The Lakers aim to close out their first round series against the Houston Rockets on Sunday
The purple and gold are looking to sweep an opponent in the playoffs for the first time since May 2010.
Start time and TV schedule
Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets
When: 6:30 p.m. PT, Apr. 26
Where: Toyota Center
Watch: NBC, Peacock
Just like that, the Lakers are one win away from advancing to the Western Conference semifinals. They’ve shocked the world with their performance over the last three games, but their rising to the occasion
is nothing new.
The Lakers’ challenge in Game 3 was to counter the Rockets’ strongest response yet and they successfully did so. In Game 4, it’s going to be about closing the series and putting this young Rockets team to bed. That itself is going to be a different challenge, but perhaps the biggest advantage that Los Angeles now has is that they’ve snatched away Houston’s fighting spirit — at least that’s what it seems.
Over the last three games, the Lakers have continuously proven that they’re just the better team, even without two of their best players. It’s still extremely weird typing that but that’s what happens when the team has LeBron James, Marcus Smart and experienced role players. The chemistry — especially during clutch time — that the team worked so hard to build during the regular season is one of the reasons why they’re on top right now.
On Sunday, the Lakers are going to need their chemistry and composure to be in full effect more than ever. It’s uncertain how these Rockets will approach this one given that they don’t seem confident that they can get back in the series. But what’s certain is that no team wants to be swept, so there’s a good chance that Houston will go all out in this one, especially since they’re composed of young players all around.
With Kevin Durant’s status up in the air again, expect Alperen Şengün to lead the Rockets’ offense. He did a good job doing so in Game 3, but it obviously wasn’t enough. What’s going unnoticed in this series is how the Lakers have kept up with the Rockets in what the latter does best, which is controlling the paint and outexecuting them on defense. Los Angeles will have to double down on this to close out the series.
Maybe the Rockets play like a team that knows they’re down 0-3 and doesn’t want to travel to Los Angeles anymore. What we do know is that this Lakers team will be determined to sweep this series. Let’s see if the purple and gold book their ticket to the semifinals on Sunday.
Notes and Updates
- The Lakers’ injury report remains identical as Game 3 with Austin Reaves (left oblique muscle strain) listed as questionable. Luka Dončić (left hamstring strain) noted as out.
- The same goes for the Rockets, as Fred VanVleet (ACL surgery) and Steven Adams (left ankle surgery) are indicated as out while Kevin Durant (left ankle sprain) is questionable.
You can follow Nicole on Twitter at @nicoleganglani.
