LOS ANGELES — Back in March, the Lakers were winning games thanks to an incredibly potent offense. One month later, they’re winning playoff games on the back of their defense.
A necessary change following injuries to Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, the Lakers are suffocating the Rockets. In Game 2, that defense forced 15 turnovers as LA moved ahead 2-0 in the series with a 101-94 win.
For the second straight game, the Rockets were held to under 100 points. As a team, Houston shot 40% from the field and just 24% from deep.
Not even the return of Kevin Durant could spark the Rockets’ offense as he turned the ball over nine times, a playoff career high. Alpern Şengün ended the night with 20 points on 20 shots and was held to 11 points through the first three quarters.
With the Lakers able to take control entering the fourth quarter as a result, they then turned their attention to Durant, who managed just two points on 1-4 shooting in the game’s last 12 minutes.
It was a comprehensive defensive performance that saw the Lakers pull off another stunner to earn their second victory of the playoffs. After the win, Lakers head coach JJ Redick praised his team’s ability to disrupt Houston’s two best offensive threats.
“Both great players,” Redick said. “I think you have to guard them with team defense, and you have to be willing to make multiple efforts, and we did that.
This defensive aggression began in the opening minutes and came from a likely source: Marcus Smart.
With Durant back, Smart tested him immediately. In the opening minutes of the game, Smart poked the ball away from Durant and dove on the floor for the steal. It was a precursor of things to come as Smart ended the game with five steals and Durant turned the ball over nine times, a playoff career high.
“I think [Marcus Smart] did a great job defensively,” Redick said. “Obviously, it takes a full team effort to guard Kevin [Durant]. The job that I think our team did, again, he makes shots. He’s an unbelievable player. I think our activity was as good as it could have been.”
Limiting Durant and Şengün was an obvious key to the game. However, it wasn’t the only reason LA won. They put on a total team effort and shut down the Rockets’ offense across all phases.
Thanks to LA’s collective defensive play, they are halfway to a series win and have protected their home court.
It’s shocking that they’ve gotten here without Luka or Austin, but what’s even more surprising is how they’ve earned these wins with their defense.
The Lakers’ offense perhaps can’t reach the levels it could when Luka, the NBA’s scoring champion, was on the floor, but in the playoffs, it hasn’t mattered. Their defense has stepped up and raised its game.
During the regular season, it was hard to imagine LA’s defense improving enough to win playoff games, but they kept making strides throughout the year and are now improving on that end of the floor even with key players absent.
“We trust one another,” Smart said. “The word is elevate for us. And that’s all we’ve been trying to do, elevate our play on both ends.”
It’s the first to four, not the first to two, in a best-of-seven series. So far, the Lakers have done their job, but the job’s not finished. A trip to Houston for the next two games will offer the toughest challenge yet. But as they continue to adapt on the fly this postseason, nothing has yet to indicate it’s a test they can’t pass.
After spending a season dazzling with their offense, the Lakers have made two loud statements in Los Angeles with their defense, putting everyone on notice.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.
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