevin Durant. Who is still a top 10 player in the league. 4th in volume scoring and 11th in points per game. Sengun, Thompson and Smith are very nice pieces, but its a different equation with Durant out of the lineup.
Up next, the Lakers will face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round of the Western Conference playoffs. OKC was the best regular season team and is the overall No. 1 seed in the playoffs.
However, the Lakers could get good news soon. Luka Doncic missed the first round with a grade 2 hamstring injury. There is a decent chance Luka could be healthy for the round two matchup. Getting back the league’s top scorer (in volume and average) would go along way in making that series must see television.
NBA PLAYOFFS HQ: Live scores | Full schedule | Updated bracket
Lakers vs. Rockets live updates, highlights from Game 6 of NBA playoffs
On to the next ✔️ pic.twitter.com/Ltv9O1RkSa
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) May 2, 2026
Tone-setter. Game-changer. The King is one of one. pic.twitter.com/WNyD3SWrHA
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) May 2, 2026
#LakersWINpic.twitter.com/WJPOZRPV5O
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) May 2, 2026
Team Stats
| LAL | HOU | |
|---|---|---|
| FG | 36-89 | 28-80 |
| Field Goal % | 40 | 35 |
| 3PT | 12-28 | 5-28 |
| Three Point % | 43 | 18 |
| FT | 14-24 | 17-24 |
| Free Throw % | 58 | 71 |
| Rebounds | 54 | 45 |
| Offensive Rebounds | 15 | 8 |
| Defensive Rebounds | 39 | 37 |
| Assists | 19 | 13 |
| Steals | 4 | 6 |
| Blocks | 9 | 9 |
| Total Turnovers | 11 | 14 |
| Points Conceded Off Turnovers | 10 | 19 |
| Fast Break Points | 19 | 8 |
| Points in Paint | 46 | 44 |
| Fouls | 19 | 23 |
| Technical Fouls | 1 | 0 |
| Flagrant Fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Largest Lead | 29 | 5 |
| Percent Led | 85 | 14 |
The Los Angeles Lakers have defeated the Houston Rockets.
4th Quarter-0:21: Clint Capela makes a two point shot.
4th Quarter-0:50: Aaron Holiday makes a driving layup.
4th Quarter-1:19: Jae’Sean Tate makes a running layup.
4th Quarter-1:46: Josh Okogie makes a 25-foot three-point shot.
4th Quarter-2:25: Nick Smith Jr makes a 27-foot three-point shot.
4th Quarter-2:50: Amen Thompson makes a two-point shot.
4th Quarter-3:28: Jaxson Hayes makes a 2-foot alley oop dunk, assisted by Lebron James
4th Quarter-4:19: Amen Thompson makes a 3-foot driving dunk.
4th Quarter-4:55: Reed Sheppard makes a 29-foot three-point shot.
4th Quarter-5:36: Marcus Smart makes a 25-foot three-point shot.
4th Quarter-6:06: Lebron James makes a 4-foot shot.
4th Quarter-6:36: Tari Eason makes a 3-foot running dunk.
4th Quarter-7:09: Rui Hachimura makes a 14-foot shot.
4th Quarter-9:03: Deandre Ayton tips in a two-point shot.
4th Quarter-10:51: Lebron James makes a 4-point shot.
4th Quarter-11:20: Reed Sheppard makes a 9-foot shot.
4th Quarter-11:35: Rui Hachimura makes a 25-foot three-point shot.
Team Stats
| LAL | HOU | |
|---|---|---|
| FG | 26-63 | 18-59 |
| Field Goal % | 41 | 31 |
| 3PT | 8-20 | 3-17 |
| Three Point % | 40 | 18 |
| FT | 11-18 | 16-22 |
| Free Throw % | 61 | 73 |
| Rebounds | 37 | 33 |
| Offensive Rebounds | 7 | 6 |
| Defensive Rebounds | 30 | 27 |
| Assists | 13 | 10 |
| Steals | 3 | 5 |
| Blocks | 9 | 7 |
| Total Turnovers | 10 | 11 |
| Points Conceded Off Turnovers | 8 | 12 |
| Fast Break Points | 16 | 4 |
| Points in Paint | 34 | 28 |
| Fouls | 16 | 17 |
| Technical Fouls | 1 | 0 |
| Flagrant Fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Largest Lead | 25 | 5 |
| Percent Led | 81 | 19 |
The Lakers lead the Rockets 71-55 after three quarters.
3rd Quarter-0:37: Alperen Sengun makes a 10-foot shot.
3rd Quarter-1:43: Amen Thompson makes a 25-foot three-point shot.
3rd Quarter-2:27: Jabari Smith Jr makes a 4-foot shot.
3rd Quarter-4:48: Amen Thompson makes a 3-foot dunk.
3rd Quarter-5:45: Austin Reaves makes a 9-foot shot.
3rd Quarter-6:26: Rui Hachimura makes a 25-foot three-point shot.
Yeaaaaaaah Rui 🔥 pic.twitter.com/sP7rr22uRu
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) May 2, 2026
3rd Quarter-8:31: Deandre Ayton makes layup
3rd Quarter-9:50: Tari Eason makes a 25-foot three-point shot.
3rd Quarter-10:15: Rui Hachimura makes a 22-foot three-point shot.
