Ime Udoka broke down the Houston Rockets’ late-game collapse, pointing to turnovers, poor decisions, and missed execution in the final seconds against the Los Angeles Lakers. The loss was also historic, as Houston became just the second team in 29 years to blow a six-point lead in the final 30 seconds of an NBA Playoffs game, allowing the Lakers to take a 3-0 series lead.

Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka gave a clear and honest breakdown after his team let Game 3 slip away against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Houston had the game in its hands late in the fourth quarter, holding a six-point lead with under 30 seconds left. But instead of closing it out, the Rockets lost control with a string of costly plays. Udoka pointed straight at the execution.

“Horrendous mistakes,” he said in a post-game press conference. “I don’t know if you wanna say youth or, you know, scared of the moment or whatever the case, but, yeah, you have a six-point lead with 20 or 30 seconds to go, get a rebound, and just have to hold the ball and get fouled, or, you know, it’s basically one-on-four and we throw it away to combat it and make it worse.”

“Foul, a terrible foul on Marcus Smart to give him three free throws. Next play, backcourt, you got it. Double’s coming, you try to split it instead of throwing it to Alpy [Alperen Sengun] wide open. Another turnover, and then James makes a tough shot. Then the final play, for the last shot, we don’t run what was drawn up. All of the above.”

The collapse also stands out historically. Over the last 29 years in the NBA Playoffs, teams were 1713-1 when leading by six or more points in the final 30 seconds of regulation. Now, that record is 1713-2, per Keerthika Uthayakumar.

Houston becomes just the second team in that span to lose in that situation, joining the 2024 Knicks.

The Lakers completed the comeback and won 112-108 in overtime, taking a 3-0 lead in the series.

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