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The No. 5-seeded Houston Rockets are set to take on the No. 4-seeded Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday, in Game 1 of their first-round contest in the NBA Playoffs. While L.A. is already without Luka Doncic (left hamstring) and Austin Reaves (left oblique), it appears Kevin Durant has popped up in the Rockets’ latest injury […] The post Kevin Durant lands on Rockets’ injury report before Lakers Game 1 appeared first on ClutchPoints.
For Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves to come back this year, the Lakers have to win some games without them.
NBAThe Houston Rockets are heading into the 2026 NBA Playoff without home-court advantage as the No. 5 seed, but could have the perfect opportunity to make a deep run.
This is a lose-lose series for the Houston Rockets. If the Rockets win the series, then the narrative will be that the Los Angeles Lakers were hurt and of course the Rockets won. If Houston loses the series, they were frauds all along and will need to make wholesale changes this summer to retool around […]
The Lakers look to shock the world in their series against the Rockets, starting on Saturday.
The Los Angeles Lakers may be the higher No. 4 seed in their first-round series against the No. 5 Houston Rockets. However, they enter it as the firm underdogs, with 11 of 12 ESPN NBA experts backing Houston, and only two expecting the series to last seven games, per Yahoo Sports. This is in huge […] The post 4 Rockets bold predictions vs. Lakers in 2026 NBA Playoffs appeared first on ClutchPoints.
The Lakers spent six months building and working toward the opportunity to make some noise in the playoffs. Luka Doncic made a move toward the Thunder's basket, but stopped suddenly and hopped gingerly off the floor with a strained hamstring. Austin Reaves had already been looking uncomfortable, periodically grabbing at the oblique muscles in his side, and he also left the court for good a few minutes later.
A breakdown of the biggest matchups in the Lakers vs Rockets first-round playoff series, including LeBron James vs Kevin Durant, Amen Thompson’s defense and Houston’s edge without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
JJ Redick and Jarred Vanderbilt reveal the Lakers' approach going into Game 1 against the Rockets on Saturday.
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.