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Luka Dončić reacts from the bench during the Lakers’ Game 3 comeback as the Rockets collapse late in Houston.

The Houston Rockets were seconds away from flipping their first-round series.

Instead, they’re now on the brink of elimination.

Rockets Suffer Costly Late Collapse in Game 3

Leading by six with under 30 seconds remaining, Houston appeared poised to secure its first win against the Los Angeles Lakers.

But a series of late-game mistakes unraveled everything, as the Rockets fell 112-108 in overtime Friday night and slipped into a 3-0 series deficit.

“Horrendous mistakes,” Rockets coach Ime Udoka said. “I don’t know if you want to say youth or scared of the moment, or whatever the case.”

Luka Dončić’s Trolling Adds Fuel From the Bench

Even without Luka Dončić on the floor, Houston had to deal with his presence.

The Lakers star, sidelined with a hamstring injury, remained active from the bench throughout the game. He was seen reacting to missed shots, chirping at Rockets players and engaging with the action from the sideline as tensions rose late.

While it had no official impact on the game, Dončić’s visible involvement added another layer to a frustrating night for Houston.

Rockets Let Opportunity Slip Away

Houston capitalized on consecutive turnovers by LeBron James to take a 101-95 lead in the closing moments of regulation.

But from there, everything unraveled.

Marcus Smart was fouled on a 3-point attempt with 25 seconds left after a Houston turnover and converted all three free throws to cut the lead to three.

Moments later, James stole the ball from Reed Sheppard and drilled a game-tying 3-pointer with 13 seconds remaining.

“It was a stupid turnover,” Sheppard said. “I should have just made the simple play.”

Missed Chances Seal Rockets’ Fate

Houston still had a chance to regain control.

Alperen Şengün missed a 7-foot attempt in the closing seconds, and James’ buzzer-beating try at the other end forced overtime after hitting the rim.

In the extra period, the Lakers executed while the Rockets struggled to recover, allowing Los Angeles to close out the win.

Fourth-Quarter Struggles Continue

The collapse mirrored a recurring issue for Houston.

“It’s obviously a weakness of ours to close out and finish,” Udoka said. “The amount of mistakes or the type of mistakes are egregious and you can’t have those.”

Despite strong performances — including Şengün’s 33 points and 16 rebounds and Amen Thompson adding 26 points and 11 boards — the Rockets couldn’t execute when it mattered most.

Kevin Durant Absence Adds to Challenge

Houston again played without Kevin Durant, who missed his second straight game with an ankle injury.

Despite the absence, the Rockets were in position to win — making the loss even more difficult to absorb.

“It’s tough to win on the road in the playoffs,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “And that was a huge test for us.”

Rockets Urged to Respond in Game 4

Udoka didn’t waste time addressing the collapse.

He had the team review the final 30 seconds immediately after the game before delivering a blunt message.

“Grow up,” he said. “You’re not that young anymore.”

Şengün echoed the urgency heading into Game 4.

“We’ll be upset tonight. That’s for sure,” he said. “But we’ve got to get over it. Nobody’s giving up.”

Houston Faces Elimination

With Game 4 set for Sunday in Houston, the Rockets must regroup quickly to avoid a first-round exit.

Dončić may still be sidelined.

But for Houston, the focus is clear — clean up the mistakes, finish the game, and keep the season alive.