How did Lakers beat Rockets in OT?

How the Lakers won in overtime

The Lakers forced overtime late and then closed out the Rockets in Game 3, taking a commanding 3–0 series lead. The turning point was a late regulation sequence featuring LeBron James—he hit a game-tying three with 13 seconds left to send the contest to extra time.

Once the game shifted, Los Angeles continued to control key possessions. In overtime, the Lakers benefited from timely scoring and execution under pressure, allowing them to turn a close contest into a series-defining win.

The key moments

• LeBron’s tying three-pointer with seconds remaining in regulation
• Houston’s late-game hold was erased by the Lakers’ final possession execution
• Overtime scoring and composure pushed LA to the finish line

Why it matters

This result does more than even the scoreboard—it effectively ends Houston’s margin for error. With the Lakers up 3–0, the next game becomes about whether the Rockets can change their late-game outcomes and whether Los Angeles can keep winning without needing a perfect performance.

The coverage also emphasized that the Lakers delivered despite a series where the Rockets had shown the ability to create pressure. That matters for the overall narrative: this wasn’t a runaway; it was a high-leverage win that came from clutch execution when the game was tight.

As the series moves to its next matchup, the Lakers’ path is clear: maintain the level that produced the OT win while tightening any late-game defensive lapses that allowed Houston to be in contention.