LeBron James ageless, Reaves: “What he’s doing is not normal”

The Los Angeles Lakers didn’t let the opportunity slip away, closing out their series against the Houston Rockets with a convincing 98-78 win in Game 6. It was a victory built primarily on defense, holding Houston to its season-low point total on the biggest night of the year.

For the Lakers, it marks an important milestone: a return to the second round of the NBA playoffs for the first time since 2023. And they did it without ever having Luka Doncic available in this series.

JJ Redick, speaking after the game, didn’t hide his satisfaction:

To be counted out just a few weeks ago and then win a playoff series means a lot for this group

JJ Redick

An ageless LeBron James leads the Lakers

When the stakes rise, LeBron James always answers the call. The No. 23 finished with 28 points, taking control in key moments and setting the tone on both ends of the floor.

He has this incredible ability to dictate the pace and the mindset of the entire group

JJ Redick

The run that broke the game open came between the end of the first quarter and the start of the second: a devastating 27-3 burst that completely changed the momentum. From there, the Lakers controlled the game the rest of the way.

LeBron clearly explained what the game plan was:

To win, we had to protect the ball, dominate the boards, and be physical. Defensively we had a clear plan, and we executed it perfectly

LeBron James

LeBron continues to redefine the limits of athletic longevity. At nearly 41 years old, what he still does on the court leaves not only fans and analysts speechless, but even his own teammates.

You’re out of your mind. What you’re doing… isn’t normal

LeBron James

JJ Redick also wanted to highlight LeBron’s greatness beyond a single performance:

To me, he’s had the greatest career of any player in NBA history. You can debate it all you want… he’s one of the greatest ever, if not the greatest of all time

LeBron James

Houston goes cold and exits the playoffs

For the Rockets, the night quickly turned into a nightmare. After regaining confidence by winning two straight games and reviving a series that looked over, Houston fell apart when it mattered most.

We’re all disappointed. This isn’t what we expected, not for this game and not for the series. We believed we’d be coming back here for Game 7

Coach Udoka

The Rockets shot just 35% from the field, a clear sign of their offensive struggles. But the most damaging number came from beyond the arc: only 5 made threes on 28 attempts. Far too little to threaten a veteran team like Los Angeles.

Lakers-Thunder: must-watch semifinal

Now the Los Angeles Lakers face their toughest challenge yet: a second-round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. Game 1 is scheduled for Tuesday in Oklahoma City.