Durant out, Lakers win

Kevin Durant did not make it to tipoff Saturday night, and the Lakers opened their first-round series by beating Houston 107-98 in Los Angeles. (nba.com, espn.com) The Rockets ruled Durant out for Game 1 with a right knee contusion after he hurt the knee in practice earlier in the week. NBA.com reported the knee was still tender and hard to bend in certain positions. (nba.com) Los Angeles took advantage quickly at Crypto.com Arena, where Luke Kennard scored a career playoff-high 27 points and LeBron James finished with 19 points, 13 assists and eight rebounds. The Lakers led 58-48 at halftime and won the third quarter 25-18. (espn.com, nba.com) The matchup opened as a 4-versus-5 series in the Western Conference, with the Lakers finishing 53-29 and the Rockets 52-30 in the regular season. Houston entered the playoffs after allowing 110.0 points per game, one of the better defensive marks in the conference. (espn.com, statmuse.com) Durant’s absence changed the shape of the series because Houston brought him in to raise its ceiling in the postseason. The Rockets said in October that they had acquired him from Phoenix in a seven-team trade on July 6, 2025, then signed him to an extension. (nba.com) Game 1 also landed as an early missed chance for Houston because the Lakers were not at full strength either. The Associated Press game report said Los Angeles won without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, making Kennard’s shooting and James’ playmaking central to the opener. (bozemandailychronicle.com) The schedule now turns fast. NBA.com listed Game 2 for Tuesday, April 21, back in Los Angeles, with the Lakers up 1-0 and Houston waiting on Durant’s knee. (nba.com)