"King" LeBron James poured in 28 points to lead the Los Angeles Lakers into the second round of the NBA Playoffs.
The Lakers routed the Houston Rockets 98-78 on the road in Game 6 of their 2025-2026 Western Conference first-round series (best-of-seven) at Toyota Center in Houston, Texas on Sunday (local time). The Lakers won the series 4-2. It marks the first time the Western Conference's fourth seed has advanced to the conference semifinals since reaching the Western Conference Finals in 2023.
The Lakers unleashed their intensity starting midway through the first quarter. From 4 minutes, 51 seconds left in the first quarter through about four minutes into the second quarter, they held the Rockets to just three points while reeling off 27 of their own. Leading 49-31 at halftime, the Lakers put the game away early in the fourth quarter when consecutive baskets from Rui Hachimura pushed the margin beyond 20 points.
James led the team with 28 points, while Hachimura added 21 points, including five three-pointers, providing outside support. Austin Reaves, returning from injury, chipped in 15 points. Even without star guard Luka Doncic, who has been sidelined this season, the Lakers showed solid defense and focus. They will face the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round.
Houston, meanwhile, could not overcome the absence of injured star Kevin Durant. Plagued by severe shooting woes, the Rockets shot 35% from the field and made just 5 of 28 three-pointers, bowing out in the first round for the second consecutive year.
The Eastern Conference produced a string of dramatic finishes. The Toronto Raptors edged the Cleveland Cavaliers 112-110 in overtime to even the series at 3-3. Trailing 109-110 with 1.2 seconds left, RJ Barrett launched a three-pointer that bounced high off the backboard and dropped through the net to decide the game. Barrett finished with 24 points and nine rebounds, while Scottie Barnes posted a double-double with 25 points and 14 assists.
The Detroit Pistons, the Eastern Conference regular-season leaders, also pulled off a 93-79 come-from-behind win over the Orlando Magic in Game 6. After trailing by as many as 24 points in the first half, Detroit turned the game around with a 35-5 run from 2 minutes, 17 seconds left in the third quarter to 2 minutes, 34 seconds left in the fourth. Cade Cunningham led the comeback with 32 points and 10 rebounds. The series is tied 3-3, with a decisive Game 7 set to determine which team advances to the semifinals.
