HOUSTON — The Los Angeles Lakers leaned on defense late Monday and it threw the Houston Rockets’ offense out of sync, leaving Kevin Durant to shoulder much of the blame after a 100-92 Lakers victory at the Toyota Center.
Los Angeles sent extra defenders at Durant in the fourth quarter, cutting off his comfort and forcing Houston into mistakes. Durant finished with 18 points (8-of-16) but managed only two points in the second half, going 1-of-5 in that period and committing seven of Houston’s 24 turnovers.
“I just felt like I lost the game for us tonight,” Durant said after the loss. He said the repeated doubles made the Rockets’ offense stagnant and left him trying to find ways to free himself and create for teammates. Durant suggested he needs to be smarter with the ball, to spot up or act as a screener more often and not try to carry the offense single-handedly when opponents are collapsing on him.
The win extended the Lakers’ streak to six games and moved them to 43-25, increasing their lead over Houston (41-26) to 1½ games in the battle for the West’s No. 3 seed. The teams meet again in Houston on Wednesday; the Rockets still sit narrowly ahead of Denver and Minnesota in the standings.
Los Angeles’ late defensive game plan has been a recent theme. The Lakers rank 20th in defensive efficiency across the season, but they have tightened up recently while winning nine of 10, allowing 109.3 points per 100 possessions over that stretch — sixth-best in the league during that span.
Monday’s defensive performance was crucial as the Lakers struggled from deep, making only eight of 34 three-pointers. Still, Los Angeles limited Houston to 35 second-half points and forced 15 turnovers after halftime, grinding out the win despite offensive hiccups.
“It’s something we’ve struggled with earlier in the season,” coach JJ Redick said. He credited his players’ commitment to the defensive end and said the team is trying to win with both sides of the ball rather than relying solely on offense.
LeBron James, who finished with 18 points on 7-of-13 shooting and several emphatic finishes in transition, praised the game plan and the team’s willingness to vary how they defended Durant. “You’ve got to try to show him different looks, try to keep him off balance,” James said.
Durant pointed out a recurring issue: when he becomes the primary ballhandler late, opponents pack the paint and rush to double, which can slow Houston’s offense and leave teammates sidelined. With Rockets center Alperen Şengün out with lower-back pain, Houston lost its second-leading scorer and a deterrent that might have changed how the Lakers chose to help on Durant. Redick said the Lakers adjusted in the second half to “fire” — sending the second defender once Durant started to dribble rather than blitzing immediately — and the tactic paid off.
Durant said he’ll look to adapt, finding ways to create space for himself and others, whether by spotting up in the corner, taking on different roles like screening, or making quicker decisions when the doubles come.
The loss leaves Houston searching for answers late in games when opponents take Durant out of his usual rhythm. For Los Angeles, the win reinforced that a stronger defensive identity can carry them through tight contests even when the three-point shot isn’t falling.
