Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers pushed their series lead to 2-0 on Tuesday night, beating the Houston Rockets even though center Deandre Ayton scored only six points and watched the closing minutes from the bench. Head coach JJ Redick said the late-game rotation was dictated by rhythm, noting that backup Jaxson Hayes “had it going.” Redick told Ayton, “You didn’t do anything wrong,” and emphasized the former No. 1 pick’s contributions that do not appear in the box score—screens, defensive switches and physical interior play.
“When he does what we ask him to do, he should get all the praise in the world,” Redick added. The club expects Ayton’s minutes to fluctuate from night to night but sees no internal concern about his role.
Spurs
San Antonio guard Keldon Johnson said winning the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award came during a personally challenging season. Johnson revealed that his grandfather has been battling cancer in Virginia, limiting family time. “On the days I didn’t have it, I was able to come here and my teammates picked me up. It’s like one big family,” Johnson said. Long regarded as the Spurs’ emotional spark, he credited that support system for helping him navigate the year.
Rockets
Houston returns home for Game 3 trailing 0-2 and facing what feels like a decisive juncture. A first-round exit to the short-handed Lakers could lead to difficult offseason decisions, according to multiple reports. Center Alperen Sengun is viewed as the key to any comeback; analysts describe the next two contests as the most important of his career to date. With the series window “starting to narrow,” the Rockets acknowledge little margin for error moving forward.
Source: Hoops Wire
