Ime Udoka calls out Rockets team for 'horrendous mistakes' blowing lead to Lakers

TL;DR

The Houston Rockets squandered a six-point lead against the Lakers with 28 seconds left, leading to a loss in overtime. Coach Ime Udoka criticized the team's 'horrendous mistakes' and failure to execute the game plan.

Key points

Rockets had a six-point lead with 28 seconds left
Ime Udoka criticized the team's mistakes
Marcus Smart's steal was pivotal
Lakers tied the game and won in overtime
Rockets failed to execute the final play

Houston RocketsLos Angeles Lakers

With 28 seconds left and the Rockets up six and with the ball, Houston had the game in hand. They just had to take care of the ball and not make any foolish mistakes.

They failed.

"Horrendous mistakes," Rockets coach Ime Udoka said, via the Associated Press. "I don't know if you want to say youth or scared of the moment, or whatever the case. You have a six point lead with 20, or 30 seconds to go, get a rebound, you just have to hold the ball and get fouled."

It all went wrong for Houston when Marcus Smart stole the ball from Jabari Smith Jr., then Jae'Sean Tate fouled Smart on a 3-point attempt. Suddenly, it was a 3-point game. Then, LeBron James knocked the ball away from Reed Sheppard and turned it into a 3-pointer on the other end. Tie game. The Lakers went on to win in overtime.

"On the final play, we didn't run what was drawn up," Udoka said of the Rockets' last chance in regulation.

A frustrated Udoka couldn't hide it.

"It's obviously a weakness of ours to close out and finish," Udoka said. "The amount of mistakes or the type of mistakes are egregious and you can't have those...

"Grow up," he said he told his players. "You're not that young anymore."

His players agreed.

"It was a stupid turnover," Sheppard said of his late-game error. “(Alperen Sengun’s) man came up. I should have hit Alpie right over halfcourt and just made the simple play. I tried to split the two defenders."

All those mistakes have left the Rockets down 0-3 to the Lakers and on the brink of an ugly, early playoff elimination. Houston was without Kevin Durant in this game due to a sprained ankle, the second game the future Hall of Famer has missed in this series. His status for Sunday's Game 4 remains unknown.

Q&A

What did Ime Udoka say about the Rockets' performance against the Lakers?

Ime Udoka called the Rockets' mistakes 'horrendous' and attributed their failure to hold a lead to youth and fear of the moment.

How did the Rockets lose their lead against the Lakers?

The Rockets lost their lead after Marcus Smart stole the ball and Jae'Sean Tate fouled him, allowing the Lakers to tie the game and eventually win in overtime.

What were the key moments that led to the Rockets' loss in overtime?

Key moments included a critical steal by Marcus Smart, a foul on a 3-point attempt, and a turnover by Reed Sheppard that allowed the Lakers to score and tie the game.