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Rockets Favored Over Injured Lakers Despite Durant Out

4/25/2026

Summary

Lakers Enter Game 3

The Lakers entered Game 3 of the playoffs on Friday, April 24, holding a 2-0 series lead over the Houston Rockets.
Luka Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique) are out or doubtful for the Lakers, while Kevin Durant (knee/ankle) is ruled out for the Rockets.
Tip-off at 8 p.m. ET in Houston’s Toyota Center follows the injuries, with BetMGM listing the Rockets as –8.5 favorites at –325 and the Lakers at +260.

Summary

Rockets Young Core

The Rockets replaced veteran wing Josh Okogie with Tari Eason in the Game 3 lineup.
Their five starters—Sheppard, Thompson, Eason, Smith Jr., and Sengün—average 22.6 years, the second-youngest ever in a playoff series.
All five were acquired through the draft (or a draft-night trade for Sengün), reflecting Houston’s home-grown rebuild.
Despite Kevin Durant’s 26.0 points on 52 % shooting in the regular season, Houston has not scored 100 points in either playoff game.

History

Historical Context

After the Rockets, as a sixth seed, swept the Orlando Magic 4-0 in 1995 to become the lowest-seeded champion, they built that title on home-grown talent. Today’s Lakers-Rockets playoff series echoes that model, with veteran Lakers facing a young Rockets roster assembled through the draft, including Tari Eason and Josh Okogie, recalling the 1995 home-grown success.

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Lakers Enter Game 3

The Lakers entered Game 3 of the playoffs on Friday, April 24, holding a 2-0 series lead over the Houston Rockets.
Luka Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique) are out or doubtful for the Lakers, while Kevin Durant (knee/ankle) is ruled out for the Rockets.
Tip-off at 8 p.m. ET in Houston’s Toyota Center follows the injuries, with BetMGM listing the Rockets as –8.5 favorites at –325 and the Lakers at +260.

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