LeBron James' historic 18-year postseason record broken by the Houston Rockets in Game 5
· Yahoo Sports
LeBron James' historic 18-year postseason record broken by the Houston Rockets in Game 5 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Los Angeles Lakers could not close out the series against the Houston Rockets in Game 5 of their first-round series. This was familiar territory for Lakers superstar LeBron James, who had never lost a close-out game at home since the 2008 postseason.
Visit raccoongame.org for more information.
Due to his longevity, that is one of the most impressive achievements of any player today. However, that record has now ended because James and the Lakers lost to the Rockets on Wednesday, 99-93. It was a competitive game, but the Rockets were the better team.
LeBron James' long-lasting record of 18 years has now ended after Game 5 loss
For the longest time, LeBron was one of the toughest players to beat in the Playoffs. In the 2010s, he had a stranglehold on the Eastern Conference, as his team made the Finals from 2011 to 2018. It was one of the biggest reasons why he is considered one of the greatest players of all time.
Included in that stretch is his team's dominance during close-out games. When his team played at home, he never lost a game of that nature since the 2008 postseason. However, that has changed in 2026 due to the Rockets' big win in Game 5.
MORE: LeBron James reveals his plans after he retires from the NBA
The Lakers are still up 3-2 against the Rockets, but it is a bit painful to stomach a streak ending for LeBron. Of course, it was still one of the most historic stretches for any player in the league because he was immense during the past 18 years.
Now, the Lakers have another opportunity to close out the series in Game 6. That will be in Houston, which will prove to be another tough game because the Rockets have built momentum in the past two victories.
Of course, the Rockets do not have Kevin Durant, which could be a significant blow. However, the Rockets have done well without him, which showcases the team's quality. The Lakers still have a lot of opportunities to advance, and with LeBron on the roster, they have an ever-reliable leader.
More NBA news:
- LeBron James speaks about why he did not compare himself to Michael Jordan
- Peyton Watson's offseason suitors now includes the Los Angeles Lakers
- The Lakers could have had De'Aaron Fox and Lauri Markkanen if new NBA Draft Lottery rules had existed in 2017
- Bruce Bowen's GOAT list has an interesting placement for LeBron James
- LeBron James hopes Michael Jordan became proud of him for wearing #23