Lakers open with win

The Lakers opened their first-round series by beating Houston 107-98 on April 18 at Crypto.com Arena, taking the early edge before the matchup shifts deeper into the week. (espn.com) LeBron James finished with 19 points and 13 assists in Game 1, but the bigger scoring jolt came from Luke Kennard, who posted a career playoff-high 27 points for Los Angeles. (espn.com) (usnews.com) Deandre Ayton added 19 points and 11 rebounds, and the Lakers shot 60.6% from the field in the win. Houston got 26 points from Alperen Sengun but lost the rebounding battle 35-32. (nba.com) Game 1 landed in the middle of an injury-shaped series. Luka Dončić was inactive for Los Angeles, Austin Reaves was also out, and Houston played without Kevin Durant after he hurt his knee in practice before the opener. (nba.com) (usatoday.com) That left James running the offense and the Lakers leaning on role players around him. It also turned every update on Dončić’s left hamstring into the central question hanging over the series. (usatoday.com 1) (usatoday.com 2) USA Today reported on April 21 that Dončić remained out for Game 2, extending an absence that began after a Grade 2 left hamstring strain on April 2. The same report said Los Angeles would also be without Reaves in the early part of the series. (usatoday.com 1) (usatoday.com 2) Houston did get Durant back for Game 2 on April 21, but Los Angeles won that one too, 101-94, for a 2-0 series lead. James scored 28 points with eight rebounds and seven assists in the second win. (nba.com) (espn.com) The series now moves to Game 3 on Friday, April 24, with the Lakers up 2-0 and still waiting on Dončić’s return timetable. Los Angeles already proved in Game 1 that it can win this matchup with James creating shots and the supporting cast hitting them. (nba.com)