The Los Angeles Lakers pulled off a stunning 107-98 win over the Houston Rockets in the opening game of their playoff series, with LeBron James contributing 19 points and 13 assists. Luke Kennard made history with a 27-point game, the second-highest score by a player in their Lakers postseason debut.
The Lakers capitalized on Kevin Durant's injury-enforced absence, but the highly anticipated matchup between James and Durant will have to wait. James said, "My role requires me to do a bit of everything, whether it's rebounding, passing, shooting, or defending. I've been in every possible situation as a basketball player, so nothing surprises me." The game was also notable for James sharing the court with his son, Bronny, in the playoffs for the first time, with their family in attendance.
The Lakers' victory was fueled by their 60.6% shooting accuracy, while the Rockets were limited to 37.6%. The series continues with game two on April 22, live on Sky Sports.
Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers kicked off the 2026 playoffs with a 126-113 win over the Toronto Raptors, thanks to a 46-point combined effort from Max Strus and James Harden. Nikola Jokic led the Denver Nuggets to a 116-105 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves with a 25-point triple-double, while the New York Knicks took an early series lead with a 113-102 win over the Atlanta Hawks, led by Jalen Brunson's 28 points and seven assists.