After the Lakers’ Game 2 victory over the Rockets Tuesday night, head coach JJ Redick briefly acknowledged the critics who claimed the series would easily go in Houston’s favor.
“I didn’t know anybody said we had what it takes to win,” Redick said.
He’s right.
Minus their top two scorers and filled with an unassuming supporting cast, it’s easy to see why most fans and analysts picked the Rockets to advance. Yet after the first two games, LA has flipped the narrative, defending home court and giving Houston major problems heading into Game 3.
Here’s a look at notable players and tactics to monitor as the series lands at Toyota Center.
Lakers vs Rockets Game 3 Preview: Key Players, Strategies to Watch
When and Where to Watch
Game 3 of the Lakers-Rockets series is on Friday, April 24, at 8 p.m. ET, streaming on Prime Video.
Los Angeles Lakers
Step aside, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, and welcome the Lakers’ (temporary) new “big three.”
LeBron James, Marcus Smart, and Luke Kennard.
The two veteran guards have broken out in LA’s two wins, whether it was Smart’s heart and hustle powering him to an elite 25-point outing in Game 2, or Kennard’s lights-out shooting giving him an average of 25 points on 72.7% shooting from three.
Those two will remain vital for LA in Game 3 and will continue to generate the brunt of the offense alongside James. If Reaves—who was upgraded to questionable Thursday afternoon—ends up returning from his oblique strain, that makes LA’s offense all the more dangerous.
And don’t forget about Rui Hachimura and Deandre Ayton, who have also been reliable contributors on familiar stages.
After coming off the bench in the second half of the season, Hachimura has returned to the first unit and hasn’t missed a beat. Playing 85 of a possible 96 minutes in the series’ first two games, he’s put up an efficient 13.5 points on 55% shooting from the field and 50% from deep. Hachimura has also shown marked improvement defensively, boasting 1.5 steals and a block per game. In a season full of changes, “Playoff Rui” may be here to stay.
Ayton, in his season of redemption, seems to have put it all together at the perfect time. After a 19-point, 11-rebound opener, he was quieter in Game 2 but made a decent impact inside. He has played a key role in defending Houston’s All-Star center, Alperen Sengun, limiting him to 4-of-11 shooting through the first two games. The 7-footer has looked like a legit lob threat next to James and Smart, and while his interior scoring is crucial going forward, his defense and rebounding will matter even more.
Key Strategy for LA
While the Lakers have been solid in executing Redick’s two keys to the series (“Take care of the ball and box out,” he told team reporter Mike Trudell last week), it’s worth seeing if their defense against Kevin Durant emerges in Houston—provided that Durant, who is questionable with an ankle sprain, actually ends up playing.
The Lakers regularly double-teamed the two-time champion Tuesday night, and while he still scored 23 points on 7-of-12 shooting, he complained about LA’s strategy postgame.
“They’re switching, and then just running a guy at me at the half (court line) or at the 3-point (line), or wherever I’m at, to double,” Durant told reporters. “We’ve played this team before, and they know this is the way for them to stay in the game, is to play this type of defense. We’ve got to make them pay.”
The Lakers’ swarming defense on KD forced other Rockets to play hero instead, and despite their best efforts, they still fell short. If Durant suits up, expect LA’s double trouble to carry over as well, with stalwarts like James and Smart continuing to set the tone.
Houston Rockets
LA expected Houston to play desperate in Game 2, and after the Rockets dug themselves into a deeper hole, that desperation will certainly increase.
While Durant (if available) and Sengun will remain the focal points on offense, Houston will also look to Amen Thompson and Jabari Smith Jr. for other sources of production. Thompson, a de facto facilitator in the absence of Fred VanVleet, has averaged 16.5 points and 8.0 assists in the series so far. Smith Jr. has made his presence felt on the perimeter (37% 3PT this series) and on the glass (9.0 rebounds per game, 3.0 offensive). Regardless of Durant’s status, the two of them will be called upon to help Houston out.
Additionally, after being a non-factor in Game 2, Reed Sheppard will be determined not to let lightning strike twice. The 21-year-old guard went 0-of-4 from the field, with three of those looks coming from beyond the arc. Although he still tallied three assists and a steal, it’s a far cry from the sharpshooter who put up 13.5 points and buried 39% of his threes in 82 games (21 starts).
The Rockets’ aggression will be pivotal if they want to keep their hopes alive. It’s not every day that a top-eight offense fails to hit the century mark in back-to-back playoff games. Just as the Lakers won’t take their feet off the gas, expect a Rockets team hungry for redemption to make a statement from the opening tip.
Key Strategy for Houston
After Game 1, Thompson pointed to transition play as a point of emphasis for the rest of the series.
“Just get it out off makes, off misses, get it out,” he said. “When me and Reed are in there, playing fast is to our advantage. So just doing that I feel like it’s going to change a lot.”
On Tuesday, Houston scored 20 of their points on fastbreaks (21.2%), barely beating the Lakers’ 17 and improving on the 11 they scored in the opener. Heading into Game 3, they’re in the middle of the pack when it comes to fastbreak points per game, tied with the Boston Celtics at 15.5. The team’s aggressive offense should lead to some opportunities to get out and run. Capitalizing on those moments will be key for the Rockets to start turning their fate around.
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