The Los Angeles Lakers had a moment of panic Friday night when LeBron James grabbed at the inside of his left leg midway through the third quarter. For a team on the verge of locking up the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference playoffs, this was the last thing they needed to see.
Thankfully, it turned out to be nothing more than a minor scare. James returned to the bench later in the game, celebrating wildly as the Lakers cruised to a dominant 140-109 win over the Houston Rockets. The victory secured their spot as the No. 3 seed and ensured they would avoid the play-in tournament for the first time since their championship run in 2020.
A Groin Injury That Wasn’t: LeBron’s Quick Recovery
When James hobbled to the bench, clutching his groin, the vibe changed. Losing LeBron – even for a minute – could’ve killed the Lakers’ title hopes. But the four-time MVP proved again why he’s durable and tough.
By the 4th quarter, James was back on his feet, moonwalking along the sideline after Austin Reaves made rookie Jack McVeigh trip over his own feet with a slick step-back. He celebrated several times, no signs of pain. He finished with 14 points and 8 assists in 22 minutes before sitting the rest of the game.
Doncic and Reaves Shine in LeBron’s Shadow
LeBron provided the stability and leadership, but Luka and Austin stole the show against a short handed Rockets team. Luka was amazing, 39 points on 19 shots in 31 minutes. He was efficient and had great court vision, he’s one of the best in the game.
Austin was big time, 23 points and showed he can create space and make tough shots. Dorian had 18, and Rui had 16 off the bench. The Lakers shot 61% from the field, their best shooting game of the season.
Locking Up Home-Court Advantage
With the win, they are now the 3rd seed and will have home court in the first round of the playoffs. This is big not only because it’s a Game 1 in LA but also because it gives us extra time to rest and prepare for our next opponent.
“It just gives us a couple more days to be very prepared for whatever we get,” Reaves said after the game.
Sunday’s regular season finale against the Portland Trail Blazers will be a tune up game. We’ll sit most of our guys and focus on the playoffs.
Celebrations Erupt in the Locker Room
After the final buzzer the Lakers locker room exploded. Laughter and cheers echoed through the walls as players dumped ice buckets on rookie head coach JJ Redick. A fitting tribute to a coach who has navigated the ship through a successful regular season.
“The whole locker room is literally water,” Hachimura joked after. “Straight water.”
Redick praised his team for their overall effort throughout the long NBA season and building a winning culture.
“50 wins in the regular season is an accomplishment any year,” Redick said. “Especially this year in this Western Conference. And it’s on our players. Each one at different times has contributed to winning.”
Eyes Set on the Championship
All the joy of Friday’s win aside, the Lakers know there’s still work to be done. Their ultimate goal remains the same: bringing another Larry O’Brien to LA.
“That’s gotta be the only goal, and that’s our only goal,” Doncic said. “I think we have the team to do it. When everybody’s locked in, you know, we’re a tough team to beat. That’s our goal.”
The Lakers feel like they have something special—a championship team with two superstars in LeBron and Luka. Now it’s time to execute.
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