The Lakers defeated the Rockets in Game 1 of the NBA playoffs, aided by the absence of Kevin Durant. Predictions for Game 2 suggest a stronger performance from Houston, regardless of Durant's status.
Key points
Lakers won Game 1 of the NBA playoffs against the Rockets
Kevin Durant's absence impacted the matchup
Durant may play in Game 2
Predictions favor a stronger Rockets performance in Game 2
Life is funny. The one thing that made the Los Angeles Lakers underdogs is kind of the reason they won the series opener with the Houston Rockets.
Kevin Durantās absence sapped more star power from this Round 1 matchup ā already down Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves ā but unlike L.A.ās injured studs, Durant has a good shot of playing in Game 2 tonight.
My Rockets vs. Lakers predictions and NBA picks bank on a better showing from Houston tonight, with or without KD on April 21.
UPDATE:Ā Added a prediction for who will win tonight.
Rockets vs Lakers prediction
Who will win Rockets vs Lakers Game 2?
Rockets: I bet the Lakersā moneyline in Game 1, even before the news of Kevin Durantās knee injury. If there was going to be a game in which L.A. came out swinging, it would be the opener. And boy did it. But balance is restored in Game 2 as Houstonās role players get on track and the Lakersā support staff plummets back to earth.
Rockets vs Lakers best bet: Rockets -4.5 (-110)
With the way the Los Angeles Lakers shot the ball in Game 1, it may not have mattered if was healthy or not.
Q&A
What were the results of the Rockets vs Lakers Game 1?
The Lakers won Game 1 against the Rockets in the NBA playoffs.
Will Kevin Durant play in Game 2 against the Rockets?
Kevin Durant has a good chance of playing in Game 2 against the Rockets.
What are the predictions for Rockets vs Lakers Game 2?
Predictions for Game 2 suggest a better performance from the Rockets.
Who are the key injured players for the Lakers and Rockets?
The Lakers are missing Austin Reaves, while the Rockets are without Luka Doncic.
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Los Angeles finished a blistering 61% from the floor, including 10-for-19 from beyond the arc. A well-rested LeBron James conducted a crisp L.A. attack that recorded an assist on more than 72% of its total buckets.
The Houston Rockets' offense, on the other hand, was lost and untethered without the gravity of Durant. The Rockets were a chilly 38% from the floor, with an 11-for-33 mark from beyond the arc.
Ā
Los Angeles was able to be more aggressive when it came to double-teaming Houstonās secondary stars, and the Rockets missed KDās ability to create when things broke down. Couple that with playoff nerves on the road for some younger standouts, and you can see how things fell apart.
I expect it all to come closer to the middle in Game 2 as a potential letdown for the Lakers, who got a Luka-like effort from reserve-turned-starter Luke Kennard on Saturday.
Los Angeles wonāt connect at the same clip, and Houston will tighten the bolts on offense, with or without Durant. Head coach Ime Udoka is emphasizing spacing and more screen action ā both on- and off-ball ā after iso-heavy sets stagnated the Rockets in Game 1.
Iām holding out hope Durant returns for the sake of this bet, but Iām confident Houston will still perform better than Game 1 if he doesnāt.
Rockets vs Lakers same-game parlay
Amen Thompson scored 17 points in Game 1 as one of Houstonās lone bright spots. He dropped 26 and 19 points in the previous two matchups with Los Angeles, and if Durant returns, heāll enjoy a lot more space in Game 2. Thompson is projected for as many as 19 points.
LBJ did it all for L.A. in the opener but didnāt need to take or make triples, with the Lakers playing with the lead. Game script has Los Angeles trailing tonight, and with some of the Lakersā role players coming back to earth, James will jack up his share of long-range looks to close that gap.
Rockets vs Lakers SGP
Rockets -4.5
Amen Thompson Over 16.5 points
LeBron James Over 1.5 threes
Our "from downtown" SGP: The King and I (V2.0)
Letās try this one more time. I had a fun all-GOAT same-game parlay pegged for Game 1 leaning into LeBron vs. KD. Then Durant went and spoiled it all by banging up his knee in practice. Heās trending toward playing in Game 2, so Iām calling for these two HoFers to pace their team in points and knock down shots from downtown.
Rockets vs Lakers SGP
Rockets -4.5
Kevin Durant Over 23.5 points
Kevin Durant Over 2.5 threes
LeBron James Over 24.5 points
LeBron James Over 1.5 threes
Rockets vs Lakers odds for Game 2
Spread: Rockets -4.5 | Lakers +4.5
Moneyline: Rockets -205 | Lakers +170
Over/Under: Over 207 | Under 207
Rockets vs Lakers betting trend to know
Houston is 22-8 SU off a loss this season, with those bounce-back spots producing a 12-17-1 Over/Under count. Find more NBA betting trends for Rockets vs. Lakers.
How to watch Rockets vs Lakers Game 2
Location
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Date
Tuesday, April 21, 2026
Tip-off
10:30 p.m. ET
TV
NBC/Peacock
Rockets vs Lakers latest injuries
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