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Bronny James and LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers warm up.

Ahead of just his third career playoff game, Bronny James didn’t think his name would make for some headlines Friday night.

The Los Angeles Lakers, trailing by six with roughly 30 seconds to play in regulation, pulled off a miraculous late comeback to stretch their series lead to a commanding 3-0. 

Many suspected this would be a tougher task for the Lakers. Game 3 was in Houston, allowing the Rockets a golden opportunity to pull within one win in the series and make things interesting. Instead, they were left to play without their best player, Kevin Durant, who picked up another injury this week.

The Lakers suddenly find themselves just one win away from a trip to the second round of the 2026 NBA playoffs. 

Perhaps not even they thought this was a position they would be in after what happened to their two best scorers just over three weeks ago.

But here they are.

Bronny James Records Unpredictable Feat in Win Over Rockets

It was a weird night for L.A. 

Sometimes the offense was humming and the defense was clicking, other times production on both sides of the court were suspect at best. 

But the Lakers got at least one of their two heroes from Games 1 and 2 to step up again. It was Marcus Smart who was the No. 2 to LeBron James’ No. 1 in the victory.

The veteran Smart, 32, recorded 21 more points — he now has 61 points through the first three games of the series — and 10 dimes. 

Interestingly, even that Smart statline didn’t catch more eyes and ears than Bronny James’ statline.

GettyLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 10: Bronny James #9 of the Los Angeles Lakers. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Get this: the 21-year-old Lakers guard played just nine minutes and scored only five points. But … his point total still exceeded that of the entire Rockets bench. 

James outscored Houston’s reserves 5-3. 

Yes, you read that right.

Congratulations, Bronny, you are already making waves in just your third postseason game. Whether that’s a credit to the young Lakers guard or shame on the Rockets bench is up for debate.

Take off. 

Rockets Continue to Free Fall in Shocking Series

In their heart of hearts, not even Lakers fans saw this coming. Not going up 3-0, even 2-0, even 1-0. Some were sincere enough to say their beloved Lakers would get ousted in four or five games.

Now the shoe is on the other foot. It’s the Lakers prepared to whip out the broom Sunday night. 

“We got to be like a lion,” Smart said. “We got to have that killer instinct. We got them on the ground. We just got to finish them off and keep our foot on their neck.”

James scoring more points than the Rockets bench is, in a nutshell, what’s gone wrong so fast for Houston. 

Durant’s injury ahead of the opening game of the series threw both teams off kilter. It gave the Lakers a door to run through and the Rockets a portal of vulnerability. 

Durant may not even play in Game 4, though many are already writing this series off as a Lakers sweep.

The Rockets have one more chance to avoid going out in total humiliation. Let’s see what kind of spirit they bring to Game 4.