{"id":193440,"date":"2026-04-30T11:08:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-30T15:08:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=193440"},"modified":"2026-04-30T15:58:02","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T19:58:02","slug":"one-quarter-is-all-it-takes-lakers-fatal-flaw-exposed-in-playoff-losses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2026\/04\/30\/one-quarter-is-all-it-takes-lakers-fatal-flaw-exposed-in-playoff-losses\/","title":{"rendered":"One Quarter Is All It Takes: Lakers\u2019 Fatal Flaw Exposed In Playoff Losses"},"content":{"rendered":"

LOS ANGELES \u2014 The Los Angeles Lakers<\/a> dropped Game 5 at the Crypto.com Arena to set up a Game 6 in Houston. The Houston Rockets<\/a> came out on top of a tightly contested affair in which both teams threatened to run away with it at different intervals. The Lakers have allowed momentum to swing completely in the Rockets’ direction and know that a loss on Friday will put them in a territory only Boston (2023) has been in \u2014 hosting a Game 7 after going 3-0 up in a playoff series. The Lakers are in this unwanted situation because of their second-quarter struggles.<\/p>\n

One Quarter Is All It Takes: Lakers\u2019 Fatal Flaw Exposed in Playoff Losses<\/h2>\n

Momentum Slips After Game 3 High<\/h3>\n
\"Los
Apr 26, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) shoots the ball as Houston Rockets forward Tari Eason (17) defends during the third quarter during game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Immediately after the Lakers sealed an improbable Game 3 win in overtime, momentum was completely in their corner. Given the manner of the win \u2014 forcing OT despite being six points down with 30 seconds left in regulation \u2014 you could understand the shift. Houston had seemingly thrown away Game 3 while Kevin Durant<\/a> was conspicuously absent from the bench. Credit to the Rockets, they somehow dug deep to find the resolve to win Game 4 emphatically.<\/p>\n

Second Quarter Collapse Turns Game 5<\/h3>\n

Winning Game 5 on the road was supposed to be a different ball game altogether.<\/a> LeBron James<\/a> had not lost a closeout game in a playoff series since 2008, an 18-year run. Also, Austin Reaves<\/a> was returning to the lineup. The Lakers went up by as many as 11 points in the first quarter. The Rockets would flip the script in the second quarter, outscoring LA by 11 points to take a four-point lead into intermission. Houston never went back down again in the game. Zooming out, this is a pattern that has become clear throughout the series.<\/p>\n

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For the first time in 18 years, LeBron James has lost a closeout game at home \ud83d\ude33 pic.twitter.com\/gB3G4JDVCg<\/a><\/p>\n

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) April 30, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n