The Los Angeles Lakers managed to dodge a bullet—and a piece of unwanted NBA history—by closing out the Houston Rockets in the first round of the playoffs. After building a commanding 3-0 series lead, the Lakers found themselves on the brink of an unprecedented collapse. No team in NBA history has ever blown a 3-0 series lead (teams are 159-0 in that situation), and the Lakers were uncomfortably close to becoming the first. A loss in Game 6 would have forced a winner-take-all Game 7.

Fortunately for Lakers fans, the team steadied the ship. With Kevin Durant sidelined due to a bone bruise, Los Angeles cruised to a stress-free victory, advancing to the Western Conference semifinals. LeBron James led the way with 28 points, while Alperen Sengun put up 17 points for Houston in a losing effort.

Now, the Lakers shift their focus to the Oklahoma City Thunder, who await them in the second round. One of the biggest storylines heading into that series is the potential return of Luka Dončić. The NBA’s leading scorer during the regular season (33.5 points per game) has been sidelined with a hamstring injury and was considered a long shot to play in the opening round. However, Dončić is progressing well and could make his 2026 playoff debut against the Thunder—though it's unclear exactly when he'll be back on the court. His injury status will be a key factor to watch as the Lakers aim to keep their championship hopes alive.