How one unsuspecting hero stripped Rockets of their superpower: ‘Played his a– off’
The Lakers overcame early struggles in their first-round playoff series against the Rockets by finally mastering rebounding and reducing turnovers in Games 5 and 6. Deandre Ayton emerged as a key force, dominating the boards and anchoring the defense to neutralize Houston's offensive rebounding advantage. Los Angeles closed out the series with a decisive 98-78 Game 6 victory, ending the Rockets' season on their home floor.
- ▪The Rockets averaged 15 offensive rebounds per game during the regular season, the most in the NBA and the highest in 25 years.
- ▪In Games 1 through 4, the Lakers gave up 69 more possessions than the Rockets due to poor rebounding and high turnovers.
- ▪Deandre Ayton recorded 16 rebounds in the series-clinching Game 6 and became the first Laker since Pau Gasol in 2012 to grab 10 offensive rebounds in a playoff game.
- ▪The Lakers held the Rockets to 78 points in Game 6, the lowest score by any team in the 2026 postseason.
- ▪Head coach J.J. Redick challenged the team to box out and minimize turnovers, which they achieved with just 10 giveaways in Game 6.
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NBA How one unsuspecting hero stripped Rockets of their superpower: ‘Played his a– off’ By Michael Duarte Published May 2, 2026, 9:33 a.m. ET Entering their first-round playoff series with the Rockets, the Lakers knew they had to take away their opponent’s superpower. During the regular season, the Rockets averaged an astonishing 15 offensive rebounds per game — the most in the NBA, and the most by a team in 25 years. They also forced an average of 13 turnovers per game. Layer those together and you’re not just playing an opponent, you’re playing a second invisible game that is allowing them more shots, more chaos, and more chances to bury you. Through the first four games of the series, the Lakers were losing that game badly.
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