Game 3 was a dog fight for the Los Angeles Lakers and they definitely had to earn it to take a 3-0 series lead over the Houston Rockets. Thankfully, LeBron James and Marcus Smart were in L.A.’s corner, making winning plays down the stretch to lead a comeback overtime victory.
Smart totaled 21 points, four rebounds, 10 assists five steals and two blocks, while James led the way with 29 points, 13 rebounds and six assists. After the big win, Lakers head coach JJ Redick spoke about how great both players were to pull off an improbable win.
“They both made big-time plays,” Redick said after Saturday’s 112-108 win. “Before the game, at halftime, we’ve talked for the last 10-plus days just about elevating everything and this was our first road playoff game and you have to elevate your poise, you have to elevate your composure, recognizing that there’s gonna be moments where the crowd is going crazy.
“You get down, they make a run, whatever it may be, we weathered a lot tonight. There were a lot of turnovers, but I thought our defense was fantastic. And then in that moment just to keep playing. Smart made a huge play to get us into a one-possession game and then coming out of that timeout, for them we wanted to get a trap. Rui and Bron did a good job putting pressure on Sheppard and then we made the steal and ‘Bron hits a big-time shot.”
Specifically for Smart, he and Luke Kennard have been two vital pieces in Los Angeles being in this position despite their two leading scorers Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves being out. The veteran guard provides much-needed two-way tenacity and Redick knows that he’s a winning player.
“I mean, he’s a winner,” Redick said of Smart. “He makes winning plays. Obviously the steal was huge. The two plays in overtime that really got us the lead and kind of kept us in control of the overtime were on offensive rebounds. Smart got one where he gets fouled, and LeBron’s chucking the ball to half court.
“He ends up getting a layup on that play. So as much as we have emphasized their offensive rebounding, we also wanna crash and get extra possessions and those two guys made two of the biggest plays of the night.”
If the former Defensive Player of the Year did not continue playing hard despite a six-point deficit with 30 seconds left, the Lakers would be wondering what-if. His steal and subsequent free throws suddenly turned the tide and allowed James to chip in with his own heroics to send it to overtime.
Los Angeles found themselves in Houston’s shoes before during their postseason mentally taxing battles against the Denver Nuggets in recent years, so it must be refreshing for them to be on the positive side of things.
LeBron James and JJ Redick not letting Lakers get comfortable
Before Game 3, the Lakers knew heading to Houston would be a daunting task given how desperate the Rockets would be. But Deandre Ayton shared that LeBron James and JJ Redick would not allow L.A. to get comfortable, which played a role in scraping for a commanding 3-0 series lead.
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