CINCINNATI (AP) — Nathaniel Lowe hit a two-out, two-run walk-off homer off Kenley Jansen to lift the Cincinnati Reds to a wild 9-8 win over the Detroit Tigers on Friday night.
The Reds were down to their last strike when Spencer Steer singled against Jansen. Lowe, who replaced Eugenio Suarez in the lineup due to back pain, followed with his second homer of the night to end it.
Click to Gallery
Detroit Tigers' Riley Greene reacts after hitting a solo home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds in Cincinnati, Friday, April 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ben Jackson)
Detroit Tigers' Riley Greene celebrates after his solo home run with teammates during the second inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds in Cincinnati, Friday, April 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ben Jackson)
Detroit Tigers' Javier Báez celebrates after hitting a solo home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds in Cincinnati, Friday, April 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ben Jackson)
Detroit Tigers pitcher Framber Valdez throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds in Cincinnati, Friday, April 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ben Jackson)
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Andrew Abbott throws during the third inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers in Cincinnati, Friday, April 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ben Jackson)
The Tigers homered four times, including Kerry Carpenter’s go-ahead two-run homer in the eighth.
The game was paused in the top of the seventh due to rain and delayed one hour and 49 minutes.
Cincinnati trailed 5-0 in the fifth when Matt McLain launched a two-run homer, his first of the season, off Framber Valdez. Lowe's solo homer off Kyle Finnegan in the fifth cut the deficit to 5-3.
Valdez allowed two runs in 4 1/3 innings with four strikeouts and a season-high five walks.
Following the rain delay, McLain's two-run homer off Will Vest tied the score 5-5 in the seventh. It was McLain's first career multi-homer game.
The Reds' go-ahead run scored on a throwing error by second baseman Javier Baez and an RBI double by Tyler Stephenson made the score 7-5.
But Spencer Torkelson's solo homer and Carpenter's two-run shot, both off Tony Santillan, helped the Tigers regain the lead 8-7 in the eighth.
Riley Greene hit his third homer of the season in the second and Baez led off the third with his second homer to put the Tigers ahead 2-0.
Matt Vierling's two-run double in the third and Jahmai Jones' RBI single in the fourth made the score 5-0.
Cincinnati starter Andrew Abbott allowed five runs on six hits in four innings. Graham Ashcraft (1-0) pitched around a walk in the ninth.
Reds RHP Brady Singer (1-1, 5.32) will face Tigers RHP Jack Flaherty (0-1, 3.47) on Saturday night.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb
Detroit Tigers' Riley Greene reacts after hitting a solo home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds in Cincinnati, Friday, April 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ben Jackson)
Detroit Tigers' Riley Greene celebrates after his solo home run with teammates during the second inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds in Cincinnati, Friday, April 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ben Jackson)
Detroit Tigers' Javier Báez celebrates after hitting a solo home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds in Cincinnati, Friday, April 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ben Jackson)
Detroit Tigers pitcher Framber Valdez throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds in Cincinnati, Friday, April 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ben Jackson)
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Andrew Abbott throws during the third inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers in Cincinnati, Friday, April 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ben Jackson)
HOUSTON (AP) — LeBron James scored 29 points, including a tying 3-pointer with 13 seconds left in regulation, Marcus Smart had eight points in overtime and the Los Angeles Lakers took advantage of a Houston Rockets team missing Kevin Durant for a 112-108 win Friday night to take a 3-0 lead in the Western Conference first-round series.
The Lakers rallied from a six-point deficit with under 30 seconds remaining and can sweep the series Sunday night in Houston.
“It’s tough to win on the road in the playoffs and even without KD they’re a great basketball team,” coach JJ Redick said. “And that was a huge test for us, especially in that moment when we’re down six.”
Los Angeles opened overtime with a 6-2 run, highlighted by a 3-pointer from Smart to take a 107-103 lead.
Smart made two free throws with 35.5 seconds to go to make it 111-105. Reed Sheppard made a 3-pointer to get Houston within three with less than 30 seconds left in overtime but Smart made 1 of 2 free throws to push the lead to 112-108.
The 41-year-old James played more than 45 minutes Friday night. He said with top scorers Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves out with injuries he has no choice but to do whatever he can.
“Everyone has to do a little bit more because of how much we’re missing,” James said. “It’s a challenge for all of us and just trying to figure it out together.”
Smart added 21 points and 10 assists, and Rui Hachimura added 22 points for the Lakers.
Even with Durant out for a second game in this series — this time with a sprained ankle after missing Game 1 with a knee injury — the Rockets were in position to close out the game after James had consecutive turnovers that Houston turned into a 101-95 lead.
Houston struggled at times to close out games in the fourth quarter and the problem continued Friday night.
“It’s obviously a weakness of ours to close out and finish,” coach Ime Udoka said. “The amount of mistakes or the type of mistakes are egregious and you can’t have those.”
Durant wasn't on the bench Friday night and Udoka said it was because he was receiving treatment on his injured ankle.
Alperen Sengun led the Rockets with 33 points and 16 rebounds. Amen Thompson added 26 points and 11 rebounds.
The Lakers led by 15 early, but were down six before Smart was fouled on a 3-point attempt with 25 seconds to go after a Houston turnover and made all three free throws.
“It was a smart play, and that’s part of my vet savvy, being in the league for 12 years,” Smart said. “I picked up some tricks from some guys, right. So, that helped us a lot.”
James then stole the ball from Sheppard and his 3-pointer tied it at 101-all with 13 seconds to go in the fourth.
Sengun missed a 7-footer and the Lakers had a chance to win, but James' 3-point attempt bounced off the rim to send it to OT.
James, who threw an alley-oop pass to his son Bronny for a basket in the first half, also had 13 rebounds.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
Houston Rockets forward Dorian Finney-Smith (2) knocks away the ball from Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart, center, as forward Jake LaRavia (12) looks on during the first half in Game 3 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series Friday April 24, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Houston Rockets guard Amen Thompson (1) loses a rebound in front of Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura (28) during the first half in Game 3 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series Friday April 24, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura, right, looks to shoot while under pressure from Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr., left, during the first half of Game 3 in a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series Friday April 24, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Houston Rockets guard Amen Thompson (1) looks to drive around Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart (36) who reaches in during the first half of Game 3 in a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series Friday April 24, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. (10) becomes entangled with Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) as he drives to the basket during the first half of Game 3 in a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series Friday April 24, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) drives to the basket in front of Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun, left, during the first half of Game 3 in a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series Friday April 24, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
