By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Los Angeles Lakers overcame the absence of Slovenian superstar Luka Doncic to secure an 107–98 victory over the Houston Rockets in Game 1 to start the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, presented by Google, at Crypto.com Arena on Saturday.
The Ljubljana native was sidelined with a left hamstring strain, joined on the injury list by Austin Reaves, who is out indefinitely with a left oblique muscle strain. Despite missing their primary playmaker, the Lakers maintained control for much of the contest, with head coach JJ Redick noting that Doncic remained in good spirits and stayed close to the group following his return to Los Angeles.
On the court, Luke Kennard led the scoring effort with a game-high 27 points, including 5-of-5 triples, while LeBron James orchestrated the offense with a 19-point, 13-assist double-double. The starting lineup saw balanced contributions as Deandre Ayton, Rui Hachimura, and Marcus Smart all reached double figures. Meanwhile, Germany’s Maxi Kleber remained on the bench for the duration of the matchup under Redick’s rotations.
The Rockets struggled to find rhythm, particularly with the late absence of Kevin Durant, who was ruled out after bumping knees during a Wednesday practice. Rockets coach Ime Udoka expressed hope that Durant’s sideline stint would be limited to a single game. In his absence, Turkish center Alperen Sengun managed a team-high 19 points on 6-of-19 shooting to go with eight rebounds, six assists, two steals, and one block in 36 minutes, while Swiss veteran Clint Capela contributed two points and two rebounds in 11 minutes off the bench.
The best-of-seven series remains in Los Angeles for Game 2, scheduled for Tuesday, as both teams monitor the health of their stars.
NBA Playoffs 2026
Eastern Conference
Quarterfinals (best-of-seven)
1. Detroit Pistons – Orlando Magic
2. Cleveland Cavaliers – Toronto Raptors 1-0 (126-113)
3. New York Knicks – Atlanta Hawks 1-0 (113-102)
4. Boston Celtics – Philadelphia 76ers
Semifinals (best-of-seven)
5. Winners 1-2
6. Winners 3-4
Finals (best-of-seven)
Winners of Semifinals
Western Conference
Quarterfinals (best-of-seven)
1. Oklahoma City Thunder – Phoenix Suns
2. Los Angeles Lakers – Houston Rockets 1-0 (107-98)
3. Denver Nuggets – Minnesota Timberwolves 1-0 (126-115)
4. San Antonio Spurs – Portland Trail Blazers
Semifinals (best-of-seven)
5. Winners 1-2
6. Winners 3-4
Finals (best-of-seven)
Winners of Semifinals
NBA Finals 2026 (best-of-seven)
Eastern Conference and Western Conference champions