The Los Angeles Lakers pulled off a stunning 107-98 victory over the Houston Rockets in the opening game of their first-round playoff series, with LeBron James leading the charge with 19 points and 13 assists. Luke Kennard also made history with a 27-point game, the second-most points scored by a player in their Lakers postseason debut. The Lakers capitalized on Kevin Durant's absence due to injury, but the highly anticipated matchup between James and Durant will have to wait. James stated, 'I have to do a little bit of everything, that's what the job requires.' The Lakers' victory was also marked by James sharing the court with his son, Bronny James, in the playoffs for the first time.
The team's strong shooting, with 60.6 percent of their shots made, and pesky defense, which held the Rockets to 37.6 percent shooting, were key factors in their win. Game two is set to take place on April 22, live on Sky Sports. In other playoff news, the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Toronto Raptors 126-113, while the Denver Nuggets took down the Minnesota Timberwolves 116-105 behind Nikola Jokic's 25-point triple-double.
The New York Knicks also secured a 113-102 win over the Atlanta Hawks, with Jalen Brunson scoring 28 points and seven assists. The 2026 NBA playoffs continue on Sky Sports this Sunday, April 19, with four games scheduled.