
The Lakers’ 101-94 win over the Rockets puts them up 2-0 in the series, and Marcus Smart’s defense on Kevin Durant is a central part of the story. With Durant back for Game 2, the matchup sharpened around how the Lakers would handle one of the league’s biggest threats. Smart’s assignment highlights how playoff games can turn on defensive focus as much as scoring. For fans, it is a reminder that postseason success often comes from role players making the right reads at the right time, especially when the series starts to tilt.












