The latest Houston Rockets vs Lakers match player stats tell the story of a decisive playoff game in which Los Angeles controlled the pace, defended the three-point line, and dominated the glass. The Lakers defeated the Rockets 98-78 in Game 6 of their first-round series on May 1, 2026, at Toyota Center. With the victory, Los Angeles won the series 4-2 and advanced to the Western Conference semifinals.
LeBron James led the Lakers with 28 points, seven rebounds, and eight assists. Rui Hachimura added 21 points, while Austin Reaves scored 15. Houston received 18 points from Amen Thompson and a 17-point, 11-rebound double-double from Alperen Sengun. However, the Rockets shot only 35% from the field and made five of their 28 three-point attempts.
Houston Rockets vs Lakers Game Summary
Houston entered Game 6 with momentum after winning two consecutive games to keep the series alive. However, Los Angeles quickly removed any belief that the matchup would return for Game 7. The Lakers won the opening quarter 23-18 before using a powerful second-quarter run to create a comfortable lead.
Los Angeles outscored Houston 26-13 in the second period and entered halftime ahead 49-31. Although the Rockets produced 24 points in the third quarter, they never seriously threatened the Lakers’ advantage. Los Angeles then finished the contest with a 27-point fourth quarter, securing a convincing 20-point victory.
Houston Rockets vs Lakers Match Player Stats Overview
The most important individual numbers came from LeBron James, who finished with 28 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds in 37 minutes. He shot 10-for-25 from the field, made two three-pointers, and converted six of his eight free throws. More importantly, the Lakers outscored Houston by 26 points during his time on the court.
Rui Hachimura delivered one of the game’s most efficient performances. He recorded 21 points and six rebounds while shooting 8-for-15 overall. His five successful three-pointers gave Los Angeles the outside shooting that Houston could not match.
Amen Thompson led the Rockets with 18 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and three blocks. Sengun followed with 17 points and 11 rebounds, while Tari Eason contributed 14 points, five rebounds, three steals, and two assists.
Los Angeles Lakers Player Stats
| Player | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Field Goals | Three-Pointers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LeBron James | 28 | 7 | 8 | 10-25 | 2-5 |
| Rui Hachimura | 21 | 6 | 2 | 8-15 | 5-7 |
| Austin Reaves | 15 | 3 | 2 | 7-14 | 0-4 |
| Marcus Smart | 7 | 7 | 1 | 2-7 | 2-4 |
| Deandre Ayton | 7 | 16 | 1 | 2-6 | 0-0 |
| Jake LaRavia | 7 | 5 | 0 | 3-8 | 1-2 |
| Jaxson Hayes | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1-1 | 0-0 |
| Luke Kennard | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1-6 | 1-2 |
The Lakers did not need every player to score heavily. Instead, their leading contributors filled clear roles. James controlled the offense, Hachimura stretched the defense, Ayton protected the glass, and Smart provided physical defense. That balance helped Los Angeles stay in control even when its overall field-goal percentage remained at 40.4%.
Houston Rockets Player Stats
| Player | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Field Goals | Three-Pointers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amen Thompson | 18 | 8 | 3 | 7-14 | 0-0 |
| Alperen Sengun | 17 | 11 | 1 | 5-12 | 0-0 |
| Tari Eason | 14 | 5 | 2 | 5-14 | 2-7 |
| Reed Sheppard | 10 | 0 | 1 | 4-19 | 1-10 |
| Jabari Smith Jr. | 9 | 12 | 3 | 3-11 | 1-6 |
| Jae’Sean Tate | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1-3 | 0-2 |
| Josh Okogie | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1-3 | 1-2 |
| Clint Capela | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1-1 | 0-0 |
| Aaron Holiday | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1-1 | 0-0 |
Houston’s starters scored 68 of the team’s 78 points. That figure showed how little support the Rockets received from their bench. Their reserves combined for only 10 points, with Tate and Okogie scoring three each. Houston also played without Kevin Durant, leaving the team short of an experienced high-volume scorer in an elimination game.
LeBron James Controls the Elimination Game
James influenced nearly every part of the contest. Although he needed 25 field-goal attempts to score 28 points, his playmaking consistently created favorable shots for his teammates. He supplied eight of the Lakers’ 19 assists and committed only three turnovers while carrying a major offensive responsibility.
His impact also appeared in the plus-minus column. James finished at plus-26, the best mark among the Lakers’ starters. Houston struggled to organize its defense whenever he attacked the paint or drew additional defenders. When the Rockets collapsed inside, James moved the ball to shooters such as Hachimura.
James also helped Los Angeles remain composed when Houston attempted to build momentum in the third quarter. Rather than forcing the action, he controlled the tempo and made sure the Lakers continued to use their size and experience.
Rui Hachimura Provides the Shooting Difference
Hachimura’s five three-pointers became one of the clearest differences between the teams. He made five of seven attempts from beyond the arc, giving him a 71.4% conversion rate. By comparison, the entire Houston roster made only five three-pointers on 28 attempts.
His scoring forced the Rockets to defend more space. Houston could not load the paint against James or Reaves because leaving Hachimura open carried a heavy cost. The forward also grabbed six rebounds and committed no turnovers during his 34 minutes.
Hachimura scored five points during an important run early in the fourth quarter. That burst helped Los Angeles stretch its advantage to more than 20 points and ended Houston’s realistic hopes of producing a comeback.
Amen Thompson Leads Houston’s Effort
Among the Houston Rockets vs Lakers match player stats, Thompson’s all-around production stood out for the losing team. He shot 7-for-14 from the field and converted four free throws, making him Houston’s most efficient high-volume scorer. His eight rebounds and three blocks also demonstrated his influence on defense.
