On Friday night, the Los Angeles Lakers played the Houston Rockets (in Texas) for Game 3 of their first-round playoff series.
The Lakers won (in overtime) by a score of 112-108.
Bronny James finished with five points while shooting 2/2 from the field in nine minutes of playing time.
He had only played seven total minutes in the first two games.
NBA World Reacts To Bronny James’ Performance
GettyBronny James #9 of the Los Angeles Lakers on court against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second half at Crypto.com Arena on April 07, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
Mike Trudell: “Moments after Bronny James Jr. hit his first playoff 3, thanks in part to a screen set by his dad, Bronny converted an alley-oop layup from LeBron, putting the Lakers up 52-40. Pure theatre.”
Skip Bayless: “LeBron and Bronny are sticking it to Ime.”
Robin Lundberg: “Btw Bronny James is getting real playoff minutes in his second season. The crash-outs over him being picked 55th will not age well.”
Dave McMenamin: “Back-to-back Bronny James buckets — first a stepback 3 with LeBron screening for him, and then an acrobatic layup off a LeBron lob — have the Lakers rolling here in the 2nd Q.”
@BronnyMuse06: “Show me another 55th pick be this impactful with the amount of minutes he’s given in the playoffs Show me, I’m waiting.”
Sam Quinn: “Have we ever seen a father-son shared heat check? Because we might’ve just seen one from LeBron and Bronny.”
Real App: “Bronny James outscored the entire Rockets bench in a playoff game 🤯”
Nick Wright: “The Lakers were +4 in Bronny’s 9 minutes and dead even in the other 44 minutes. Someone check on all the folks who were catching the vapors over nepotism run wild!”
GettyBronny James #9 of the Los Angeles Lakers Los Angeles Lakers prior to a Game One of the First Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs against the Houston Rockets at Crypto.com Arena on April 18, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
Bronny is in his second season playing for the Lakers.
The former USC guard finished the regular season with averages of 2.9 points and 1.2 assists per contest while shooting 40.9% from the field and 38.6% from three-point range in 42 games.
Looking At The Lakers
GettyLeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Bronny James #9 look downcourt against the Golden State Warriors during the second half at Chase Center on April 09, 2026 in San Francisco, California.
The Lakers now have a commanding 3-0 lead over the Rockets with Game 4 on Sunday in Houston.
They have gone 26-16 in the 42 games they have played on the road.
If the Lakers lose on Sunday, the teams will head back to Los Angeles for Game 5 on Wednesday.
Last season, they lost in the first round of the 2025 playoffs.
NBA World Reacts To Bronny James’ Performance In Lakers-Rockets Game