Kennard, James team to upset Rockets in opener

Kennard, James team to upset Rockets in opener

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Kennard, James team to upset Rockets in openerLos Angeles Lakers57mMurray's FT dominance irks Wolves, lifts NuggetsDenver Nuggets3hRamona ShelburneRaps' Quickley (hamstring) misses G1 loss to CavsToronto Raptors13hSpurs motivated, inspired by Popovich addressSan Antonio Spurs12hKerr on future: These jobs have 'expiration date'Golden State Warriors22hAnthony SlaterOKC remains title betting fave; Spurs, C's followOklahoma City Thunder14hDoug Greenberg2026 NBA playoffs: Predicting each series, including the FinalsCharlotte Hornets5dZach KramWest playoffs: Nuggets and Lakers win as the playoffs beginOklahoma City Thunder1hNBA insidersEast playoffs: The Cavs and Knicks roll on the opening dayDetroit Pistons3hNBA insidersNBA 2026 postseason preview: Matchups, biggest questions and what to knowDetroit Pistons1dNBA insiders2026 NBA playoffs betting: Bets on champion, Finals MVP and each first-round seriesBoston Celtics15hESPNNBA Futures: Thunder, Spurs and Celtics lead the favorites into the playoffsOklahoma City Thunder13hDoug GreenbergNBA awards: Bontemps' ballot for MVP, top rookie, every honorCleveland Cavaliers2dTim BontempsSlams, blocks and game winners: Top 10 plays from Wemby's record-setting seasonSan Antonio Spurs2dMichael C. WrightInside the end of the Ja Morant era in MemphisMemphis Grizzlies3dTim MacMahon and Michael C. WrightNBA Rank, playoffs edition: The 50 most impactful players in the 2026 postseasonAtlanta Hawks4dZach KramAssociated PressMultiple AuthorsApr 18, 2026, 11:43 PM ETEmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLOS ANGELES -- Luke Kennard scored a career playoff-high 27 points, LeBron James had 19 points and 13 assists, and the short-handed Los Angeles Lakers capitalized on Kevin Durant's injury absence for a 107-98 victory over the Houston Rockets in the opener of their first-round playoff series Saturday night.

Deandre Ayton had 19 points and 11 rebounds for the fourth-seeded Lakers, who pulled off an impressive win without their top two scorers.

Both teams played the opener without their most important player. Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves have been out indefinitely with injuries since April 2, while Durant was a late scratch with a bruised right knee.

Los Angeles thrived by hitting 60.6% of its shots while holding the Rockets to 37.6% shooting with pesky defense.

Alperen Sengun scored 19 points and Jabari Smith Jr. had 16 points and 12 rebounds for the fifth-seeded Rockets, who finished one game behind Los Angeles in the regular season. Amen Thompson added 17 points, but Houston's young core got off to an inconsistent start after becoming the firm favorite in this series because of the Lakers' injury woes.

Game 2 is Tuesday night in Los Angeles.

The Lakers acquired Kennard from Atlanta in early February, and the NBA's most accurate 3-point shooter became a key reserve before he seized a major role over the past two weeks in the absence of Los Angeles' starting backcourt. He hit four 3-pointers in Game 1 while making nine of his first 12 shots.

Durant must wait at least one more game to make his Rockets playoff debut after banging knees with a teammate in practice Wednesday. Reed Sheppard took his spot in the starting lineup and hit five 3-pointers while scoring 17 points, but the Rockets struggled for consistent half-court offense in Durant's absence despite grabbing 21 offensive rebounds.

The Lakers took the lead for good on their first bucket of the second half, and they pushed their advantage to 16 points in the fourth quarter. Kennard scored 16 points after halftime, while the 41-year-old James began his 19th NBA postseason with an inspired, eight-assist first quarter followed by several gritty baskets down the stretch.

Los Angeles also got a boost from veteran guard Marcus Smart, who had 15 points and eight assists with four 3-pointers in his Lakers playoff debut. Smart said before the series that success would come down to "willpower" -- and the Lakers clearly had more for starters.

Bronny James began the second quarter playing alongside his father in the first significant playoff minutes of the 21-year-old's career.