However, Thompson spent 44 minutes on the floor and received limited rest because Houston lacked reliable alternatives. The Lakers outscored the Rockets by 26 points during those minutes, though that number reflected Houston’s wider offensive struggles rather than Thompson’s performance alone.
Thompson repeatedly attacked the basket, but Los Angeles prevented him from creating easy opportunities for teammates. He finished with three assists, while Houston recorded only 13 as a team. The Rockets needed more off-ball movement and stronger perimeter shooting to make his drives more effective.
Alperen Sengun Records a Double-Double
Sengun supplied 17 points and a team-high 11 rebounds. He shot 5-for-12 from the floor and earned 10 free-throw attempts, converting seven. His ability to draw contact gave Houston one of its few reliable ways to score when the outside shots stopped falling.
Nevertheless, the Lakers restricted his passing influence. Sengun recorded just one assist and committed four turnovers. Los Angeles crowded his operating space and made it difficult for him to find cutters or shooters from the post.
Defensively, Sengun added two blocks and collected three offensive rebounds. However, Houston still lost the wider rebounding battle. Ayton and the Lakers’ supporting players consistently collected missed shots before the Rockets could create second opportunities.
Three-Point Shooting Decides the Contest
The biggest statistical gap appeared beyond the arc. Los Angeles shot 12-for-28 from three-point range, producing an excellent 42.9% rate. Houston attempted the same number of threes but made only five, finishing at 17.9%.
Those seven extra three-pointers gave the Lakers a 21-point advantage from long range, nearly matching the final 20-point margin. Hachimura made five by himself, while James and Smart added two each. LaRavia, Kennard, and Nick Smith Jr. also connected once.
Reed Sheppard endured the most difficult shooting night for Houston. He went 4-for-19 overall and 1-for-10 from three-point distance. Jabari Smith Jr. also struggled, making one of six threes, while Eason converted two of seven.
Rebounding Gives the Lakers Another Advantage
The full Houston Rockets vs Lakers match player stats also reveal Los Angeles’ superiority on the boards. The Lakers collected 54 player rebounds compared with Houston’s 45. Ayton led everyone with 16 rebounds, including three on the offensive glass.
Ayton scored only seven points, yet his rebounding prevented Houston from earning enough transition opportunities. He gathered 13 defensive boards and helped the Lakers finish defensive possessions after forcing difficult shots. His work allowed James and the guards to begin possessions without returning deep into the backcourt.
Jabari Smith Jr. led Houston’s supporting rebounders with 12, including 10 defensive boards. Sengun added 11 and Thompson collected eight. Still, the Rockets recorded only eight offensive rebounds, limiting their ability to overcome a poor shooting night through second-chance scoring.
Lakers’ Defense Restricts Houston’s Offense
Houston’s 78 points represented its lowest total of the season. The Rockets made 28 of 80 field-goal attempts and produced only 13 assists. Los Angeles blocked nine shots and consistently forced Houston into contested attempts late in the shot clock.
Austin Reaves had three of those blocks, while Smart added two blocks and two steals. Their defensive work was especially effective because Houston could not stretch the floor. Once the outside shots stopped falling, the Lakers could protect the paint more aggressively.
The Rockets went through a particularly damaging stretch in the first half. Los Angeles used a 27-3 run to turn a competitive opening quarter into a comfortable lead. Houston missed 11 consecutive shots before Sheppard finally ended the drought with a field goal in the second period.
What the Team Statistics Reveal
Los Angeles finished at 40.4% from the field, which was not an outstanding overall shooting performance. However, the Lakers compensated with three-point accuracy, rebounding, and ball security. They committed only 10 turnovers and recorded 19 assists.
Houston committed 11 turnovers, so giveaways alone did not decide the result. Instead, the Rockets suffered because their missed shots rarely led to second chances. They also recorded six fewer assists, showing how often the offense depended on individual attempts.
The Lakers won every quarter and never allowed Houston to establish sustained momentum. The quarter-by-quarter scores—23-18, 26-13, 22-24, and 27-23—show that Houston’s only competitive period came after it had already fallen 18 points behind.
Final Analysis
The Houston Rockets vs Lakers match player stats show a game decided by execution rather than scoring volume alone. Los Angeles did not shoot particularly well inside the arc, but it made 42.9% of its three-pointers, controlled the rebounds, and received strong production from its experienced leaders.
James delivered the most complete performance, Hachimura supplied the outside scoring, and Ayton dominated the defensive glass. Houston received valuable efforts from Thompson and Sengun, but the team lacked shooting accuracy and bench production.
For the Rockets, the defeat ended a second consecutive season with a first-round playoff exit. For the Lakers, the 98-78 victory completed a 4-2 series win and demonstrated how disciplined defense, rebounding, and timely shooting can control an elimination game.
FAQs
Who won the latest Rockets vs Lakers game?
The Lakers defeated the Rockets 98-78 in Game 6 on May 1, 2026.
Who scored the most points in the game?
LeBron James led all players with 28 points, along with seven rebounds and eight assists.
Who led the Rockets in scoring?
Amen Thompson led Houston with 18 points. He also recorded eight rebounds and three blocks.
How many three-pointers did Houston make?
Houston made five of its 28 three-point attempts, finishing at 17.9% from beyond the arc.
What was the final playoff series score?
The Lakers won the first-round playoff series 4-2 and advanced to the Western Conference semifinals.
Statistics checked against the official NBA game page and the complete CBS Sports box score.