The Los Angeles Lakers have improved to 3-0 over the Houston Rockets and are now gearing up for a potential sweep after outlasting the Rockets 112-108 in overtime in what was undoubtedly the Lakers' toughest challenge in the playoffs yet.

They led throughout the game, commanding a lead as high as 15 points at one point in the game, but the Rockets tenacity and the efforts of Alpern Sengun, fueled by the support of the hometown Rockets crowd, meant that the Lakers lead wasn't going to be safe.

Houston surged back in the fourth quarter and overtook the Lakers in the final minutes of the game. With less than 30 seconds left, the Rockets led by six and simply needed to dribble out the clock to hold on for their first win of the series.

The Lakers looked defeated even before the buzzer rang, all of them but Marcus Smart. 

Head coach JJ Redick spoke after game two about the value and experience in the playoffs that Smart brought to the team, bringing up his own experience playing against Smart just a few years as one of the reasons that he knew what kind of competitor that Smart was when the Lakers signed him on.

"You've got to have guys that have been in that moment before," Redick said (via BASKETMAN). "Whether it's a need play, the instructions, we make them clear. Those guys echo it. Everybody knows what we're supposed to be doing... We've found a way to win a number of these games and I think our group has the experience in these moments."

Smart provided a spark that the Lakers desperately needed in the final seconds. While Jabari Smith Jr. was dribbling out the clock for the Rockets, Smart grabbed a steal when Smith Jr. attempted a pass and took it down court, drawing a foul beyond the arc to send himself to the line for three free throws, all of which he made

All of a sudden, the Lakers were in striking distance again. Smart's effort rejuvenated the Lakers and as the Rockets took possession of the ball again and attempted to move downcourt, LeBron James punched the ball out of Reed Sheppard's hands for the Lakers to recover.

Luke Kennard had the ball first but couldn't get off a shot. He passed it back to James who pulled up over two Rockets defenders and sank a game-tying three pointer with just 13.6 seconds left in the game.

Sengun took the ball down court again but missed what would have been the game-winning layup as James grabbed the defensive rebound to send the game into overtime, where the Lakers kept up their surge to finish the game ahead.

James led the Lakers in scoring with 29 points, but Smart undoubtedly had the most impact on the game and finished with 21 points, 10 assists, five steals and two blocks.