LeBron James and Marcus Smart recorded double-doubles as the Los Angeles Lakers took a stranglehold on their first-round playoff series against the host Houston Rockets with a 112-108 overtime victory in Game 3 on Friday.
After James (29 points, 13 rebounds) forced OT with a 3-pointer, Smart scored eight of his 21 points in the extra period to put the Lakers up 3-0 in the Western Conference series.
Smart added a team-high 10 assists while Rui Hachimura put up 22 points for the Lakers, who will look for a sweep of the best-of-seven set on Sunday at Houston.
The Rockets were without leading scorer Kevin Durant for the second time in the series. Durant, who missed Game 1 with a knee contusion, was a late scratch due to a left ankle sprain sustained in the fourth quarter of Game 2. Alperen Sengun paced the Rockets with 33 points and 16 rebounds while Amen Thompson chipped in 26 points and 11 assists.
Spurs 120, Trail Blazers 108
Stephon Castle hit for 33 points and rookie reserve Dylan Harper added career bests of 27 points and 10 boards as visiting San Antonio roared back to beat Portland in Game 3 of a first-round Western Conference playoff series.
San Antonio erased a 15-point third-quarter deficit and took a 2-1 lead in the series. The Spurs won with Victor Wembanyama on the bench after the star was ruled out before the game because of concussion protocol. De’Aaron Fox added 18 points, with Luke Kornet racking up 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Jrue Holiday finished with 29 points to lead Portland. Scoot Henderson added 21 points, and Deni Avdija produced 19 points and nine assists.
Celtics 108, 76ers 100
Jayson Tatum scored 11 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter as visiting Boston defeated Philadelphia in Game 3 of their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series.
Jaylen Brown matched Tatum with 25 points, while Payton Pritchard added 15 points for the Celtics, who lead the best-of-seven series 2-1.
Tyrese Maxey scored 31 points on 12-of-31 shooting for the Sixers. Paul George (18 points) and Kelly Oubre Jr. (17) also made key contributions, but VJ Edgecombe pitched in just 10 points on 5-of-17 shooting, 0-of-7 from long range.
