Lakers Pull Off Stunning Upset Over Rockets in Game One

The Los Angeles Lakers achieved a surprising 107-98 victory over the Houston Rockets in the first game of their playoff series, with LeBron James scoring 19 points and providing 13 assists. Luke Kennard made history with a 27-point game, the second-highest score by a player in their Lakers postseason debut and a personal playoff best. The Lakers capitalized on the absence of Kevin Durant due to injury, although the highly anticipated matchup between James and Durant will have to wait. James stated, 'My role requires me to do a bit of everything, including rebounding, passing, shooting, and defending to bring value to the team.' 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' success was largely due to their 60.6% shooting accuracy, while the Rockets were limited to 37.6%. The second game is scheduled for April 22. Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers began the 2026 playoffs with a 126-113 win over the Toronto Raptors, thanks to the combined efforts of Max Strus and James Harden, who scored 46 points. Nikola Jokic led the Denver Nuggets to a 116-105 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves with a 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 providing seven assists. The 2026 NBA playoffs continue on Sky Sports, with four games scheduled for April 19.