HOUSTON -- Prior to Friday, in the last 29 years, NBA teams were 1713-1 when leading by 6 or more points in the last 30 seconds of regulation during a playoff game.Make it 1713-2 — and in this case, the Rockets were up 6 and with possession of the basketball!After a series of baffling mistakes in the final 30 seconds, Houston was pushed to overtime by the Los Angeles Lakers and eventually lost, 112-108 (box score). All-Star forward Kevin Durant (left ankle sprain) did not play for the second time in three postseason games.That Game 3 victory gives the Lakers a commanding 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven, first-round series, which no team in NBA playoff history has overcome.“Horrendous mistakes," Rockets coach Ime Udoka said postgame.
“I don't know if you want to say youth or scared of the moment, or whatever the case.”When asked about his postgame message to the team, Udoka said:‘Grow up. You’re not that young anymore.’I talk about age all the time but I’m not talking about 23, 22, whatever it is. I’m looking at five years, four years, three years in the league and going from there and not learning from previous experiences.The defining sequence went as follows, and you can watch it below:Up 6, Jabari Smith Jr. unnecessarily picked up his dribble and attempted a lob pass, which Marcus Smart intercepted.Jae’Sean Tate, a late-game defensive substitution, then fouled Smart on a 3-point attempt.
Smart made all three resulting free throws.Up 3, Reed Sheppard was stripped by LeBron James in the backcourt. James then buried a tying 3-pointer.Tied, Alperen Sengun’s attempt at a game-winner came before the buzzer and hit the side of the backboard. Udoka said postgame that the players did not run the intended play.The collapse overshadowed what would have been a feel-good story for three key members of Houston’s young core.
After falling behind by 15 points in the first half, the Durant-less Rockets rallied behind big games from:Alperen Sengun: 33 points, 16 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals; 15-of-27 shooting (55.6%)Amen Thompson: 26 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, 3 blocks; 8-of-14 shooting (57.1%), 10-of-13 on free throws (76.9%)Jabari Smith Jr.: 24 points, 6 rebounds; 8-of-16 shooting (50.0%), 6-of-10 on 3-pointers (60.0%)But it was a rough night from Reed Sheppard and Tari Eason, who combined to make just 8-of-30 shots overall (26.7%) and 4-of-17 from 3-point range (23.5%). Eason missed all four of his attempts from deep, while Sheppard had a team-high five turnovers — including the crippling one with about 20 seconds left.“Obviously you’ve gotta watch it and you gotta learn from it,” Sheppard said postgame.
“It sucks having to watch and re-run and go through it and talk about it, but you know that’s part of it — part of getting over (it) and getting better.”James led the Lakers with 29 points (45.5% FG), 13 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals, though he did commit a game-high eight turnovers. The perennial All-Star connected on 4-of-9 shots (44.4%) from 3-point range, punctuated by the tying trey after Sheppard’s late turnover.Sunday’s Game 4 tips off at 8:30 p.m. Central, and it will be televised and streamed to a national audience via NBC and Peacock.
Udoka said after Game 3 that Durant would again be listed as questionable.More: Rockets star Kevin Durant sits out Game 3 vs. Lakers with ankle sprainIme breaks down the two turnovers at the end of regulation that erased a 6-point Rockets lead“Horrendous mistakes, I don't know if you want to say youth or scared of the moment.” pic.twitter.com/IlS61T57aa— Lachard Binkley (@BinkleyHoops) April 25, 2026This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: ‘Horrendous mistakes’: Rockets choke Game 3 vs. Lakers in epic fashion