The Los Angeles Lakers hit the road looking to pick up a series win over the Houston Rockets in Game 6 on Friday night. The Rockets defeated the Lakers 99-93 in the last matchup. Jabari Smith Jr. led the Rockets with 22 points, and LeBron James led the all scorers with 25.
While James is still going like the Energizer Bunny in Year 23, the NBA superstar has slowed down and is starting to show his age, especially in this series. Nonetheless, he’s still playing at a high level, but not up to his previous standards. Los Angeles is 8-3 in games decided by 3 points or fewer.
The Rockets are shooting 47.9% from the field this season. They’ll be without Kevin Durant once again in Game 6. However, Alperen Sengun is averaging 20.4 points, 8.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists. Amen Thompson has stepped up as well. He’s averaging 19.7 points over the last 10 games.
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Lakers vs. Rockets live updates, highlights from Game 6 of NBA playoffs
4th Quarter-6:36: Tari Eason makes a 3-foot running dunk.
4th Quarter-7:09: Rui Hachimura makes a 14-foot shot.
4th Quarter-9:03: Deandre Ayton tips in a two-point shot.
4th Quarter-10:51: Lebron James makes a 4-point shot.
4th Quarter-11:20: Reed Sheppard makes a 9-foot shot.
4th Quarter-11:35: Rui Hachimura makes a 25-foot three-point shot.
Team Stats
| LAL | HOU | |
|---|---|---|
| FG | 26-63 | 18-59 |
| Field Goal % | 41 | 31 |
| 3PT | 8-20 | 3-17 |
| Three Point % | 40 | 18 |
| FT | 11-18 | 16-22 |
| Free Throw % | 61 | 73 |
| Rebounds | 37 | 33 |
| Offensive Rebounds | 7 | 6 |
| Defensive Rebounds | 30 | 27 |
| Assists | 13 | 10 |
| Steals | 3 | 5 |
| Blocks | 9 | 7 |
| Total Turnovers | 10 | 11 |
| Points Conceded Off Turnovers | 8 | 12 |
| Fast Break Points | 16 | 4 |
| Points in Paint | 34 | 28 |
| Fouls | 16 | 17 |
| Technical Fouls | 1 | 0 |
| Flagrant Fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Largest Lead | 25 | 5 |
| Percent Led | 81 | 19 |
The Lakers lead the Rockets 71-55 after three quarters.
3rd Quarter-0:37: Alperen Sengun makes a 10-foot shot.
3rd Quarter-1:43: Amen Thompson makes a 25-foot three-point shot.
3rd Quarter-2:27: Jabari Smith Jr makes a 4-foot shot.
3rd Quarter-4:48: Amen Thompson makes a 3-foot dunk.
3rd Quarter-5:45: Austin Reaves makes a 9-foot shot.
3rd Quarter-6:26: Rui Hachimura makes a 25-foot three-point shot.
Yeaaaaaaah Rui 🔥 pic.twitter.com/sP7rr22uRu
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) May 2, 2026
3rd Quarter-8:31: Deandre Ayton makes layup
3rd Quarter-9:50: Tari Eason makes a 25-foot three-point shot.
3rd Quarter-10:15: Rui Hachimura makes a 22-foot three-point shot.
Halftime: Lakers 49, Rockets 31
Team stats
| Halftime | Lakers | Rockets |
|---|---|---|
| FG | 18-45 | 12-42 |
| Field Goal % | 40 | 29 |
| 3PT | 6-13 | 2-12 |
| Three Point % | 46 | 17 |
| FT | 7-11 | 5-8 |
| Free Throw % | 64 | 63 |
| Rebounds | 28 | 21 |
| Offensive Rebounds | 6 | 3 |
| Defensive Rebounds | 22 | 18 |
| Assists | 10 | 5 |
| Steals | 3 | 1 |
| Blocks | 7 | 6 |
| Total Turnovers | 6 | 10 |
| Points Off Turnovers | 4 | 12 |
| Fast Break Points | 14 | 4 |
| Points in Paint | 22 | 20 |
| Fouls | 8 | 11 |
| Technical Fouls | 1 | 0 |
| Flagrant Fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Largest Lead | 19 | 5 |
2nd Quarter- 29.4 seconds- Lakers on 7-0 run up 49-31.
