The Los Angeles Lakers pulled off a stunning upset, defeating the Houston Rockets 107-98 in the opening game of their first-round playoff series. LeBron James led the charge with 19 points and 13 assists, but it was Luke Kennard who made history with a 27-point game, the second-highest points scored by a player in their Lakers postseason debut. Kennard's performance was also a personal career playoff best, following his move from Atlanta in February. The Lakers capitalized on Kevin Durant's absence due to injury, but the highly anticipated matchup between James and Durant will have to wait.
'I have to be able to do a little bit of everything, that's what my role requires,' James said. 'It's about being a triple threat, rebounding, passing, shooting, defending, and bringing value to the team.' The game was also notable for James sharing the court with his son, Bronny James, in the playoffs for the first time, with their family in attendance. 'It's been a crazy year, and being on the floor with my son in a playoff game is probably the craziest thing that's happened in my career,' James added.
The Lakers thrived by hitting 60.6% of their shots and holding the Rockets to 37.6% shooting, with game two scheduled for April 22. Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers kicked off the 2026 playoffs with a 126-113 win over the Toronto Raptors, thanks to a combined 46 points from Max Strus and James Harden.
The Denver Nuggets also secured a 116-105 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, with Nikola Jokic stealing the show with a 25-point triple-double. 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. The 2026 NBA playoffs continue on Sky Sports, with four games scheduled for April 19.