The Los Angeles Lakers neutralized Kevin Durant in Game 2 of their first-round series, but LeBron James says the job is far from finished.
On April 21, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena, the Lakers beat the Houston Rockets 112-97 to grab a 2-0 lead. James delivered 28 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Durant had 23 points, but only three came after halftime as he committed a playoff-career-high nine turnovers under constant traps and double-teams.
“None. That just makes him even madder going into Game 3,” James said when asked if Los Angeles should feel satisfied with its defensive showing. “We did our job, but the guy’s a first-ballot Hall of Famer… It’s still a tall challenge—seven-foot tall, too.”
The veteran forward added that Durant will “make way more great plays than not” and stressed that the Lakers must remain “locked in” as the series shifts to Houston.
Historic matchup outside the Finals
This series marks the first postseason clash between James and Durant that is not an NBA Finals. They previously met for the championship in 2011, 2017 and 2018. James noted that fans gravitate to the matchup because they have followed both stars “since high school… They’ve seen our journey, our ups and downs, and everything in between.”
Durant seeks answers
Durant acknowledged after the loss that he must handle Los Angeles’ pressure better in Game 3, scheduled for Friday at Toyota Center. Houston is expected to adjust its offensive sets to free the 13-time All-Star for cleaner looks.
The Lakers, meanwhile, aim to take a commanding 3-0 advantage while heeding James’s reminder that “that game is over and done with.”
Source: Lakers Nation
