LeBron proves clutch as Lakers win OT thriller over Rockets to take 3-0 series lead

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/james-lebron/nuIVxFJk/"]James[/a], the 41-year-old superstar playing in his 19th postseason, came up with a steal and a game-tying three-pointer with 13.6 seconds left in regulation.[/p][p]He couldn't get a potential game-winner to drop at the buzzer, but added a steal and a block in a frantic overtime as the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/los-angeles-lakers/ngegZ8bg/"]Lakers[/a] pushed the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/houston-rockets/Sr9PQALP/"]Rockets[/a] to the brink of elimination in the best-of-seven Western Conference series.[/p][embed guid="7dd59941-b288-4df8-8f5f-fc771b0a008e" url="https://x.com/NBA/status/2047867316688285826?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]No NBA team has come back from a 0-3 deficit to win a playoff series.[/p][p][b]"Just trying to seize the opportunity,"[/b] James, who added 13 rebounds, six assists, and three steals, told broadcaster Prime. [b]"My guys trust me to try to make plays, and I'm blessed to be able to do it."[/b][/p][p]The Lakers will have a chance to close out the series in Houston on Sunday. It's not a position many expected them to be in with league-leading scorer [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/doncic-luka/pQ4ZBK0o/"]Luka Doncic[/a] sidelined by a hamstring strain and key offensive contributor [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/austin-reaves/xlCMu1nk/"]Austin[/a] Reaves out with an oblique injury.[/p][embed guid="8311a7d4-a700-4039-9075-ec75ca6cc657" url="https://x.com/NBA/status/2047884519210991675?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]The young Rockets, with veteran star [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/durant-kevin/pKXcd9rI/"]Kevin Durant[/a] sidelined by a sprained ankle, were led by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sengun-alperen/6VXU9SGb/"]Alperen Sengun[/a]'s 33 points and 16 rebounds.[/p][p]They rallied from an early 15-point deficit and led by six with less than 30 seconds left in regulation.[/p][p]But their mistakes caught up with them. A Houston turnover was followed by a foul on [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/smart-marcus/Q1HV4AFU/"]Marcus Smart[/a] as he attempted a three-pointer.[/p][p]Smart made all three free throws to cut the Lakers' deficit to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/basketball/houston-rockets-Sr9PQALP/los-angeles-lakers-ngegZ8bg/?mid=UZFqN2eJ"]101-98[/a] and set the stage for James's game-tying basket.[/p][p]Sengun missed a potential go-ahead basket before James was off-target from beyond the arc, and they went to overtime, Smart scoring eight of his 21 points in the extra session as the Lakers pulled away.[/p][embed guid="3dd65e51-e1a5-45b3-972a-9738ecd2f21e" url="https://x.com/NBA/status/2047891897620767154?s=20" social-type="twitter" /]