In Game 2 of the First Round Western Conference series between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Houston Rockets, fans got what they’d been hoping for. The game wasn’t just the Playoffs debut of Kevin Durant as a Rocket, but also marked the latest duel between Durant and fellow future Hall of Famer LeBron James. 

How to Watch

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James and the Lakers outlasted Durant in Game 2, despite a shorthanded offense and Durant’s leadership. Now, though, it might be a different story. The series heads to Houston this weekend for its third and fourth games, and you’ll be able to catch Game 4 live courtesy of the NBA on NBC. 

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How to watch Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets Game 4

After squaring off in Game 3 Friday night, the Lakers and the Rockets will return to the NBA on NBC on Sunday night as the second half of a doubleheader beginning at 7 p.m. ET with the Celtics and the 76ers. The Lakers and Rockets will tip off at 9:30 p.m. ET, live from the Toyota Center in Houston. You can catch the game live on NBC or stream it simultaneously on Peacock.

NBC Sports’ Noah Eagle will handle play-by-play duties for this matchup, with analysis and commentary by Grant Hill and courtside reporting from Ashley ShahAhmadi. 

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What to expect from Lakers vs. Rockets Game 4

The Lakers are still shorthanded with leading scorer Luka Doncic out for at least the rest of the month, but that hasn’t stopped their bench from stepping up and keeping the offense flowing through two games in LA. Durant’s return was supposed to help the Rockets get past the Lakers’ execution, but Houston struggled overall in Game 2, as KD was doubled frequently by the Lakers defense and the team as a whole made only a little more than 40 percent of their shots on the night. 

As the series heads back to Houston, shooting efficiency is top of mind for Durant and the rest of the Rockets. They have to be more offensively consistent if they want to beat a LeBron-led team with a deep bench, and they’ll have to be especially aware of the potential return of Austin Reaves, another top Lakers scorer who’s been benched through the Playoffs so far. If the Rockets can get it together and look a little more like their regular season selves, this series could turn really quickly, but the Lakers will only get tougher from here.