The Lakers’ season was supposed to be over by now.
Kevin Durant and the Rockets were expected to take advantage of injuries to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
Father Time was expected to prevail over LeBron James at age 41, making it unlikely for him to be the primary option anymore.
However, the recent landscape of this opening-round playoff series has changed significantly.
Los Angeles now needs just one more win to sweep Houston after a tough 112-108 overtime victory in Game 3.
The Rockets are favored by 5.5 points as of Saturday, pending Kevin Durant’s availability, but all the momentum is riding on the Purple and Gold.
Durant has only played in one game due to knee and ankle injuries. His availability for Sunday’s Game 4 remains uncertain.
The absence of Fred VanVleet is haunting head coach Ime Udoka and the Rockets when needed most, to close out a basketball game. Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson have shown flashes, but the moment is proving to be a little too much for the young duo.
Houston held a 101-95 lead in Game 3 with 27.8 seconds remaining before disaster struck.
Jabari Smith Jr’s inexcusable turnover, combined with the clutch defense and shotmaking of James, summed up Houston’s conundrum.
It was a historic collapse and a gut-wrenching way to lose. Over the last 29 years, teams that have gone up by six points or more in the final 30 seconds in the playoffs have a record of 1,713-1.
The Rockets had lofty expectations after acquiring Durant in an offseason trade for Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks. However, Houston’s poor roster construction and lack of bench production have been on display throughout this series.
In Game 3, Udoka searched for answers, at one point playing Jeff Green in hopes of a spark, but it never arrived.
The Lakers’ bench outscored Houston’s 24 to 3, with Jarred Vanderbilt and Jaxson Hayes playing key roles for the second unit. JJ Redick has maximized his roster, with players like Marcus Smart, Luke Kennard, and Rui Hachimura taking on larger offensive roles.
James is effectively reversing time, averaging 25.3 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 8.7 assists in the series. He has been the best player on the court.
The Lakers aim for their first playoff series victory since 2023, with DraftKings listing their current odds at -1400 to do so.
James is chasing his 12th career sweep, with his last 4-0 series victory coming when he was with the Cavaliers against the Raptors in Cleveland’s 2018 Finals run.
Although Durant’s availability will likely influence the odds, even in Game 2 when he played, the Lakers’ defense forced him into nine turnovers, and he’s clearly not at full strength.
Expect the Lakers to finish the job and bring out the broom.
The Play: Lakers moneyline (+154, FanDuel)
Mike Turay is a sports journalist and editor who closely follows the NBA, NFL, college sports and UFC. He has demonstrated expertise in both NBA and NFL player prop bets for nearly three years. Mike is also highly knowledgeable about the sportsbook offer landscape, frequently trying and reviewing the latest apps and sites.
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