NBA Playoffs: Lakers Rally In OT To Beat Rockets, Take 3-0 Lead

The Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs and Boston Celtics all moved in front in their NBA playoff first-round series on 25 April, with LeBron James, Stephon Castle and Jayson Tatum delivering key scoring performances in tight games marked by late swings and crucial absences.

James scored 29 points and forced overtime with a tying 3-pointer as the Lakers edged the Houston Rockets 112-108 to move 3-0 ahead in the Western Conference first-round, while Castle’s 33 points pushed the Spurs past the Portland Trail Blazers and Tatum’s 25 lifted Boston over the Philadelphia 76ers.

Boston claimed a 108-100 road victory over Philadelphia to take a 2-1 lead in their Eastern Conference first-round matchup, with Tatum and Jaylen Brown each finishing with 25 points and combining for several late 3-pointers that broke the resistance of a 76ers side again missing Joel Embiid.

Tatum, limited to only his 19th appearance of the season after Achilles tendon surgery in May, shot 5-of-9 from long range and produced the final 3-point shot for a 106-100 cushion, while Brown put together an eight-point burst that turned a tight fourth quarter into a manageable 96-92 advantage.

Payton Pritchard added a step-back 3-pointer for a 103-98 lead after Tatum had earlier connected from deep for a 100-96 margin, and the late surge prompted former 76ers star Allen Iverson to leave early as Boston held off a Philadelphia team that had taken confidence from stealing Game 2 in Boston.

Embiid remained out for Game 3 as recovery continued from an appendectomy performed on 9 April, leaving Tyrese Maxey to score 31 points and Paul George to contribute 18, with the 76ers now facing pressure ahead of hosting Game 4 on Sunday as they attempt to level the series.

Los Angeles moved within one win of sweeping Houston after overturning a six-point deficit in the final half-minute of regulation, capitalising on two late Rockets turnovers before James drilled a 3-pointer with 13 seconds remaining to tie the score and set up an overtime period the Lakers controlled.

In the extra session, the Lakers started on a 6-2 run and built a 107-103 edge through a Marcus Smart 3-pointer, then protected that margin as Smart added eight points in overtime and finished with 21 points and 10 assists, supported by 22 points from Rui Hachimura in the 112-108 victory.

Smart twice went to the line late in overtime, converting two free throws for a 109-105 lead with 52 seconds left and then making another pair with 35.5 seconds remaining for a 111-105 advantage after Alperen Sengun had scored inside, while Reed Sheppard briefly cut the gap to three with a 3-pointer.

Sheppard’s shot left Houston within 112-109 inside the final 30 seconds of overtime before Smart split two final free throws for the last margin, punishing a Rockets side that was again without Kevin Durant, who missed Game 1 due to a knee issue and then sat out Game 3 because of a sprained ankle.

Earlier in regulation, two turnovers from James appeared costly as Houston converted them into points for a 101-95 lead, but the Rockets faltered down the stretch despite 33 points and 16 rebounds from Sengun and a strong line from Amen Thompson, who added 26 points and 11 rebounds.

NBA playoffs first-round series: Spurs surge past Blazers without Wembanyama

San Antonio secured a 120-108 win at the Portland Trail Blazers to grab a 2-1 edge in their Western Conference first-round series, overturning a 15-point third-quarter deficit despite playing without Victor Wembanyama, who missed out while under concussion protocols following a blow in Game 2.

Spurs coach Mitch Johnson confirmed before tipoff that Wembanyama would not feature while continuing recovery, declining to provide further medical detail beyond explaining that progress was ongoing for the league’s first unanimous Defensive Player of the Year and one of three finalists for the Most Valuable Player award.

Castle answered the injury setback with 33 points, while Dylan Harper produced 27 points and 10 rebounds as San Antonio responded to Portland’s 82-67 third-quarter advantage by closing the period on a 21-5 burst, giving the Spurs an 88-87 lead heading into the final quarter.

Jrue Holiday’s 29 points gave Portland early control in the franchise’s first home playoff outing since 2021, yet the Trail Blazers faded after Castle hit a step-back jumper and then sank two free throws to create a 105-95 lead midway through the fourth quarter, and the hosts never re-established momentum.

NBA playoffs first-round series: Results and key numbers

Across the three first-round contests, veteran stars and emerging players shared the spotlight, with James, Tatum and Castle each reaching at least 25 points while Sengun, Maxey, Thompson and Harper posted strong lines in defeat or victory as the Lakers, Celtics and Spurs moved closer to advancing.

The day’s results leave the Lakers 3-0 up on the Rockets with a chance to complete a sweep in Houston on Sunday night, while the Spurs and Celtics both hold 2-1 advantages ahead of their respective Game 4 clashes at the Moda Center and in Philadelphia, with injuries and depth continuing to shape the playoff picture.