How Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart helped Lakers oust Rockets: ‘Playoffs (are) where it counts’

The Los Angeles Lakers eliminated the Houston Rockets in their first-round NBA playoff series, with Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart playing pivotal roles in the victory. Both players had been bought out by their previous teams — Ayton by the Portland Trail Blazers and Smart by the Washington Wizards — before signing with the Lakers last July following Los Angeles's upset loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2025 Western Conference quarterfinals. The duo's contributions validated the Lakers' decision to take chances on the two veterans, with the series clincher coming at Toyota Center in Houston.