MARCUS SMART and Deandre Ayton slap hands as they celebrate in overtime during their win Friday. KENNETH RICHMOND Getty Images The Lakers were cooked, the playoff magic finally drained from a team without its two leading scorers, a team in the process of ... See more
Marcus Smart diving and scrapping and leading cheers with a scream. Luke Kennard stepping to the free-throw line and hearing the chant, "MVP! ... MVP!... MVP!" Who knew? Without their two best players, facing the quicker and more bruising Houston Rockets ... See more
Story by Plaschke: It's over! Lakers prove they're better than the overmatched Rockets Lakers forward LeBron James goes up for a layup between Rockets forward Tari Eason and center Alperen Sengun during the third quarter of Game 2 of their first-round NBA... See more
Photographs by ALLEN J. SCHABEN Los Angeles Times LUKE Kennard gets love from Deandre Ayton after making one of his three threes in the fourth quarter of Game 1. Kennard had 27 points. The Lakers limped painfully into the playoffs Saturday night only to d... See more
Story by Plaschke: Can Lakers steal series? Anything is possible after Game 1 win Lakers forward LeBron James wraps a pass around Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. as coach JJ Redick watches from the sideline during the second half of their first-round pla... See more
