The Los Angeles Lakers achieved a surprise 107-98 victory over the Houston Rockets in the first game of their playoff series, with LeBron James contributing 19 points and 13 assists. Luke Kennard also 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 absence, although the highly anticipated matchup between James and Durant will have to wait. James emphasized his role as a versatile player, saying, "I gotta do a little bit of everything, that's what the job requires." He also shared a special moment with his son, Bronny James, who joined him on the court for the first time in a playoff game. The Lakers dominated the game, shooting 60.6% while limiting the Rockets to 37.6%.
Game two is scheduled for April 22. In other playoff news, the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Toronto Raptors 126-113, thanks to a strong performance by Max Strus and James Harden. The Denver Nuggets also secured a win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, led by Nikola Jokic's 25-point triple-double.
The New York Knicks took an early series lead with a 113-102 win over the Atlanta Hawks, driven by Jalen Brunson's 28 points and seven assists.