The Houston Rockets let a six-point lead vanish in the final 30 seconds and fell to the Los Angeles Lakers, 112-108 in overtime, on Friday night at Toyota Center.
“Horrendous mistakes,” head coach Ime Udoka said after the game. “I don’t know if you want to say youth or scared of the moment.”
Houston appeared in control when two straight LeBron James turnovers allowed the margin to grow to 101-95. Everything unraveled from there:
- Marcus Smart was fouled on a three-pointer and converted all three free throws.
- James stripped rookie Reed Sheppard, then drilled a game-tying three with 13 seconds left.
“It was a stupid turnover,” Sheppard admitted. “I should have made the simple play.”
The Rockets still had chances. Alperen Şengün missed a potential go-ahead jumper, and James misfired at the regulation buzzer, forcing overtime. Los Angeles controlled the extra period, leaving Houston one defeat from elimination.
“It’s obviously a weakness of ours to close out and finish,” Udoka said, adding that the club “can’t have” the kind of late-game errors that resurfaced Friday.
Şengün delivered 33 points and 16 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough. “We’ll be upset tonight,” the center said. “But we’ve got to get over it.”
Kevin Durant missed his second straight game with an ankle injury, and Udoka labeled the star forward’s status for Sunday’s Game 4 as uncertain.
Udoka’s postgame message in the locker room was concise. “Grow up,” he told his players.
Game 4 is scheduled for Sunday in Houston.
Source: Hoops Wire
