We came into this matchup expecting Houston to survive one game without its biggest star, but what unfolded raised much bigger questions. The Lakers got key production from everywhere, while LeBron controlled the game without needing to completely take it over as a scorer.
On the other side, Houston’s offense stalled, the fouls piled up, and too many important players failed to deliver when the pressure rose. By the end, this did not feel like a tough loss – it felt like the kind of game that can change how an entire series is viewed.
