Lakers topple Rockets in Kevin Durant’s return to take 2-0 series lead

The Rockets had their best player back in the lineup against the Lakers on Tuesday night after he sat out of Saturday’s Game 1.

But even with Kevin Durant available and having a hot start, Game 2 played out similarly to the playoffs series-opener, with the Lakers beating the Rockets 101-94 at Crypto.com Arena to take a two-game lead in the best-of-seven first round series.

Durant led the Rockets with 23 points, six rebounds and four assists after missing the first game of the series because of a right knee contusion.

But the Lakers once again stifled the Rockets’ offense.

And they were able to get just enough offense out of their own team, which remained without injured star guards Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, to pick up a pivotal victory before going on the road for the next two games of the series.

“There’s a natural flow to series where the team that wins [Game 1] can relax a little bit and the team that loses comes out and plays with more desperation,” coach JJ Redick said. “Our guys at least matched their sense of desperation. Our second efforts, all that stuff. You’ve got to win a bunch of little fights, that can be your catch position, that can be your screens, that can be creating separation, that can be boxing out. But this team requires you to win a bunch of little fights.”

LeBron James scored a team-high 28 points to go with eight rebounds and seven assists. Luke Kennard had 23 points and six rebounds, while Marcus Smart stuffed the stat sheet with 25 points, seven assists and five steals.

What it means

The Lakers have a 2-0 series lead over the Rockets, the first time they’ve done so since winning the 2020 NBA Finals against the Heat.

Since the NBA moved to a 16-team playoff format in 1984, teams that go up 2-0 in a series under the 2-2-1-1-1 home/away pattern have a 245-23 record (91.4% winning percentage of the series).

“It means nothing,” James said. “The series is not won until you win four. It’s the first to four.”

Turning point

When Smart knocked down a corner 3 to give the Lakers a 95-87 lead with 2:23 left in the game.

The shot was not only Smart’s fifth 3-pointer, but gave the Lakers breathing room late.

Smart also picked up a crucial steal against Durant, who had nine turnovers, before assisting James on a dunk to give the Lakers a 99-92 lead.

MVP: Marcus Smart

Smart made five of the Lakers’ 13 3s and made big plays on both ends of the floor throughout Tuesday.

His scoring total was the third time he reached at least 25 points in a playoff game, which he last did during the 2020 Eastern Conference Finals when he had 26 points in a Game 1 loss to the Heat.

Smart’s playoff career-high is 27 points.

“To be able to be back on this stage again,” Smart said, “making the plays that I’m making with these guys, with this team, this organization, I’m just grateful.