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The NBA has acknowledged that Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart should have been assessed a lane violation during a crucial late-game moment in Game 3 of the Western Conference first-round series against the Houston Rockets, according to the league’s Last Two Minute Report released Saturday.

In a game that swung like a pendulum in its final seconds, the missed call came with 25.5 seconds remaining in regulation and Houston leading by four. Smart, sent to the free-throw line after being fouled on a three-point attempt, converted one of his attempts to trim the deficit to three—but replay review later confirmed he had stepped into the lane before the ball touched the rim, a violation that should have nullified the shot.

Controversial sequence fuels Lakers comeback surge

That single overlooked infraction became a quiet but pivotal footnote in a game that extended beyond regulation. The Lakers clawed back to force overtime before overwhelming Houston 11-7 in the extra period, securing a 112-108 victory and a commanding 3-0 series lead.

Smart, who finished with 21 points, delivered a surge in overtime, scoring eight points in the decisive frame as Los Angeles tightened its grip on the series like a closing trap.

Rockets short-handed as Durant injury looms over series

Houston entered Game 3 already undermanned, missing star forward Kevin Durant, who sat out due to injury. Rockets head coach Ime Udoka confirmed Saturday that Durant is still recovering from a sprained left ankle, though the team remains hopeful he could return for Game 4 on Sunday.

Without him, Houston has struggled to match Los Angeles’ late-game execution, especially in moments where every possession feels like a tightening rope.

Series shifts sharply toward Los Angeles

The Lakers now sit one win away from a commanding series sweep, with momentum firmly in their corner after surviving a tense finish that hinged on a single missed lane violation call.

For Houston, the margin for error has vanished. For Los Angeles, Game 3 may be remembered not just for overtime heroics—but for the split-second foot placement that the NBA later confirmed should have changed everything.