Bronny James settling into Lakers playoff role

HOUSTON– While leading the Lakers to a 3-0 lead over the Houston Rockets in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs, LeBron James broke out of his airtight playoff mindset for only a few fleeting moments.

He has a good reason.

“All those moments were with Bronny,” James said Friday after leading the Lakers to a 112-108 victory over Houston. “It just keeps getting better. It’s like, wow.”

Growing into the playoff spotlight, Bronny James scored his first points of the postseason Friday in a five-point, 26-second burst in which he drained a three behind a screen from his father, then nailed a reverse layup to complete the NBA’s first father-son alley-oop in the postseason. The Lakers can win the best-of-seven first-round series Sunday at Toyota Center.

Without Luka Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique) to lead the Lakers’ half-court sets, the team placed an emphasis on running in transition. When Deandre Ayton blocked a shot at the rim with 7:18 left in the second quarter, LeBron grabbed the rebound and pushed the ball up the court. Bronny, the youngest player on the Lakers team, knows he can beat anyone on the court. He locked eyes with his father as they sprinted towards the basket.

It’s been a while since Bronny caught a lob from his 41-year-old father. Maybe not since last year’s training camp, he figured. Getting to reconnect while contributing to the Lakers’ thrilling overtime win is “what I’ve always wanted,” Bronny said.

“Especially in a playoff game, the first stretch of the playoffs is great for me, great for my confidence and how I approach the rest of the playoffs,” he added.

The 21-year-old got his first playoff rotation minutes in Game 1, starting in the second quarter. The Crypto.com Arena crowd cheered when he received his first touch of the ball.

He committed one turnover and two fouls during his nearly four-minute shift. Several of his passes were slightly off-target, forcing his teammates to catch the ball. Assistant coach Greg St. Jean pulled him aside to offer words of encouragement before the second-year pro returned to the bench. He did not return to the game.

LeBron remembered the nervousness he felt during his first playoff game in 2006 against Washington, he said after the first game, and there was little advice he could give his son to make the experience easier until he actually did it.

“I was nervous for my first playoff game, too,” Bronny said. “I definitely think I gained a little more confidence and relaxed over these three games.”

The Lakers are going to need his minutes. While still waiting for Doncic and Reaves to return, the Lakers can’t turn down any advantageous shots, coach JJ Redick said.

Seeing him confidently go for a three-pointer on Friday was even more important than Bronny making the shot for his first points of the playoffs.

Lakers guard Bronny James (9) and Rockets guard Reed Sheppard (15) chase a loose ball during Game 3 Friday night in Houston.

(Michael Wyke/Associated Press)

“The amount of confidence a young kid in our league can get in a playoff game is comparable to a regular season game,” LeBron said. “You’ll never be nervous again after a regular season moment when you’re playing meaningful postseason games and minutes. And he did that, and I think that’s pretty cool for his career, for his confidence.”

Not only has Bronny gained confidence in his shooting, but Redick also praised his improvement on defense throughout the season. Against the famously physical Rockets, the 6-foot-2 guard didn’t look out of place on defense. In the moments when LeBron zooms out to realize his son is playing, he marvels at his older sibling’s attention to detail, improvements on the ball and his defensive mindset.

Bronny appreciates the trust the coaches have in him. The former five-star recruit from Sierra Canyon High continues to progress in his career, especially after surgery for a congenital heart defect derailed his brief college experience at USC. The fact that he didn’t get to play in a March Madness game will upset him for the rest of his life, Bronny said. But the Lakers’ playoff run isn’t a bad consolation prize.

“I got to do it in the playoffs,” Bronny said, “and it’s just the best feeling.”

Injury Updates

Austin Reaves remains doubtful for Game 4 in Houston on Sunday. Reaves participated in individual shooting practice on Saturday.

Reaves and Doncic are less than four weeks removed from their Grade 2 injuries suffered on April 2. Doncic remains out for Game 4, but with the Lakers poised to extend their season into the second round, Doncic’s potential return to the playoffs becomes more realistic.

Needing a win Sunday to extend his season, the Rockets’ Kevin Durant is doubtful with a sprained left ankle. The superstar forward missed the first game with a bruised right knee and injured his ankle late in the second game. He received “24-hour-a-day” care, Rockets coach Ime Udoka said Saturday. Durant was running on an underwater treadmill during Friday’s game and will test the ankle again before Game 4.

“Every day that passes, the probability increases,” Udoka said of Durant’s play. “But I thought maybe he’d be okay [Friday] based on shootaround and it’s different from going at half speed and then increasing it right before a match. And so we really can’t tell, but he’s doing everything he can to come back.