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Jamal Crawford thinks difference between LeBron James and Kevin Durant's operating area decided Game 2
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- Jamal Crawford thinks difference between LeBron James and Kevin Durant's operating area decided Game 2
After sitting out the series opener with a knee injury, Kevin Durant returned to action for the Houston Rockets in Game 2 of their first-round playoff matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers , looking to help his team even the series.
Durant came out strong and made an early impact, but the Los Angeles Lakers held firm at home behind another great performance from LeBron James , taking a 2–0 series lead as the matchup shifts to Houston for Games 3 and 4.
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Jamal Crawford pointed out on "X" that how the coaches utilized their superstar forwards was the difference in the game.
"The difference right now about the two stars' operating area..Kd is at the top of the floor where it's easier to get doubled, where five sets of eyes are watching you, and they're forcing him to pass..Lebron is in the mid post area, so if you double him from there, it's a layup for a teammate or wide open 3.." wrote Crawford.
Durant vs. James in Game 2
After James controlled Game 1 with his playmaking, the Rockets were expected to bounce back and even the series with Durant returning for Game 2. However, head coach Ime Udoka struggled to put his superstar forward in positions to succeed.
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After a strong first half, the Lakers adjusted defensively and limited Durant to just three second-half points. As Crawford noted, Durant was often placed in spots where double teams came easily, leading to nine turnovers — an issue that ultimately played a major role in Houston's Game 2 loss.
Meanwhile, James threw away a couple of passes, had three turnovers and had a rough shooting night at 8-of-20 from the field. But getting the ball at mid-post enabled him to be an offensive creator once again with seven assists while also helping him attack the basket better and get to the foul line 14 times.
He finished the game with 28 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, leading his team to a 101-94 victory.
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The Lakers put the Rockets in a hole
James had already settled comfortably into a third-option role alongside Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves , a setup that was working well for the Lakers.
However, as the Lakers jumped out to a 2–0 lead over the Houston Rockets — despite entering the series as heavy underdogs — Tracy McGrady gave credit to both James and head coach JJ Redick for setting the tone early.
" LeBron James and JJ Redick are geniuses at this game. You know, just their strategy in which they have this team playing with the two guys being out, and how they had to completely change how they play," said McGrady.
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Following last night's victory, the Lakers have now emerged as the betting favorites to win the series. Adding to that, James holds a perfect 32–0 record in playoff series when his team takes a 2–0 lead.
Still, the job isn't finished — they've simply taken care of business at home so far. That said, with how convincingly they've outplayed the Rockets and the way Redick has outmaneuvered Udoka tactically, the Lakers are in a strong position moving forward.
Related: Shaquille O'Neal's toughest matchup ever is now living as a cattle farmer in Oklahoma
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Apr 22, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