LEBRON JAMES IS GOING OFF.
18 PTS – 5 AST – 7/14 FG – 2/4 3P
… it’s only HALFTIME. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/07zUW8pjNv
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) May 2, 2026
2nd Quarter- 1:29- 10 turnovers by Houston after a shot clock violation
2nd Quarter- 2:14- LeBron James misses both free throws. 42-31 Lakers up
2nd Quarter- 2:46- Teams trade buckets with Lakers up 42-29
2nd Quarter- 5:11- Austin Reaves layup puts Lakers up 40-25. 7 points in 11 mins for Reaves.
That was smoooooth, Austin pic.twitter.com/9iRlilu9rk
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) May 2, 2026
2nd Quarter- 5:48- LeBron James draws a foul. No-call after a Houston challenge and jump ball with Lakers winning the tip.
2nd Quarter- 6:07- Houston gets some much-needed scoring with a quick 6-0 run. Lakers up 38-25
2nd Quarter- 7:14- Houston 0-15 from the field and down 38-19. One offensive rebound in the game.
2nd Quarter- 9:10- Houston’s first point of the quarter stops a run, but nothing big.
2nd Quarter- 9:26- TV timeout. Los Angeles opens the quarter blazing with James leading the way.
Lebron hit the 3 and Luka telling Ime Udoka to call the timeout 😭 pic.twitter.com/1MDZL5MeUw
— Shabazz 💫 (@ShowCaseShabazz) May 2, 2026
2nd Quarter- 10:19- 9-0 run for Lakers to open the quarter. Now up 32-18. Seven points in the stretch for LeBron James
End of 1st Quarter: Lakers 23, Rockets 18
Team Stats
| 1st Quarter | Lakers | Rockets |
|---|---|---|
| FG | 9-25 | 7-19 |
| Field Goal % | 36 | 37 |
| 3PT | 3-7 | 2-7 |
| Three Point % | 43 | 29 |
| FT | 2-3 | 2-4 |
| Free Throw % | 67 | 50 |
| Rebounds | 15 | 12 |
| Offensive Rebounds | 3 | 0 |
| Defensive Rebounds | 12 | 12 |
| Assists | 6 | 4 |
| Steals | 1 | 1 |
| Blocks | 3 | 4 |
| Total Turnovers | 1 | 4 |
| Points Off Turnovers | 0 | 3 |
| Fast Break Points | 5 | 4 |
| Points in Paint | 12 | 10 |
| Fouls | 3 | 5 |
| Technical Fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant Fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Largest Lead | 7 | 5 |
1st Quarter- 47.8 Seconds- Lakers miss back-to-back 3-pointers
1st Quarter- 2:18- Jabari Smith Jr. knocks down 2-of-3 free throws to cut LA’s lead, 23-18
1st Quarter- 2:34- Rui Hachimura nails a 3-pointer to up LA’s lead 23-16
1st Quarter- 2:50- Lakers take a 4-point lead off Jake LaRavia 3-pointer, 20-16
1st Quarter- 6:12- TV Timeout. Both teams are trading buckets, but Rockets up 14-11
1st Quarter- 7:29- Deandre Ayton splits free throws with Houston up 10-9
1st Quarter- 8:20- Austin Reaves jumper cuts the Rockets lead to 10-8
1st Quarter- 9:50- Amen Thompson put Rockets up 7-4 early
1st Quarter- 11:39- Rockets open the game with a 3-0 lead
Tip-off from Houston
Jabari Smith Jr. says the Rockets will think about Game 7 after tonight’s game—when he’s packing his bags to go to LA 👀
“We’re not thinking about Game 7. We’ll think about it tonight, when we’ve got to pack our bags. Not now.”
(🎥 @TheRocketsWire ) pic.twitter.com/0J63Ba4O4j
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) May 1, 2026
Injuries: Rockets: Fred VanVleet: out for season (acl), Steven Adams: out for season (ankle), Kevin Durant: out (ankle).
Lakers: Luka Doncic: out (hamstring).