Heading into the start of the postseason, we’d heard that the Houston Rockets had a circled matchup on the docket. The Rockets wanted to face the Los Angeles Lakers.
And likely every team viewed the Lakers as a favorable matchup, due to the absence of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. The team was already a top-heavy group with Doncic and Reaves. They’re extremely compromised without those two. Or so, it seemed, in theory.
However, they still were able to handle the Rockets. And it didn’t necessarily seem like it was a daunting task for them, either.
Game 1: A Lakers Masterclass
Luke Kennard went full scorched Earth mode, going 5-of-5 from long-range and scoring 27 points, which was a game-high. The Lakers shot 52.6 percent from three, albeit on just 19 attempts.
The Rockets struggled to make shots, going 37.6 percent from the field. Which is horrid. God awful, even. They also fared 68 percent from the foul line.
There’s no excuse for that, let’s first make note of that. One facet that certainly made a difference is the fact that the Rockets were playing without Kevin Durant.
The Durant Factor: A Game-Time Decision Gone Wrong
Durant’s diagnosis changed 24 hours before the game, as he was suddenly listed as questionable, due to a knee contusion.
On Saturday, Durant tried to give it a go before the game. Durant warmed up and went through a pretty extensive shoot around but realized he wasn’t going to be able to suit up.
The injury is more of a matter of mobility, or a lack thereof, rather than pain tolerance.
Durant bumped knees with a teammate in practice on Wednesday, as explained by Rockets coach Ime Udoka. The exact location of the injury was above the knee — in the patella tendon area.
Positive News: Durant Expected Back for Game 2
Kevin Durant Injury News Seems Positive, as There’s a Good Chance that He Returns for Rockets.
In the immediate aftermath of the game, USA Today’s Ben DuBose, of the Rockets Wire, gave an immediate update on Durant’s injury prognosis.
“KD, from what I’ve heard, there’s a good chance he could return in Game 2.”
DuBose continued.
“There’s hope that Kevin Durant can return by Game 2, which is on Tuesday night.”
Udoka stated that he imagined Durant’s injury would just be a one-game thing. So it’s not just DuBose that pointed this out.
The Timeline: Six Days of Rest
Durant played 78 games during the regular season and finished second in total minutes played in the league. Durant’s 36.4 minutes per night also ranked third in the league.
By Game 2, Durant will have had six days to rest and/or recover. Even if he’s able to give it a go, it would seem like he’d still be limited. But even a hobbled Durant would be better than anyone replacing him.
The Rockets’ offense looked lost without him. They had no one to create their own shot in crunch time. They had no one to take the pressure off Alperen Sengun and Jalen Green.
Durant does not need to be 100 percent to make a difference. He just needs to be on the floor.
What the Lakers Did Right
Without Durant, the Lakers were able to load up on Sengun and dare the Rockets’ role players to beat them. They did not.
Kennard’s eruption was the story of the game, but the real key was the Lakers’ defense. They held the Rockets to 37.6 percent shooting. They forced 15 turnovers. They controlled the glass.
LeBron James did not need to be superhuman. He played 33 minutes, scored 22 points, and dished out 8 assists. He was efficient, but he was not dominant.
That is a problem for the Rockets. If the Lakers can win Game 1 without a superhuman effort from LeBron, what happens when he is needed?
The Verdict: A Different Series with Durant
Apr 12, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) holds a basketball during a timeout during the second quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
The Rockets are not panicking. They know they were missing their best player. They know they shot poorly. They know they can play better.
And they know Durant is coming back.
Game 2 is Tuesday night. The Lakers will have to adjust. The Rockets will have their closer.
The series is far from over. In fact, it might just be getting started.
If Durant returns and looks like himself, the Rockets have a chance to steal home-court advantage. If he is limited, the Lakers will feel confident they can repeat their Game 1 performance.
Either way, the Western Conference first round just got a whole lot more interesting.
One game does not make a series. And the Rockets are banking on that being true.