Lakers win Game 6 vs. Rockets, move on to play Thunder

HOUSTON — One year after the Houston Rockets lost a first-round playoff series that became the catalyst for a seismic trade to acquire Kevin Durant, the Rockets’ 2025-26 season ended in the first round again with a 4-2 series loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Lakers won Game 6 against the Rockets on Friday, May 1 in commanding fashion, 98-78. Los Angeles will play the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference semifinals starting on May 5.

LeBron James led the Lakers with 28 points and Rui Hachimura scored 21 points. Amen Thompson led the Rockets with 18 points while Alperen Şengün added 17 points and 11 rebounds.

The Lakers played the entire first round without injured star guard Luka Doncic and were without guard Austin Reaves for the first four games against the also injury depleted Rockets.

Durant, the Rockets’ superstar who was supposed to change the franchise’s fortunes, did not play in Game 6 because of a left ankle sprain and in total missed five of the six playoff games against the Lakers.

Even without Durant, Houston battled back from down 3-0 in the series and twice staved off elimination to force Friday’s Game 6 at Toyota Center. A third season-saving win was not in the cards.

The Rockets shot just 35% from the field and were outrebounded 54-45 on Friday. Houston’s biggest lead of the game was 16-11 in the first quarter, but Los Angeles surged ahead on a 12-0 run and never trailed again. The Rockets’ 78 points were by far their fewest in a game this season.

USA TODAY Sports provided live updates from Game 6:

Lakers vs. Rockets highlights

End 3Q: Lakers 71, Rockets 55

Jabari Smith Jr.’s chase down block on LeBron James might have been the only highlight of the third quarter for the Rockets, who trail the Lakers by 16 points heading into the fourth quarter. Despite a 10-point third quarter by Amen Thompson, it's been a dismal night on offense for Houston; the Rockets are making just 30.5% of their field goals.

Even though James scored just four points in the third quarter, the Lakers are firmly in control. Lakers center Deandre Ayton has 11 rebounds and is playing terrific individual defense on Alperen Şengün, who has a double-double (14 points and 10 rebounds) for the Rockets but is shooting an inefficient 4-of-11 from the field.

Halftime: Lakers 49, Rockets 31

The Lakers are 24 minutes away from ending the Rockets’ season. LeBron James has a game-high 18 points and five assists at the half after a resplendent second quarter. Alperen Şengün leads Houston with eight points and seven rebounds, but Rockets starters Reed Sheppard, Jabari Smith Jr. and Amen Thompson are shooting a combined 6-of-23 from the field.

Houston shot a putrid 28.6% from the field in the first half. The Lakers’ bench is also outscoring the Rockets’ bench, 12-0.

The Rockets can usually compensate for poor shooting by feasting on opponent turnovers and offensive rebounds, but neither strategy is consistently working tonight. Although Houston showed fleeting signs of life with a 6-0 run sparked by a pair of Los Angeles turnovers, the Rockets are being outrebounded by seven and shot just 5-of-21 from the field in the second quarter.

LeBron James heating up as Lakers expand lead over Rockets

The Lakers started the second quarter on a 9-0 run to take a 32-18 lead, with James scoring seven points. He has 11 points and four assists. Meanwhile, the Rockets have gone almost eight minutes without a field goal since Alperen Sengun's driving hook shot with 5:13 remaining in the first quarter.

END 1Q: Lakers leading Rockets in pivotal Game 6

The Lakers are up 23-18 on the Rockets after one quarter in which Los Angeles led by as many as seven points.

Houston’s inside-out ball movement generated some great looks early on, but the Rockets’ offense went cold and didn’t score a field goal for the final five minutes of the quarter. After the Lakers rattled off nine unanswered points the Rockets attempted to stem the tide by going to the small-ball lineup that had success in Game 5. It didn’t work.

Rui Hachimura leads the Lakers in scoring with seven points. Tari Eason leads Houston in scoring with seven points, but is in early foul trouble.

NBA commissioner in the building for Rockets-Lakers Game 6

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is at Toyota Center to watch the Houston Rockets try and stave off elimination.

Los Angeles Lakers' Game 6 starters vs. Houston Rockets

Austin Reaves returned to the Lakers' starting lineup for Game 6, which also included Marcus Smart, LeBron James, Rui Hachimura and Deandre Ayton. Reaves returned from a nine-game injury absence in Game 5 of the series against the Rockets, but came off the bench and scored 22 points in 34 minutes.

Rockets' Game 6 starting lineup with Kevin Durant out

Houston star Kevin Durant is still experiencing pain and mobility issues with his sprained left ankle, Rockets coach Ime Udoka said before Game 6.

"Certain movements are bothering him, for sure, and he's done some things on court but is limited with those," Udoka said. "And so when you can't do specific movements, like I said, that hurt you or bother you, you can't progress to getting to playing."

With Durant still sidelined, the Rockets stuck with the same starting lineup from Games 3, 4 and 5: Reed Sheppard, Amen Thompson, Tari Eason, Jabari Smith Jr. and Alperen Şengün.

What time is Los Angeles Lakers vs Houston Rockets Game 6?

Tipoff between the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET (8:30 p.m. local) Friday, May 1.

How to watch Los Angeles Lakers vs Houston Rockets on Friday

• Matchup: Lakers at Rockets
• Date: Friday, May 1
• Time: 9:30 p.m. ET/8:30 p.m. CT
• Venue: Toyota Center
• Location: Houston
• TV: None
• Streaming: Amazon Prime Video

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