LeBron James issued a clear warning to the Lakers about Kevin Durant after Game 2, stressing the challenge ahead of Game 3 vs. the Rockets. Los Angeles came out of Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday night with a 101-94 victory and a commanding 2-0 series lead over the Houston Rockets. LeBron James delivered 28 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists. Marcus Smart added 25 points, five steals, and seemed like he was everywhere on the court at once. For Houston Kevin Durant scored 23 points on the night, but only three came after halftime, and he committed a playoff career-worst nine turnovers.
By any measure, the Lakers did everything right. James, however, is not interested in hearing about it.
Immediately after the final buzzer, James delivered a blunt message to anyone tempted to feel comfortable: the performance that frustrated Durant in Game 2 will not weaken him. It will sharpen him. And Los Angeles should expect the full version of one of the greatest scorers in NBA history when the series shifts to Houston for Game 3 on Friday. That message lands differently when itâs about Kevin Durant, and James made clear the Lakers havenât seen the hardest version of him yet.
LeBron James Delivers Kevin Durant Warning After Game 2 Win
James was asked by reporters whether he took an satisfaction in a defensive performance that largely shut down Durant, the NBA’s No. 5 all-time leading scorer, in the second half of Tuesday’s game.
“None,” James replied after the game, according to Orange County Register reporter Benjamin Royer. “That just makes him even madder going into Game 3. No satisfaction. You know, we did our job. We did that. But the guy’s a first-ballot Hall of Famer and he’s going to make way more great plays than not.”
James made clear that Game 2 is a closed file. The Lakers’ defensive game plan, which leaned heavily on trapping and double-teaming Durant all night, worked brilliantly for one game. That means Durant and the Rockets will have three days to dismantle it before the series resumes in Texas on Friday.
James did not stop there. He took an unprompted detour into exactly how tall the challenge ahead remains. “That game is over and done with, but it’s still a tall challenge â 7-foot tall, too,” James said. “He hates that. He might be mad at me if he sees that. He wants to be 6-9 or 6-10 so bad, but he’s 7-foot for sure.”
Kevin Durant’s Struggles Against Lakers Historically Rare
The statistical backdrop makes the warning even sharper. Durant’s second-half meltdown in Game 2 â three points and five-plus turnovers â falls into extraordinarily rare territory for the future Hall of Famer. Prior to this playoff series, that combination had appeared in Durant’s postseason career exactly once, according to ClutchPoints reporter Josue Pavon. It happened in April 2014 against Memphis.
Now it has happened twice in five weeks, both times against the Los Angeles Lakers. Games 1 and 2 of this first-round series have produced the same result against the same opponent. The question is whether Rockets head coach Ime Udoka can design an offensive structure that gets Durant into cleaner looks before the double-teams arrive in Game 3.
James understands there is history on his side, too. Fox Sports 1 analyst Nick Wright noted before Game 2 that in 32 previous playoff series in which James’ teams took a 2-0 lead, his squads finished the job every single time. That record now stands at 33-0.
But James is not leaning on any of that. With two of the most decorated careers in NBA history, James and Durant have known each other since before either played a minute of professional basketball. The rivals will meet again Friday night in Houston as the Rockets will be trying to swing the series back in their direction. James is simply making sure his teammates know that Durant is going to be ready.
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