In a commanding playoff opener, the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Houston Rockets 107-98 on Saturday, with Luke Kennard delivering an outstanding 27-point performance to lead the way in Game 1 of their Western Conference first-round matchup.
Despite playing without key contributors Luka Doncic (hamstring injury) and Austin Reaves (oblique strain), the fourth-seeded Lakers found offensive firepower from unexpected sources. LeBron James contributed 19 points along with 13 assists, while Deandre Ayton posted a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Marcus Smart chipped in 15 points and eight assists for the victorious Lakers.
Kennard, making only his seventh start since arriving from the Atlanta Hawks via trade deadline deal, shot exceptionally well by connecting on 9 of 13 field goal attempts and a perfect 5-for-5 from beyond the arc. His 27-point output marked a season-best scoring performance as he stepped up to fill the backcourt scoring gap.
The visiting fifth-seeded Rockets, playing without their top scorer Kevin Durant due to a knee injury, received solid contributions from multiple players. Alperen Sengun led Houston with 19 points, while both Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard contributed 17 points each. Jabari Smith Jr. recorded a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds, and Tari Eason also scored 16 points in the losing effort.
The defeat extended Houston’s road struggles against Los Angeles, as the Rockets have now dropped three straight games in Los Angeles dating back to mid-March.
Other Playoff Results:
Nuggets 116, Timberwolves 105
Nikola Jokic recorded his second triple-double of the postseason with 25 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists as Denver captured Game 1 of their Western Conference series against Minnesota at home. Jamal Murray led all scorers with 30 points and made franchise history by converting all 16 of his free throw attempts.
Aaron Gordon provided 17 points for the Nuggets, with nearly half coming during a pivotal 14-0 third-quarter surge that broke the game open after Denver trailed early. Anthony Edwards paced Minnesota with 22 points despite dealing with knee problems that sidelined him for 11 of the team’s final 14 regular season contests. Rudy Gobert added 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who held a 12-point advantage in the opening quarter.
Knicks 113, Hawks 102
Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby connected on back-to-back three-pointers to ignite a decisive third-quarter rally, propelling New York past Atlanta in their Eastern Conference quarterfinal opener at Madison Square Garden.
Jalen Brunson erupted for 19 first-quarter points on his way to a game-leading 28-point performance for the third-seeded Knicks, who advanced to the Eastern Conference finals last season for the first time in over two decades. Towns finished with 25 points while shooting a flawless 10-of-10 from the charity stripe, and Anunoby added 18 points.
CJ McCollum paced the sixth-seeded Hawks with 26 points in their first playoff appearance since 2023. Jalen Johnson contributed 23 points, while Onyeka Okongwu (19 points) and Nickeil Alexander-Walker (17 points) also reached double figures for Atlanta.
Cavaliers 126, Raptors 113
Donovan Mitchell powered Cleveland’s offense with 32 points, while James Harden recorded 22 points and 10 assists as the Cavaliers dominated Toronto in their Eastern Conference first-round series opener.
Max Strus provided a spark off the bench with 24 points, and Evan Mobley added 17 for the fourth-seeded Cavaliers, who extended their playoff winning streak over Toronto to 11 consecutive games. The series shifts to Game 2 on Monday in Cleveland, where the Raptors remain winless in eight all-time postseason appearances.
RJ Barrett scored 24 points to lead the fifth-seeded Raptors, with Scottie Barnes adding 21 points and seven assists. Brandon Ingram contributed 17 points, while Jamal Shead made his playoff debut with 17 points, filling in for injured guard Immanuel Quickley who is sidelined with a hamstring strain.
