Dates for every game in Lakers versus Rockets series are set

The Los Angeles Lakers' first-round playoff series against Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets will begin this Saturday, April 18, at 5:30 p.m. at Crypto.com Arena. It figures to be a tough matchup for the short-handed Lakers, who are without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, but one they could perhaps win if they get enough production out of their remaining players.

The dates for each game in this series have now been set, and one thing to note is the three days of rest before Game 2, Game 3 and Game 5. That will help a team like Los Angeles that will have to increase the workload of several players, since that obviously translates into more rest.

Coach JJ Redick also said that the space between games will help LeBron James.

“He’s 41,” Redick told reporters. “So, yeah. Any extra time off is good.”

James may not necessarily need to have monster scoring games in this series. But he will need his teammates to play up to their potential, especially offensively, and a couple of guys who don't normally play much, including his son, Bronny, will likely need to produce something tangible in this series.

With Game 6 and Game 7 (if necessary) taking place once the calendar turns to May, one has to wonder if there is any chance Doncic and/or Reaves could return by that time. The general recovery timeframe for Doncic's hamstring strain and Reaves' oblique strain has been estimated at four to six weeks. Both suffered their injuries on April 2 versus the Oklahoma City Thunder.

This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Dates for every game in Lakers versus Rockets series are set