Halftime: Lakers 49, Rockets 31
Team stats
| Halftime | Lakers | Rockets |
|---|---|---|
| FG | 18-45 | 12-42 |
| Field Goal % | 40 | 29 |
| 3PT | 6-13 | 2-12 |
| Three Point % | 46 | 17 |
| FT | 7-11 | 5-8 |
| Free Throw % | 64 | 63 |
| Rebounds | 28 | 21 |
| Offensive Rebounds | 6 | 3 |
| Defensive Rebounds | 22 | 18 |
| Assists | 10 | 5 |
| Steals | 3 | 1 |
| Blocks | 7 | 6 |
| Total Turnovers | 6 | 10 |
| Points Off Turnovers | 4 | 12 |
| Fast Break Points | 14 | 4 |
| Points in Paint | 22 | 20 |
| Fouls | 8 | 11 |
| Technical Fouls | 1 | 0 |
| Flagrant Fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Largest Lead | 19 | 5 |
2nd Quarter- 29.4 seconds- Lakers on 7-0 run up 49-31.
LEBRON JAMES IS GOING OFF.
18 PTS – 5 AST – 7/14 FG – 2/4 3P
… it’s only HALFTIME. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/07zUW8pjNv
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) May 2, 2026
2nd Quarter- 1:29- 10 turnovers by Houston after a shot clock violation
2nd Quarter- 2:14- LeBron James misses both free throws. 42-31 Lakers up
2nd Quarter- 2:46- Teams trade buckets with Lakers up 42-29
2nd Quarter- 5:11- Austin Reaves layup puts Lakers up 40-25. 7 points in 11 mins for Reaves.
That was smoooooth, Austin pic.twitter.com/9iRlilu9rk
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) May 2, 2026
2nd Quarter- 5:48- LeBron James draws a foul. No-call after a Houston challenge and jump ball with Lakers winning the tip.
2nd Quarter- 6:07- Houston gets some much-needed scoring with a quick 6-0 run. Lakers up 38-25
2nd Quarter- 7:14- Houston 0-15 from the field and down 38-19. One offensive rebound in the game.
2nd Quarter- 9:10- Houston’s first point of the quarter stops a run, but nothing big.
2nd Quarter- 9:26- TV timeout. Los Angeles opens the quarter blazing with James leading the way.
Lebron hit the 3 and Luka telling Ime Udoka to call the timeout 😭 pic.twitter.com/1MDZL5MeUw
— Shabazz 💫 (@ShowCaseShabazz) May 2, 2026
2nd Quarter- 10:19- 9-0 run for Lakers to open the quarter. Now up 32-18. Seven points in the stretch for LeBron James
End of 1st Quarter: Lakers 23, Rockets 18
Team Stats
| 1st Quarter | Lakers | Rockets |
|---|---|---|
| FG | 9-25 | 7-19 |
| Field Goal % | 36 | 37 |
| 3PT | 3-7 | 2-7 |
| Three Point % | 43 | 29 |
| FT | 2-3 | 2-4 |
| Free Throw % | 67 | 50 |
| Rebounds | 15 | 12 |
| Offensive Rebounds | 3 | 0 |
| Defensive Rebounds | 12 | 12 |
| Assists | 6 | 4 |
| Steals | 1 | 1 |
| Blocks | 3 | 4 |
| Total Turnovers | 1 | 4 |
| Points Off Turnovers | 0 | 3 |
| Fast Break Points | 5 | 4 |
| Points in Paint | 12 | 10 |
| Fouls | 3 | 5 |
| Technical Fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant Fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Largest Lead | 7 | 5 |
1st Quarter- 47.8 Seconds- Lakers miss back-to-back 3-pointers
1st Quarter- 2:18- Jabari Smith Jr. knocks down 2-of-3 free throws to cut LA’s lead, 23-18
1st Quarter- 2:34- Rui Hachimura nails a 3-pointer to up LA’s lead 23-16
1st Quarter- 2:50- Lakers take a 4-point lead off Jake LaRavia 3-pointer, 20-16
1st Quarter- 6:12- TV Timeout. Both teams are trading buckets, but Rockets up 14-11
1st Quarter- 7:29- Deandre Ayton splits free throws with Houston up 10-9
1st Quarter- 8:20- Austin Reaves jumper cuts the Rockets lead to 10-8
1st Quarter- 9:50- Amen Thompson put Rockets up 7-4 early
1st Quarter- 11:39- Rockets open the game with a 3-0 lead
Tip-off from Houston
Jabari Smith Jr. says the Rockets will think about Game 7 after tonight’s game—when he’s packing his bags to go to LA 👀
“We’re not thinking about Game 7. We’ll think about it tonight, when we’ve got to pack our bags. Not now.”
(🎥 @TheRocketsWire ) pic.twitter.com/0J63Ba4O4j
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) May 1, 2026
Injuries: Rockets: Fred VanVleet: out for season (acl), Steven Adams: out for season (ankle), Kevin Durant: out (ankle).
Lakers: Luka Doncic: out (hamstring).
How to Watch Los Angeles Lakers (3-2) vs. Houston Rockets (2-3) Game 6 NBA Playoffs
Friday, May 1
Tip-off: 9:30 p.m. ET
TV: Amazon Prime
LA leads the series 3-2
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