Luke Kennard reflected on adjustments and execution after the Los Angeles Lakers’ 101-94 victory over the Houston Rockets in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series on Tuesday, April 21, at Crypto.com Arena.
Kennard emphasized the Lakers’ early-game focus on fundamentals, pointing to rebounding and ball security as deciding factors. “The keys that we said at the very beginning, rebounding, taking care of the ball,” Kennard said.
He added that turnovers shifted momentum during key stretches. “There were stretches in the game where we turned it over and that gave them a little momentum.”
Houston’s defensive pressure also played a role in the flow of the game. “They definitely upped their aggressiveness a little bit on us,” Kennard said. “We knew that was going to happen.”
Kennard stressed preparation for road conditions in the series ahead. “Obviously going on the road it’s going to be even more, but we got to be prepared for it.”
A major storyline in Game 2 was Kevin Durant’s return for Houston after missing Game 1. Kennard acknowledged the ripple effect of the superstar’s presence.
“Yeah, obviously he’s such a talented scorer and a special player,” Kennard said. “You just got to try to limit his looks.”
He described the defensive approach as physical but realistic about Durant’s scoring ability. “Try to be physical with him, but he’s going to score. That’s what he does.”
Kennard continued, highlighting Durant’s legacy impact. “He’s a professional at it and one of the best to ever do it.”
Despite Durant’s influence, Kennard noted moments where the Lakers executed their defensive plan. “I thought we did a good job of getting the ball out of his hands in certain moments and trying to make other guys beat us.”
He also acknowledged Houston’s likely counter-adjustments. “I know they’re going to have adjustments ready to go for that. That’s just a part of the playoffs.”
Kennard described the postseason as a constant tactical cycle. “That’s what’s so special about it, just going back to the drawing board and figuring out what we can do better.”
On the offensive end, Kennard delivered 23 points and was efficient alongside Marcus Smart, with both players shooting 8-for-13 from the field. His late free throws helped secure the win as Los Angeles maintained control in the final minute.
The Lakers now hold a 2-0 series lead despite injuries to key rotation players, leaning on balanced scoring and defensive execution. Game 3 shifts to Houston, where adjustments from both sides are expected to shape the series trajectory.
