Hachimura: Lakers Viewed Game 6 as Their Game 7 in Series-Clinching Win
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Houston, TX — May 1, 2026: The Los Angeles Lakers closed out the Houston Rockets on Friday night with a 98-78 victory at Toyota Center, sealing the first-round series 4-2 and setting up a Western Conference semifinal against the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder.
LeBron James scored 28 points, and Rui Hachimura added 21 as Los Angeles avoided a decisive Game 7 that would have given Houston a chance to make NBA history by overcoming an 0-3 deficit. After dropping Games 4 and 5, the Lakers approached Friday’s contest as a must-win, according to Hachimura.
“We talked about how this was going to be our Game 7,” the forward said postgame. “We didn’t want them to bring it back to our home. We said we’re going to send them home tonight, and it started with LeBron. He had the energy from the beginning.”
The Lakers, sluggish in the previous two outings, rediscovered their edge on defense, holding the Rockets to 78 points—L.A.’s second-best defensive showing of the season. The renewed intensity ended Houston’s bid to capture four straight wins after forcing overtime in Game 3 and taking the next two matchups.
Head coach JJ Redick highlighted the collective effort that carried Los Angeles through the series. “The reason our team is winning is because of our team,” Redick said. “Each guy is starring in his role and contributing to winning. I thought the collective tonight was awesome, especially defensively.”
With the series wrapped, the Lakers turn their attention to Oklahoma City, where they will enter as underdogs against the conference’s No. 1 seed.
Source: LakersNation.com
