Winning the series opener against the Houston Rockets without Kevin Durant may have seemed like a fluke, but the Los Angeles Lakers have now taken a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven first-round matchup.
And once again, it was 41-year-old LeBron James leading from the front. He continued to defy age, finishing as the game’s top scorer and powering Los Angeles to a 101-94 win.
James’ performance earned high praise from teammate Marcus Smart, who has spent much of his career competing against the 22-time All-Star.
Marcus Smart in Awe of LeBron James’ Greatness in Lakers’ Game 2 Win
The Rockets welcomed Durant back for Game 2 at Crypto.com Arena, but the future Hall of Famer endured one of the toughest outings of his career. He matched his playoff career high with 9 turnovers and finished with 23 points in 41 minutes.
In contrast, James delivered another masterclass. He posted a game-high 28 points, along with 8 rebounds, 7 assists, and 1 steal, shooting 8-of-20 from the field and 2-of-5 from beyond the arc.
With that performance, James surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most points scored in a playoff game by a player aged 41 or older.
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Speaking after the game, Smart didn’t hesitate when asked to describe what he witnessed.
“Greatness, man,” Smart said.
“I mean his IQ of the game, he picks his spot so well and he stays very poised. You know, when there are times things get out of control, he’s still calm. That’s what happens when you been in the league for 23 years, doing what he does, so we appreciate it,” he added.
LEBRON STARRED IN GAME 2 🌟
👑 28 PTS
👑 8 REB
👑 7 AST
LAKERS TAKE A 2-0 SERIES LEAD! pic.twitter.com/TxXDpKiPpdNBA (@NBA) April 22, 2026
Smart had an excellent game of his own, recording 25 points on 8-of-13 shooting, along with 7 assists, 2 rebounds, and 5 steals. His defensive intensity and growing chemistry with James have been key factors in the Lakers’ early success.
“You guys seen the meme after Game one. I can look at him and he can know what the hell I’m talking about,” James said about his chemistry with Smart.
LeBron says Marcus Smart was who he was making nonverbal communications with:
“You guys seen the meme after Game one. I can look at him and he can know what the hell I’m talking about” 😂🔥 pic.twitter.com/cnfoVPXl9R
— BronMuse (@BronMuse) April 22, 2026
Having faced each other frequently, James and Smart now form the backbone of the Lakers’ playoff push, alongside Luke Kennard, who has contributed 50 points across the first two games.
“Just knowing his resume, just knowing what he’s all about. He just plays winning basketball,” James added about Smart. “And obviously, he’s been big-time for us offensively in this series, but it’s what he brings, the intangibles.”
With Austin Reaves and Luka Dončić still sidelined, James and the Lakers will need to maintain their intensity as the series shifts to Houston for Game 3 on Friday.
