LeBron James leads Lakers past Rockets, advances to face Thunder in 2026 NBA playoffs

LeBron James scored 28 points as the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Houston Rockets 98-78 in Game 6 to advance to the second round of the 2026 NBA playoffs.

Lakers dominate Rockets in playoff series LeBron James led the Los Angeles Lakers with 28 points to close out the Houston Rockets 98-78 in Game 6 of their first-round playoff series on Friday night. The victory marked the Rockets' lowest single-game point total of the season. The Lakers, seeded fourth in the West, now prepare to face the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round beginning Tuesday. This marks Los Angeles' first advancement past the first round since 2023, when they lost to Denver in the Western Conference Finals despite Luka Doncic missing the entire series. ## Los Angeles builds commanding lead early The Lakers took control early by going on a 27-3 scoring run in the first half, which gave them an 18-point advantage at halftime. Their lead grew to 22 points with roughly three minutes remaining in the third quarter before Houston managed an 8-2 run to trim the deficit to 71-55 heading into the fourth. Los Angeles quickly restored order by scoring 10 of the next 13 points, including five from Rui Hachimura, to extend their lead to 81-58 with about seven minutes left in the game. ## Houston struggles with shooting and consistency Amen Thompson led Houston with 18 points, while Alperen Sengun contributed 17, but the Rockets fell short for the second straight year in the opening round. Despite pushing the series to six games after an 0-3 deficit, Houston was eliminated once again, having lost to Golden State in seven games the previous postseason. The Rockets shot just 35% overall on Friday and struggled from beyond the arc, making only 5 of 28 three-point attempts. Reed Sheppard, who had combined for 26 threes in the prior two games, went 1-for-10 from deep. ## Lakers overcome early deficit with balanced attack After trailing by five points with five minutes left in the first quarter, the Lakers went on a decisive 27-3 run to take a 38-19 advantage with about seven minutes remaining in the second quarter. James, Hachimura, and Jake LaRavia all connected on three-pointers during that stretch, helping Los Angeles build a double-digit lead. Houston managed just one free throw from Sheppard in the second quarter and missed 11 shots before their first successful field goal with 6:55 left before halftime. The Lakers carried a 48-31 halftime lead into the break. ## Key contributors for Los Angeles in victory Austin Reaves scored 15 points in his return to the lineup after missing more than three weeks due to an oblique injury. Deandre Ayton added seven points and collected 16 rebounds, providing a strong presence on the boards. Rui Hachimura contributed five points in the decisive fourth-quarter spurt as the Lakers pulled away. Anthony Davis also played a pivotal role defensively and offensively throughout the game.