HOUSTON — LeBron James described his second-quarter alley-oop to son Bronny James as a “special moment” after the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Houston Rockets 118-112 in overtime on April 24 at Toyota Center, taking a 3-0 lead in their first-round series.
With guards Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves sidelined, the Lakers leaned on their 41-year-old star to carry a heavier load. James forced the extra period by knocking down a game-tying three-pointer at the end of regulation, then helped Los Angeles secure the win in overtime.
The highlight of the night occurred midway through the second quarter. Bronny flashed to the rim, and LeBron lofted a pass that the rookie converted into a reverse layup. “He was calling for it,” LeBron told Prime Video after the game. “I’ve seen his steps for so long—he was gathering and I was like, ‘Go get it.’ I’m glad he went up and reversed it.”
Bronny, pressed into extended minutes because of the Lakers’ shortage of healthy guards, finished with his first points of the series and added a three-pointer when the Rockets went under a pick-and-roll. “He gave us great minutes,” LeBron said. “That was obviously a special moment.”
The elder James continued to emphasize his belief that Bronny belongs in the league, noting the rookie’s defensive contributions. Whether Bronny can carve out a permanent rotation role remains uncertain, but his Game 3 performance provided the Lakers with timely support as they await the returns of Dončić and Reaves.
Los Angeles will attempt to complete a sweep in Game 4 on Sunday, with LeBron expected to direct the team’s effort to reduce the disorganization that surfaced in Game 3.
Source: LakersNation.com
