Real Madrid winger set to leave on loan this summer as club make space for Brazilian ā report
Real Madrid's Franco Mastantuono is leaving on loan to make room for a new Brazilian player.
The Lakers won Game 1 against the Rockets with a score of 107-98, showcasing strong control throughout the match. Despite entering the game with confidence, the Rockets struggled offensively.
(Ā© Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)
Game 1 is in the books, and⦠this one slipped.
The Rockets walked into this series with momentum, confidence, and a real shot to steal one early. Instead, they ran into a Lakers team that looked totally comfortable from the jump and held control, even when things got messy.
Final: 107-98 Lakers.
The frustrating part is that this was a game Houston had chances to take.
The Lakers came out sharp offensively, and it started with LeBron dictating with eight assists in the first quarter alone, just picking Houston apart and putting everyone in the right spots. Deandre Ayton didnāt miss early and finished 8-for-10 with 19 and 11. Rui Hachimura chipped in efficiently. But the swing we didnāt see coming was Luke Kennard.
Kennard went 5-for-5 from three, 9-for-13 from the field, and dropped 27 in his first playoff game as a Laker. A couple of those came off clean looks and every single one felt like it pushed the game just a little further out of reach. Houston never adjusted in time, and it burned them.
Still, even with all that, it was right thereā¦
The Lakers turned it over 18 times. Houston scored 24 points off those. Thatās usually how you steal a game on the road. Instead, the Rockets just couldnāt convert enough in the halfcourt to make it matter.
Houstonās offense never found a real rhythm and looked scattered all night- possessions ending in tough looks, rushed decisions, or nothing developing at all. Houston shot under 38-percent from the field and just 11-of-33 from three. And instead of leaning into their most reliable offensive hub, they spent long stretches running things through and .
The final score was 107-98 in favor of the Lakers.
The Rockets' offense fell flat, failing to capitalize on their momentum and confidence.
The Lakers maintained control of the game from the start and adapted well even when the situation became challenging.
The loss puts the Rockets at a disadvantage early in the series, challenging their confidence and momentum moving forward.
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Both had their moments, but didnāt produce enough to justify the apparent game plan that could have been adjusted at any point. Amen finished with 15, seven boards, and three steals. Reed hit five threes, but went just 6-of-20 all night.
Asking them to carry the offense in a playoff setting, especially with the game tightening, is a big ask when Alperen Sengun is right there.
Sengun still got his touches, but not enough in the moments that mattered. He went 6-of-19, and even that number feels like it couldāve been steadier if the offense actually ran through him instead of around him.
Meanwhile, the Lakers stayed composed, shooting 61-percent from the field and just under 53-percent from deep. Even leaving nine points at the line, they still looked controlled and unrushed. When Houston made a push, they answered, and when things got sloppy, they cleaned it up fast enough.
And now? Iām sure the Lakers feel like theyāve got this series in the bag. They controlled Game 1 without playing a perfect game, and thatās a dangerous feeling.
But hereās the part that changes everything- Kevin Durant didnāt play. And heās coming back into this series after watching that, frustrated and hot.
If you think heās not walking into Game 2 (pending injury status) ready to take over, youāre not paying attention. This version of the Rockets looks completely different when heās on the floor. The spacing changes, and decision-making simplifies significantly- and those long, stagnant stretches donāt happen the same way.
Game 1 goes to the Lakers.
Game 2 is where this actually starts.