Los Angeles is now up 3-0 in their first round series with the Houston Rockets against all odds, and thanks to the presence of LeBron.
Nobody expected the Los Angeles Lakers to be dominating the first round of the playoffs like this. When Luka Doncic went down with a hamstring strain in early April and Austin Reaves followed shortly after with an oblique injury, the Lakers' playoff ceiling dropped fast.
You don't lose your two leading scorers heading into the postseason without serious consequences. Everybody wrote LA off and assumed they'd have no chance of advancing past round one. Three games later, they're one win from a sweep.
"The last thing you even want to imagine," LeBron James said after Friday's Game 3 win, "is two of your best players going down with injuries and not being ready for the postseason. So it was a shift for all of us."
The shift he's speaking of has looked remarkably smooth. But Game 3 was the one that proved this Lakers group is absolutely dangerous without their stars.
Apr 24, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) defends against Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. (10) during the first quarter during game three of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn ImagesEveryone Has Had to Step Up
Houston led 101-95 with less than 30 seconds left in regulation. The Rockets had a 97% win probability up until Marcus Smart made a game-changing play.
Smart stunted at Jabari Smith, forced a steal, got fouled on a 3-point attempt and knocked down all three free throws. Then LeBron, at 41 years old and 45 minutes into the game, poked the ball away from Reed Sheppard and hit a game-tying three to force overtime.
In OT, Smart opened with a corner three, then crashed an offensive rebound late and got fouled to ice it. Lakers get an absolutely improbable win.
LeBron finished with 29 points, 13 rebounds and six assists. Smart posted 21 points, 10 assists and five steals, becoming the first player with a 20-point, 10-assist, five-steal and two-block playoff game since Michael Jordan in 1991.
The Lakers Are Still Dangerous
"There's only a couple guys whose roles kind of stayed the same," LeBron said. "But Bronny stepping in and playing meaningful minutes, Jake [LaRavia], everybody getting those minutes off the bench, everyone has to do a little bit more because of how much we're missing."
Redick has reworked his entire rotation on the fly. Smart is the lead initiator and Kennard starred in Game 1. Hachimura scored 22 points in Game 3, making his first six shots. This isn't the team LA built to peak in April whatsoever. It's a different group entirely, figuring it out game by game.
Without Luka, the Lakers have leaned on suffocating defense and a controlled pace, holding Houston under 100 points in both home games before the series shifted to Houston. The identity didn't collapse when their star went down, it just shifted.
Doncic isn't expected back this round, though he remains an option if (and at this point, when) LA advances to the second round. The Lakers are closing this series before their horses even get back. The rest of the West should be paying attention.