The Los Angeles Lakers secured the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference playoffs with a dominant 140-109 victory over the Houston Rockets on Friday night. Head coach JJ Redick, visibly delighted, entered the postgame press conference with a smile on his face, though he couldn’t escape an unexpected ice bath from his players.
When asked about the ice bath, Redick jokingly replied, “Yes, and I just want to apologize to Kathy. Hopefully, in the next nine days, the $17,000 of damage to the carpet can get fixed.” He continued, “It was about eight ice buckets that were put on me.” However, Redick quickly shifted the focus to his team’s accomplishment, praising their effort throughout the season.
Redick emphasized the significance of clinching 50 wins in a competitive Western Conference. “It’s an accomplishment to win 50 games in the regular season in any year, particularly this year in this Western Conference,” he said. The Lakers finished the regular season with a 50-31 record, their second 50-win season in the past 14 years.
Luka Doncic led the way with 39 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists. Austin Reaves also contributed significantly with 23 points. LeBron James, who had 14 points, took a rest in the third quarter, but the Lakers’ offense remained unstoppable, shooting 60.9% from the field and 51.4% from beyond the arc.
Despite missing several key players, including Alperen Sengun and Fred VanVleet, the Rockets fought hard. Cam Whitmore shined for Houston, scoring a career-high 34 points, but the Rockets couldn’t match the Lakers’ firepower.
The Lakers are now focused on preparing for the upcoming playoffs, where they will face an opponent to be determined. Redick acknowledged the need to maintain rhythm and stay sharp, saying, “We want to go win one more game, and we’ll figure out Sunday who we play in the first round.”
When asked about the rhythm the team has found in recent games, Redick was confident. “I think it’s great for Luka. All three of those guys – Bron, AR, and Luka – have really found a nice rhythm, not just individually but within what we’re trying to do,” he noted.
Redick also provided an update on LeBron James, who was seen with a wrap on his left side after exiting midway through the third quarter. “Oh, he’s fine,” Redick confirmed.
As the Lakers prepare for their playoff run, Redick reflected on his first season as head coach, noting that his work is far from over. “It’s not done,” he stated. “We still have a lot of work to do, myself, our staff. But it’s been a great year.”
