The Los Angeles Lakers traveled to Houston to face the Houston Rockets in their second matchup of a back-to-back. It felt like a throwback matchup featuring LeBron James against Kevin Durant.
James put on a show in the first half with a perfect 8-of-8 shooting, but outspoken NBA reporter Skip Bayless still found a way to take a dig at the league’s leading scorer.
Skip Bayless Criticizes LeBron James’ Finals Record During Flawless Night in Houston
King James came out firing against KD and the Rockets squad. He was perfect in the first half, knocking down all 8 of his shots and even throwing down 3 massive dunks that got the crowd buzzing.
At halftime, his numbers read: 18 points, 0 turnovers, 8-of-8 from the field, and 2-of-2 from 3. One of his standout moments came early in the second quarter. With 10:56 left on the clock and the Lakers leading 35-28, James caught a pass behind the backboard and immediately flushed it with authority.
LEBRON REACHED ALL THE WAY BACK FOR THE SLAM 😱 pic.twitter.com/u8sQZVPAtU
— ESPN (@espn) March 19, 2026
Despite the near-perfect start, Bayless used the moment to revisit old Finals memories.
Posting on X on March 19, Bayless wrote: “What a first half by LeBron: 8-8! If only he could’ve done this in back to back Game 3s in His House vs KD in the Finals.”
What a first half by LeBron: 8-8! If only he could’ve done this in back to back Game 3s in His House vs KD in the Finals.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) March 19, 2026
The comment was a clear jab at James’ performances against Durant’s Golden State Warriors in the 2017 and 2018 NBA Finals.
In Game 3 of the 2017 NBA Finals, James scored 39 points on 15-of-27 shooting and 4-of-9 from deep, but the Cleveland Cavaliers still lost 118-113. Durant hit a clutch 3-pointer over James with 45.3 seconds remaining to seal the game.
In Game 3 of the 2018 NBA Finals, James finished with 33 points on 13-of-28 shooting but missed key shots late, while Durant dropped 43 points to lead the Warriors to a 110-102 win. Golden State went on to win both series, taking the 2017 Finals 4-1 and sweeping the 2018 Finals 4-0.
Bayless’ remark compared those outings to James’ flawless shooting night in Houston, suggesting it came a bit too late against Durant.
Meanwhile, the Lakers took care of business on the court. They secured a 124-116 win over the Rockets, extending their winning streak to 7 games. It was also their 10th win in the last 11 games.
James finished the game with 30 points, shooting 13-of-14 from the field and a perfect 2-of-2 from beyond the arc. He also added 5 rebounds and 2 assists.
Durant contributed 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting and 2-of-5 from 3, along with 6 rebounds and 4 assists.
Luka Dončić once again led the scoring for the Lakers, pouring in 40 points in another commanding display of his elite skills.
The Lakers are now 44-25 on the season, sitting third in the Western Conference. They also carried momentum into the game after defeating the Rockets 100-92 in their previous outing.
