The Houston Rockets were hoping that the new venue would give them a fresh start to climb back from a 0-2 series deficit against the Lakers, and they were pretty much there after giving their all. Despite playing without their cornerstone, Kevin Durant, the Rockets looked every bit like a team determined to reverse their misfortunes.
The Lakers dominated the first half (63-52), but the Rockets built an 11-point lead in the second half. But a catastrophic late-game collapse at the Toyota Center saw a six-point lead vanish with under 30 seconds left in regulation, leaving the Rockets in a 3-0 hole after an 112-108 overtime loss. For a young team looking to prove its worth, the final seconds served as a painful reminder of how quickly the game can change on the court.
Kendrick Perkins Blasts Houston Rockets’ Basketball IQ
The response to the Rockets’ loss was immediate, especially from Kendrick Perkins, who delivered a raw, hard-fact assessment. On the latest episode of ESPN’s SportsCenter, Perkins didn’t just criticize the loss; he attacked the Rockets’ fundamental understanding of the game.
“They are the dumbest team in the playoffs. They are the most dysfunctional team in the playoffs,” Perkins stated. “This has been the Rockets not only in the postseason, but all season long. People say they need a point guard and all this, but no. You’re supposed to have some level of IQ if you’re a basketball player.”
Kendrick Perkins says the Rockets are the dumbest team in the playoffs:
“They are the dumbest team in the playoffs. They are the most dysfunctional team in the playoffs… This has been the Rockets not only in the postseason, but all season long. People say they need a point… pic.twitter.com/NOCxhX2faE
— NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) April 25, 2026
With the Lakers missing key offensive contributors like Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, the Rockets had a golden opportunity to capitalize on this. However, their inability to manage the time and the ball in the closing minutes has pushed them to the brink of a sweep, proving Perkins’ point that talent without IQ is a disastrous recipe for an early exit.
Alperen Şengün led the night as the highest scorer with 33 points, 16 rebounds, and 6 assists on 15-of-27 from the field and 1-of-5 from beyond the arc. Amen Thompson contributed 26 points and 11 rebounds while Jabari Smith Jr. had 24 points and 6 rebounds on 6-of-10 from the three-point line. Reed Sheppard played for 46 minutes and has 17 points, 7 assists, and 4 rebounds on 6-of-21 from the field.
According to ESPN Analytics, the Rockets had a 97% win probability with just 34 seconds left on the game clock. With a six-point lead and possession of the basketball, it was a perfect chance for the Rockets to breathe life into their losing series. However, the Lakers’ LeBron James, who’s beating Father Time, exploited every crack in Houston’s defense and rammed down an equalizer three-pointer with 13.6 seconds left, forcing it into OT.
The game went from an assured win to an overtime struggle for the Rockets. The Lakers dropped 11 points in OT against the Rockets’ seven, and took home another victory. James finished the night with a double-double: 29 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 assists on a 10-of-22 field shooting and 4-of-9 from deep in 49 minutes.
“We watched the last possessions. The two turnovers, the two threes, and the lost ball I was going for. We are going to watch it, and we are going to learn and grow together,” said Sengun during the post-game, showcasing the Rockets’ locker room’s commitment towards turning things around.
Despite Şengün’s impressive individual performance, the team’s late-game handling contributed to a sequence of “dysfunctional” basketball that NBA champion Kendrick Perkins could not ignore.
