Kevin Durant returned to the Houston Rockets lineup on April 21, 2026, yet the Los Angeles Lakers again controlled the first-round series, winning 101-94 at Crypto.com Arena and moving ahead 2-0.
The Lakers swarmed Durant from the opening possession, routinely dispatching second defenders and forcing the 37-year-old forward into a playoff-career-high nine turnovers. He managed just three points after halftime and finished 6-for-17 from the field.
“They started doubling me from possession one,” Durant said postgame. “I’ve got to be better at not putting my teammates in bad positions. Sometimes I need to attack the double, shoot over it, and give us a chance at second-chance points.”
Lakers’ strategy delivers repeat results
Guard Marcus Smart spearheaded the pressure, while forwards Jake LaRavia and Rui Hachimura rotated to keep Durant guessing. The approach echoed two regular-season victories last month in which Los Angeles limited Houston to 35 second-half points in one meeting and 24 fourth-quarter points in the other.
Durant acknowledged the pattern. “We’ve played this team before and they know this is how to stay in the game. They’ll feel even more confident going into Game 3 because we haven’t made them pay.”
Shooting disparity widens gap
Through two games, the Lakers are shooting 52.9 percent overall and 48.9 percent from three-point range. The Rockets are at 39 percent from the floor and 29 percent beyond the arc. Los Angeles’ backcourt combined for 48 points in Game 2, while Hachimura added three three-pointers.
“We dominated every other aspect, but they dominated shot-making,” Durant said. “We’re getting good looks; we’re just not knocking them down.”
Durant targets adjustments for Game 3
The two-time Finals MVP plans to keep the ball more often instead of immediately passing out of traps. “I feel like I can shoot over those guys,” he said. “I’ve got to be more aggressive to score no matter where the double comes from.”
Game 3 shifts to Toyota Center later this week, where Houston will try to trim the Lakers’ 2-0 advantage and counter the relentless defensive pressure that has defined the opening contests.
Source: Lakers Nation
