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Lakers defeat Rockets in Kevin Durant’s comeback to go up 2-0 in the series

April 22, 2026

Rockets Face Tough Loss Against Lakers in Game 2

After sitting out the first game on Saturday, the Rockets welcomed their star player back for Tuesday’s matchup against the Lakers. The excitement was palpable, but even with Kevin Durant back in action, Game 2 ended in disappointment. The Lakers managed to secure a 101-94 victory, pulling ahead 2-0 in the first round of the playoff series.

Durant, returning from a right knee contusion, led his team with 23 points, six rebounds, and four assists. However, the Lakers effectively neutralized the Rockets’ offensive efforts once again.

Missing their key guards, Luka Doncic and Austin Reeves, the Lakers still found a way to assert their dominance, claiming a significant win before heading off to their next games in the series.

LeBron James took the lead with 28 points, bolstered by eight rebounds and seven assists. Luke Kennard added to the effort with 23 points and six rebounds, while Marcus Smart contributed 25 points along with seven assists and five steals.

What It Means

This marks the Lakers’ first 2-0 series lead since they triumphed over the Heat in the 2020 NBA Finals. Historically, in the NBA’s 16-team playoff format introduced in 1984, teams that win the first two games of a best-of-seven series holding a 2-0 record have a strong winning percentage of 91.4%.

Turning Point

With just over two minutes left in the game, Smart hit a crucial corner three-pointer, pushing the Lakers’ lead to 95-87. This was one of his five successful shots from beyond the arc, giving the Lakers some much-needed breathing room late in the match. He also recorded a vital steal from Durant—who struggled with nine turnovers—before assisting on a dunk by James, increasing the Lakers’ lead to 99-92.

MVP: Marcus Smart

Smart played a key role, connecting on five of the Lakers’ 13 three-pointers throughout the game and making impactful plays on both ends of the court.

Game Status

The shooting statistics told the story of the night. The Lakers excelled with 13 of 28 shots from three-point range, while the Rockets faced challenges, only managing to hit 7 of their 29 attempts.