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Marcus Smart delivered a decisive stretch late in regulation as the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Houston Rockets 112-108 on Friday night at Toyota Center, moving to a 3-0 series lead in the Western Conference first round.
Smart emphasized execution under pressure after the Lakers erased a six-point deficit in the final seconds. “We knew that they were going to try to ice the game. We needed to make a play,” he said.
The veteran guard described the possession that shifted momentum in regulation. “Just using my instincts… I just kind of stunted to see what he does. He picked his dribble up and now he’s in no man’s land,” Smart said.
Smart said anticipation played a key role in the sequence. “I saw Tate running really fast and I’m like, okay, he’s probably not going to be able to stop in time,” he said. “So I just pulled up right away and he ran right under me. Exactly what happened.”
He credited experience as a deciding factor in the late-game execution. “That’s part of me being a vet and my vet savvy, been in the league for 12 years. I picked up some tricks from some guys. That helped us a lot,” Smart said.
Los Angeles relied on multiple clutch plays to extend the game, including a tying three-pointer from LeBron James with 13 seconds remaining in regulation before overtime sealed the turnaround.
Smart also pointed to mindset as a key driver for the Lakers’ late-game resilience. “You got to leave it all on the court because you never know,” he said. “That’s been my motto since I got in this league.”
With injuries forcing expanded roles across the roster, Smart said urgency has defined the team’s approach. “With two of our best players down, we got to play desperate. We got to be the most desperate team,” he said.
The Lakers guard highlighted the team’s consistency in high-pressure moments as a turning point in the series. “That’s how we’ve been playing and that’s how we’re winning,” Smart said.
Looking ahead to a potential closeout opportunity, Smart kept the focus on the next game rather than long-term implications. “It’s not over. We got one more,” he said. “Right now Sunday is the only thing on our mind.”
He also reflected on the mindset required to finish the series on the road. “We got them on the ropes and it’s our job to try to finish,” Smart said. “We got to have that killer instinct.”
