The Los Angeles Lakers pulled off a stunning 107-98 win over the Houston Rockets in the opening game of their first-round playoff series, with LeBron James delivering 19 points and 13 assists. Luke Kennard also made history with a 27-point game, the second-highest points scored by a player in their Lakers postseason debut and a personal career playoff best after joining 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.
James said, 'My role requires me to do a little bit of everything, being a triple threat, rebounding, passing, shooting, defending, and bringing value to the team.' The game marked a career highlight for James as he shared the court with his son, Bronny James, in the playoffs for the first time, with their family in attendance. The Lakers thrived by hitting 60.6 per cent of their shots and holding the Rockets to 37.6 per cent shooting with their pesky defense. Game two is scheduled for April 22, live on Sky Sports, in Los Angeles.
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 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 this Sunday, April 19, with four games on Sky Sports Action.