LeBron James Reveals Target of Trending Video Meme in Lakers' NBA Playoffs Opener vs. Rockets

After creating a new meme in Game 1 of the Los Angeles Lakers' win over the Houston Rockets with a series of nonverbal facial expressions, LeBron James opened about who the looks were directed at following Game 2.

Speaking to reporters after the Lakers' 101-94 win on Tuesday night, James said Marcus Smart was his target because "I can look at him and he can know what the hell I'm talking about."

There was a moment in Game 1 when James was seemingly trying to convey something to a figure we couldn't see based on the camera shot.

Whatever James "communicated" to Smart on Saturday night seemed to take hold in Game 2. Smart finished with 25 points on 8-of-13 shooting, seven assists and five steals in 35 minutes.

Rockets-Lakers Highlights

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It's the first game Smart has scored at least 25 points since Jan. 17. The injuries to Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves have forced Smart into the starting lineup for the playoffs.

The early results have the Lakers in position to potentially advance, while giving Dončić and Reaves more time to recover. Smart's 40 points in the first two games against Houston are his most over a two-game span since January 2024 when he had a run of three straight games with at least 20 points.

It's even more remarkable that Smart and James seem to have this shared connection since this is their first season as teammates. They are both established veterans regarded for their high IQ on the court.

Things have paid off great for the Lakers, whose much-maligned defense is feasting against a Rockets team that scored fewer points in Game 2 with Kevin Durant than it did in Game 1 when he sat out due to a knee injury.

James put up 28 points, eight rebounds and seven assists on Tuesday night. He's averaging 23.5 points, 10.0 assists and 8.0 rebounds per game in the series so far.

The Lakers and Rockets will move their series to Houston, with Game 3 set to be played at the Toyota Center on Friday at 8 p.m. ET.