3 things to watch in Rockets-Lakers Game 2

Whether Houston Rockets All-Star Kevin Durant is on the market for Game 2 towards the Los Angeles Lakers would not alter Houston’s mission.

The Rockets want improved play offensively and defensively if they need to keep away from a 2-0 deficit towards the Lakers, who took a 1-0 series lead with a 107-98 victory on Saturday.

And after all, it’ll assist the Rockets if Durant can play.

Here are three things to watch for in Game 2 of this first-round Western Conference sequence between the Rockets and Lakers on Tuesday evening (10:30 ET, NBC/Peacock).

1. Will Durant play in Game 2?

Remove 26 factors, 5.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists per sport and almost 50/40/90 taking pictures splits from a lineup, and it’ll have an effect. The Rockets have been unable to compensate for Durant’s absence in Game 1.

Durant injured his proper knee throughout Wednesday’s follow when he bumped knees with a teammate.

“It’s soreness. It’s very tender,” Rockets coach Ime Udoka mentioned. (*3*)

Will Durant play?

“Pain tolerance is one thing, but actually limited movement is more the cause,” Udoka mentioned.

If he performs, a few of Houston’s offensive woes will evaporate. If he is unavailable, Alperen Sengun (6-for-19 taking pictures in Game 1), Jabari Smith Jr. (5-for-14) and Reed Sheppard (6-for-20, 5-for-14 on 3-pointers) will want a lot better video games.

The damage additionally altered Houston’s bench minutes: only one reserve performed greater than 11 minutes, and starters Amen Thompson and Smith every logged greater than 43 minutes. Sheppard had to play 10 extra minutes (36) than his season common.

Houston took 27 extra pictures, made extra 3s than the Lakers and dedicated seven fewer turnovers – and did not attain 100. That’s what occurs when a group shoots 37.6% from the sphere.

“It’s hard to win with those numbers,” Udoka mentioned.

2. How a lot of the load can James carry at 41 years previous?

LeBron James is so previous – “how old is he?” – that he performed in a playoff sport alongside his son, Bronny, making them the primary father-son duo to seem in a postseason sport. They shared slightly below 4 minutes of court docket time as James directed the Lakers to a victory with 19 factors, 13 assists, eight rebounds, two steals and one block.

The Lakers have been additionally with out Luka Dončić (left hamstring) and Austin Reaves (indirect pressure). Before Dončić and Reaves sustained accidents in the 77th sport, the Lakers had settled into a pleasant stream offensively with James because the third choice – albeit not their common No. 3.

Now, he has to handle extra of the offense, and he produced in Game 1, dominating together with his passing in almost 40 minutes – outlet passes, lobs, drive-and-kicks, underhand deliveries, lasers. It was the kind of effort that has develop into refined artwork.

The Lakers will preserve relying on him to produce like that.

3. Who else steps up for Lakers?

Los Angeles’ Luke Kennard, a February commerce deadline acquisition, scored 27 factors on 9-for-13 taking pictures, together with 5-for-5 on 3s, in Game 1. The Rockets will attempt to make it possible for would not occur once more.

However, Deandre Ayton additionally had a strong sport (19 factors, 11 rebounds), Rui Hachimura added 14 factors and savvy veteran Marcus Smart contributed 15 factors and eight rebounds. It was a superior efficiency from the Lakers’ starters as their shortened rotation scored 13 factors. Of the 4 reserves who performed, none made a couple of area objective.

“I’m already thinking about ways that I could have been better, putting us in a position to be more successful, both offensively and defensively,” James mentioned. “We’ve got a lot of room for improvement going into Tuesday.”

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Jeff Zillgitt has lined the NBA since 2008. You can e-mail him at jzillgitt@nba.comdiscover his archive here and follow him on.