Rockets vs. Lakers: Can LeBron James shoulder the load if Luka Dončić can't go? Series keys, schedule and prediction
Here's what to know for the first-round matchup between the Rockets and Lakers.
The Western Conference’s fourth-seeded Los Angeles Lakers will take on the fifth-seeded Houston Rockets in the first round of the 2026 NBA playoffs . The two franchises haven’t faced each other in the postseason since 2020, when LeBron James’ Lakers dismantled James Harden’s Rockets en route to the championship. What we know about the Lakers The Lakers outperformed expectations all season, despite a porous defense (115.
5 points allowed per 100 possessions) and a net rating (+1. 5) that belied their standing. They were the NBA’s best team in the clutch, compiling a 22-8 record and a massive net rating (+26) whenever scores were within five points in the game’s final five minutes.
Credit Luka Dončić, an offensive supernova. He led the league in usage rate (38. 1%) as well as field-goal attempts (22.
8), 3-point attempts (10. 8) and free-throw attempts (10. 1) per game.
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