Rockets Lakers Basketball
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James gestures after scoring during the second half in Game 1 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series against the Houston Rockets, Saturday, April 18, 2026, in Los Angeles.
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Kevin Durant was ruled out of Houston’s playoff opener against the Los Angeles Lakers with a bruised right knee about 90 minutes before tipoff. The rest of the Rockets were neither ready nor able to pick up the slack. Houston is in an early postseason hole and the Lakers are feeling awfully good about their upset chances after Los Angeles’ 107-98 victory. Both teams were without their top scorer, but only the Lakers responded to the challenge. With Durant, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves — a combined 82.8 points per game — all watching in street clothes, Los Angeles controlled Game 1.
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