Entering the playoffs without Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic, the Los Angeles Lakers were slight underdogs in their first-round matchup against the Houston Rockets. Two games later, however, LeBron James and company have taken a commanding 2–0 series lead.
While some downplayed the Lakers’ Game 1 win due to the absence of Kevin Durant, even his return in Game 2 did little to change the outcome. James led the way with a game-high 28 points in a 101–94 victory.
Durant endured one of the toughest outings of his career, tying his career-high with nine turnovers while finishing with 23 points and six rebounds in 41 minutes. His second-half struggles were particularly notable, as he managed just three points and four assists, shooting 1-of-5 from the field and 0-of-3 from beyond the arc.
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Despite the defensive success, James made it clear there was no sense of satisfaction in limiting Durant.
"None," James said when asked if there was any gratification in holding Durant to just three second-half points. "That just make him even madder going into Game 3. No satisfaction. … The guy’s a first-ballot Hall of Famer and he's gonna make way more great plays than not.”
James, who has faced Durant since their high school days, emphasized that the challenge remains significant, even making a lighthearted admission about Durant’s height.
“We don't have no satisfaction," he added. "That game is over and done with, but it's still a tall challenge — 7-foot tall, too. … He hates that. He might be mad at me if he sees that. He wants to be 6-9 or 6-10 so bad, but he’s 7-foot for sure.”
The rivalry between James and Durant spans over two decades, and this series could potentially be their final postseason meeting.
"It's the stories...They followed us since high school or maybe even before that. The storytelling is what a lot of fans and what a lot of people gravitate towards because they've seen our journey," James said before adding that it is always an honor to compete against Durant and something he does not take for granted.
With his 28-point performance, James surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most postseason points scored after turning 41. He also leads the NBA in points, rebounds, and assists per game in the playoffs among players aged 40 and above.
With the win, the Lakers improved to 2–0 in the series, and James has never lost a playoff series after taking a 2–0 lead, holding a perfect 32–0 record. The series now shifts to Houston for Game 3, where James expects a hostile environment, but the Lakers will carry momentum as they aim to take a 3–0 lead when the game tips off at 7:00 p.m. ET on Prime Video.
