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Why Lakers' shooting records in Game 1 could be good news for Rockets
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There haven't been many surprises in the first week of the 2026 NBA postseason. The No. 7 and 8 teams in each conference advanced through the play-in tournament. In the first weekend of the true playoffs, home teams won seven of the eight Game 1s — and by an average of 17.7 points. Only one game all weekend was decided by single digits.
But that single-digit game was a semi-surprise, as the fourth-seeded Los Angeles Lakers defeated the fifth-seeded Houston Rockets. Even with Houston's leading scorer, Kevin Durant, missing Game 1, the Lakers were underdogs at home because they were missing their top two scorers in Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
Live Updates: KD's Rockets face LeBron's Lakers
Check out the best of Tuesday's 2026 NBA Playoffs action with the NBA.com live blog.
LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers are hosting the Houston Rockets in Game 2 of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on NBC and Peacock.
We’re bringing you the best of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, presented by Google, with the NBA.com live blog, featuring all of the meaningful moments, performances, observations, news, notes and highlights from Tuesday’s action.
VJ Edgecombe (30 pts, 10 reb), Tyrese Maxey (29 pts, 9 ast) and the 76ers showed their mettle in Boston, earning a 111-97 win over the Celtics to the tie the series at 1-1 in tonight’s opening contest.
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Lakers make winning start as NBA play-offs begin
LeBron James is looking for a fifth NBA championship of his career
The Los Angeles Lakers shrugged off their injury worries to make a winning start to the NBA play-offs.
The 18-time champions were without key players Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Maxi Kleber but 41-year-old LeBron James produced another fine display in a 107-98 win over the Houston Rockets.
The Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets and New York Knicks were the other winners on day one of the play-offs, while the Phoenix Suns and Orlando Magic won the play-in tournament to book their places.
James controlled the floor while racking up 19 points, 13 assists and eight rebounds against a Houston side who lost key man Kevin Durant to injury just before play started.
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