The LA Lakers stunned the Houston Rockets 107-98 in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series, with LeBron James scoring 19 points and 13 assists.
But it was Luke Kennard who cemented himself in the Lakers’ history books with a 27-point game, the second-most points scored by a player in their Lakers’ postseason debut and a personal career playoff best since being traded from Atlanta in February.
The home team was able to take advantage of Kevin Durant’s absence due to injury, but the eight-year wait to see legends James and Durant square off in a playoff game continues.
“I have to do a little bit of everything, that’s what the job calls for,” James said.
“So it’s being a triple threat, being able to rebound, pass, shoot, defend and be able to put myself in a position to bring value to the team.
“It will be a match-by-match situation to see how it plays out.
“I don’t predetermine what I’m going to do, the only thing predestined is how I prepare.
“I’ve been in every situation you could ever imagine as a basketball player, so nothing can surprise me.”
Both teams played the opener without their most important players, as Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves have been out indefinitely with injuries since April 2, while Durant was a late scratch with a bruised right knee.
But the game also gave James another career highlight as he shared the court with his son, Bronny James, for the first time in the playoffs as their family watched in the stands.
“There’s a lot of crazy stuff that’s been going on this year,” James added.
“I was on the floor with my son in a playoff game, it’s probably the craziest thing that’s ever happened in my career.
“It was so cool to be out there with him and his brother and his sister and his mom in the building and his grandma.
“My mom gets to see her son and her grandson during the playoffs. It’s crazy.”
Los Angeles thrived by hitting 60.6 percent of their shots while holding the Rockets to 37.6 percent shooting with pesky defense.
Game two starts from 03.30 on April 22, live on Sky Sportsin Los Angeles. Durant will have to wait at least one more game to make his Rockets playoff debut after taking a knee with a teammate in practice.
The Nuggets, Cavaliers and Knicks take game one winner
Cleveland Cavaliers started the 2026 playoffs with a 126-113 victory Toronto Raptors after three back-to-back losses to the Canadian side earlier in the season.
Max Strus, who had been sidelined for most of the season with an injury, combined with new recruit James Harden for 46 points to lift the Cavaliers ahead and take an important Game 1 win at home.
While in Denver Nuggets’ 116-105 win over Minnesota TimberwolvesNikola Jokic stole the show once again with a 25-point triple-double to take the first game of the series at home.
New York Knicks’ 113-102 game one win over Atlanta Hawks at the break it looked to be going either way before the home side began to take a further lead in the third quarter.
Their star, Jalen Brunson, put up 28 points and seven assists to lead the Knicks to take the very early series lead.