The Los Angeles Lakers are going to need Jarred Vanderbilt when they take on the Houston Rockets in the playoffs. The Lakers won the regular season series, but without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves the team will need everyone to pitch in. Vanderbilt is best known for his defense, and he’ll be required to slow […]
Houston Rockets (52-30, fifth in the Western Conference) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (53-29, fourth in the Western Conference) Los Angeles; Saturday, 8:30 p.m. EDT LINE: Rockets -5.5; over/under is 207.5 WESTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: Lakers host first series matchup BOTTOM LINE: The Los Angeles Lakers host the Houston Rockets to open the Western Conference first round. Los Angeles went 2-1 against Houston during the regular season. The Lakers won the last regular season matchup 124-116 on Thursd...
In a lengthy interview with Varun Shankar of the Houston Chronicle (subscription required), general manager Rafael Stone stated that the Rockets are “very happy” with what they’ve gotten from Kevin Durant since trading for him last summer and expressed satisfaction with the steps forward the team’s younger players have taken over the course of the 2025/26 […]
Deandre Ayton is the X-factor for the Los Angeles Lakers as they prepare for their first round series against the Houston Rockets. Head coach JJ Redick has been clear about that all season, but it became especially true when Luka Doncic (Grade 2 left hamstring strain) and Austin Reaves (Grade 2 left oblique strain) were […]
Kevin Durant is back in the playoffs after missing out last season and he and the Houston Rockets are hoping to make some noise this postseason. In his first season in Houston after this summer’s blockbuster trade from Phoenix, Durant leads the young Rockets into the playoffs where they’ll open their first-round series with the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night. The 37-year-old Durant missed the last seven games of the regular season last year with an ankle injury as the Suns went 1-6 to f...
Key questions for every series
LeBron James gets real on upcoming playoff series against Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets.
Could LeBron James call it a career after the 2025-26 season? The Lakers superstar remains undecided on his future
As much as there is a conversation about what the Los Angeles Lakers are going to do without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves in the first round, many are still thinking beyond that. When the Lakers’ season wraps up, everyone’s eyes will be on the future of LeBron James and what he plans to do […] The post NBA rumors: Why LeBron James could return to Lakers despite Cavs, Warriors, Clippers buzz appeared first on ClutchPoints.
Luke Kennard was the Los Angeles Lakers’ lone trade deadline acquisition, but it has paid off much more than anyone expected. The Lakers sent out Gabe Vincent’s expiring deal for Kennard and the sharpshooting guard became an immediate boost for the group offensively. Kennard even excelled in an on-ball role following injuries to Luka Doncic […]
Two Euros carry the hopes of Texas in the NBA Playoffs. Alperen Sengun is looking to prove the Houston Rockets are better than their own fans have thought for much of the season. Meanwhile Victor Wembanyama is making his playoff debut and wants to show the San Antonio Spurs are ready now. Wow, the rest […] The post Wembanyama and Sengun look to shape NBA playoffs appeared first on BallinEurope.
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LeBron James will be under the spotlight anew as he tries to lead the Los Angeles Lakers versus the Houston Rockets in the first round of the playoffs, with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves likely to miss the entire series. The obvious question is, can James still carry a team at 41 years old? In […] The post Lakers’ JJ Redick suggests what LeBron James is ‘addicted to’ ahead of series vs. Rockets appeared first on ClutchPoints.
The post Ime Udoka says Rockets must ignore Lakers injuries and “win series” appeared first on TalkBasket.net.
The Rockets’ season has been centered on a legend yet to slow down and an organization that made the biggest offseason move just for the privilege of greatness.
If he carries the injury-riddled Lakers past the heavily favored Rockets, the team's last standing star will again stamp his label as the G.O.A.T.
The post Luke Kennard on Lakers adjustments before Rockets playoff opener appeared first on TalkBasket.net.
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