Lakers finish off Rockets in one-sided Game 6, setting up clash with Thunder

May 2, 2026 - 05:07

The Los Angeles Lakers punched their ticket to the Western Conference semifinals with a dominant 113-89 victory over the Houston Rockets in Game 6 on Friday night. Playing without injured starter Rui Hachimura, the Lakers leaned on their stars to close out the series with little drama. LeBron James posted a triple-double with 28 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists, while Anthony Davis controlled the paint with 25 points and 14 boards.

Houston, missing key guard Fred VanVleet, never found a rhythm. They shot just 38 percent from the field and turned the ball over 16 times. Jalen Green led the Rockets with 21 points, but the team looked outmatched from the opening tip. The Lakers built a 20-point lead by halftime and never looked back.

The short-handed Lakers survived the short-handed Rockets. Next round will be a different challenge. Los Angeles now heads to Oklahoma City to face the top-seeded Thunder, who swept the New Orleans Pelicans in the first round. The Thunder boast the league's best defense and a deep rotation led by MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. For the Lakers, the path gets much tougher. They will need Davis to stay healthy and the supporting cast to hit open shots against a team that thrives on switching and contesting everything. Game 1 is set for Monday night in Oklahoma City.