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LeBron James, Luke Kennard power Lakers in Game 1 over Rockets
TL;DR
The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Houston Rockets 107-98 in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series, led by LeBron James and Luke Kennard.
Key points
- Lakers won Game 1 against Rockets 107-98
- Luke Kennard and LeBron James led the team
- Game took place on April 18th, 2026
- Lakers take a 1-0 series lead
Los Angeles LakersHouston RocketsLeBron JamesLuke Kennard
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luke Kennard (10) celebrating repeated threes during an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets on April 18th, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA.
(Jessica Cryderman - The Sporting Tribune)
LOS ANGELES ā "Hyperfocus" was one of the emphasized words in practice throughout the week for the Lakers, putting those words into action in Game 1.
The Lakers powered past the Rockets, 107-98, on Saturday evening to take a 1-0 first-round series lead, led by Luke Kennard, LeBron James and a collective effort.
āWe just prepared ourselves just like everything else. We had a good week of preparation," James said. "We protect the home court [in] game one, and we gotta get better over the next 48 hours going into game two on Tuesday."
With Los Angeles' backcourt duo, Luka DonÄiÄ and Austin Reaves, out, Lakers trade deadline acquisition Kennard and James came to the team to fill the team's missing scoring void.
Kennard finished with a playoff career-high 27 points on a perfect 5 for 5 from 3 and 9 for 13 shooting overall, while James notched 19 points and a game-high 13 assists with eight rebounds.
The Lakers weren't the only team down stars as Houston's head coach Ime Udoka announced in his presser before the game that would miss the first game after bumping knees with a teammate in practice.
Q&A
What was the final score of the Lakers vs Rockets Game 1?
The final score was 107-98 in favor of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Who were the standout players in the Lakers' Game 1 victory over the Rockets?
LeBron James and Luke Kennard were the standout players in the Lakers' victory.
When did the Lakers play the Rockets in Game 1 of the playoffs?
The Lakers played the Rockets in Game 1 on April 18th, 2026.
What does the Lakers' win over the Rockets mean for the playoff series?
The Lakers' win gives them a 1-0 lead in the first-round playoff series against the Rockets.