Lakers Steal Game Three, Rockets Choke Historic Lead

0:00The Lakers pulled off a wild one in Game 3, snatching a 1-12-108 overtime win over the Rockets to grab a 3-0 series lead. They were messy all-game, with 21 turnovers and getting out-rebounded, but clawed back from 6 down, with under 30 seconds left in, regulation. That lay collapsed by Houston is straight historic. Teams leading by 6 or more in the final 30 seconds of playoff regulation were 1,0713 and 1 over the last, 29 years. Now it's 1,0713 and 2, with the Rockets joining last year's Nix as the only squads to choke it away. Fans and stats nerds are buzzing about this rarity, especially since it's 29 years for the first one, then just 12 months for the second. Coach Imi Udoca called those final turnovers horrendous, and yeah, two quick mistakes flipped the sure win into sudden death. Marcus Smart owned overtime with 8 of the Lakers 11 points, finishing with 21 points, 10 assists, and 5 steals.

1:01LeBron James dropped 29 points in 13 boards, while Houston's Alperan Sengan had 33 and 16 but couldn't carry it. Kevin Durant sat out his second straight with a sprained ankle, but shit returned for game 4. No teams ever climbed back from 0-3 down, so the Rockets dug their hole even deeper. That wraps California news today, brought to you with AI.