LeBron James Leads Lakers' Playoff Upset Bid Against Rockets

Lakers beat writer believes veteran star can will his team to victory despite being underdogs.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 8:20am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the high-stakes playoff matchup between the Lakers and Rockets, with sharp, overlapping planes of color and form representing the unpredictable nature of the postseason.A fractured, multi-perspective painting captures the intensity of the playoff clash between LeBron James' Lakers and the favored Rockets.Los Angeles Today

The Los Angeles Lakers are underdogs against the Houston Rockets in their first-round NBA playoff matchup, but one Lakers beat writer believes LeBron James could be the key to pulling off a surprise series win. Experts predict the Rockets will defeat the Lakers, but James' ability to elevate his game in the playoffs could tip the scales in the Lakers' favor and potentially convince the team to bring him back for another season.

Why it matters

The Lakers-Rockets series is seen as a mismatch on paper, with the Rockets favored due to their superior regular season point differential. However, the playoffs are unpredictable, and LeBron James' ability to elevate his game could tip the scales in the Lakers' favor, potentially saving their season and keeping LeBron in Los Angeles.

The details

Experts like NBA.com's John Schuhmann predict the Rockets will win the series in 5 games, noting Houston has been the much better team statistically this season. But Lakers beat writer Svyatoslav Rovenchuk believes LeBron James could lead a vintage playoff performance that pulls off the upset and convinces the Lakers to bring him back for another season.

  • The Lakers-Rockets playoff series begins in mid-April 2026.
  • In the Lakers' final regular season game, LeBron James had 18 points, 6 assists and 4 rebounds in just 17 minutes, showing he is peaking at the right time.

The players

LeBron James

A 38-year-old superstar forward for the Los Angeles Lakers who is looking to lead his team to an upset playoff victory over the Houston Rockets.

Svyatoslav Rovenchuk

A Lakers beat writer who believes LeBron James could be the key to the Lakers pulling off an upset over the Rockets in the first round of the playoffs.

John Schuhmann

An NBA.com writer who predicts the Rockets will defeat the Lakers in 5 games, noting Houston has been the statistically superior team this season.

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What they’re saying

“Realistically, the situation between the Lakers and James should already be trending toward a reunion. The other possible suitors apart from Los Angeles are not overwhelmingly strong.”

— Svyatoslav Rovenchuk, Lakers Beat Writer

“If the Lakers survive thanks to LeBron, it will be one of those moments that you tell your grandkids about. It will also serve as a clear identifier of the instance when all doubt was erased about him and Los Angeles deciding to run it back one more time.”

— Svyatoslav Rovenchuk, Lakers Beat Writer

“Statistically, Houston has been the much better team, outscoring opponents by 5.4 points per 100 possessions, the league's sixth best mark and more than three times better than the Lakers' differential, plus-1.5 per 100.”

— John Schuhmann, NBA.com Writer

What’s next

If the Lakers are able to upset the Rockets, it could solidify LeBron James' return to the team for another season.

The takeaway

This case highlights the unpredictability of the NBA playoffs, where a veteran superstar like LeBron James can will his team to victory despite statistical underdogs. The Lakers-Rockets series could come down to James' ability to elevate his game and lead an upset, potentially extending his career in Los Angeles for one more season.