Overview
- The Lakers, who won Game 6 on Friday in Houston, beat the Rockets 98-78 to take the series 4-2 and advance to face Oklahoma City on Tuesday in OKC.
- LeBron James led the closeout with 28 points, eight assists and seven rebounds, and he seized control by outscoring Houston 14-13 in the second quarter.
- Los Angeles won the shot and possession battle, hitting 12-of-28 from three and taking care of the ball while Houston went 5-of-28 from deep and shot 35%.
- Rui Hachimura scored 21 points on 5-of-7 from three, Austin Reaves added 15 after returning from an oblique strain, and Deandre Ayton grabbed 16 rebounds.
- Second-year coach JJ Redick earned his first playoff series win as Houston’s young core showed progress but felt the absence of veterans, with Kevin Durant missing five of the six games and no 2026 first-round pick on hand.