Luke Kennard drained five three-pointers without a miss, pouring in 27 points to lead the Los Angeles Lakers past the Houston Rockets 107-98 in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
The veteran guard shot 9-for-13 from the field in a playoff career-high performance, stepping up for a Lakers squad missing Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Kennard, acquired midseason from the Memphis Grizzlies, found his rhythm early, hitting three triples in the first quarter to spark a 28-22 edge.
LeBron James nearly posted a triple-double with 19 points, 13 assists and 8 rebounds in 38 minutes. The 41-year-old forward orchestrated the offense amid the absences, feeding Deandre Ayton for key buckets; Ayton tallied 19 points and 11 rebounds after joining LA in a trade deadline deal from Phoenix.
Houston felt the sting of Kevin Durant's knee injury absence, leaning on Jalen Green for 24 points and Alperen Sengun for 18 points and 10 boards. The Rockets cut a 15-point second-half deficit to single digits late but faltered in the clutch, missing six of their final eight shots.
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.
Greg Beacham, AP Sports Writer, captured the game's turning point.
The Lakers built separation in the third quarter, outscoring Houston 32-25 behind Kennard's hot hand and James' playmaking. LA's bench contributed 28 points, with Max Christie adding 12 off the pine. Houston's defense tightened in the fourth, but turnovers doomed them—13 total, leading to 18 LA points.
Doncic sat out with a hamstring strain suffered in the play-in win over the Clippers three days prior, while Reaves nursed an oblique injury from practice. Durant, Houston's leading scorer at 27.4 points per game this season, underwent an MRI Thursday confirming the knee issue sidelining him indefinitely.
Lakers coach JJ Redick praised Kennard's preparation postgame.
Rockets coach Ime Udoka pointed to execution flaws.
| Lakers | Rockets |
| Points: 107 | Points: 98 |
| FG%: 47.8% (44/92) | FG%: 43.2% (38/88) |
| 3PT: 14/30 (46.7%) | 3PT: 11/34 (32.4%) |
| Rebounds: 48 | Rebounds: 44 |
| Assists: 26 | Assists: 22 |
| Turnovers: 11 | Turnovers: 13 |
Game 2 tips off Sunday night in Los Angeles, where the Lakers seek a 2-0 edge before the series shifts to Houston. ESPN's game recap highlighted Kennard's efficiency as the difference-maker, while NBA.com noted LA's resilience without two starters.
The Athletic reported Houston's depth tested early without Durant, who averaged 5.2 assists alongside his scoring. Lakers fans chanted Kennard's name in the final minute, a nod to the 30-year-old's resurgence after bouncing between contenders.
James, chasing a fifth ring, emphasized team grit.
For Houston, Green's aggression kept them afloat, but Sengun picked up a fourth-quarter foul limiting his minutes. The Rockets, the West's No. 5 seed after a 49-win campaign, now face must-win pressure at home next week.
