Lakers Capitalize on Durant's Injury, Defeat Rockets in Game 1

LeBron James and Luke Kennard lead Lakers to surprise victory with Durant sidelined

Apr. 19, 2026 at 5:07am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a basketball game between the Lakers and Rockets, with the players and court rendered in sharp, overlapping planes of vibrant colors representing the teams' uniforms and court markings.The Lakers' surprise Game 1 victory over the Rockets exposes the fragility of a team's fortunes when a superstar player is sidelined by injury.Los Angeles Today

The Los Angeles Lakers pulled off a surprise 107-98 victory over the Houston Rockets in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series after learning just before tipoff that Rockets star Kevin Durant would be sidelined with a right knee injury. With Durant out, the Lakers took advantage, led by strong performances from LeBron James and Luke Kennard, to steal home-court advantage.

Why it matters

The Lakers' win changes the dynamic of the series, as the Rockets have struggled mightily without Durant in the lineup this season. If Durant's injury keeps him out longer, it could open the door for the Lakers to potentially advance, despite missing their own key players in Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.

The details

The Lakers went from being heavy underdogs to believing in themselves again after learning Durant would miss Game 1 due to a right knee injury suffered in practice. LeBron James had a triple-double with 19 points, 13 assists and 8 rebounds, while Luke Kennard scored a playoff career-high 27 points on 9-of-13 shooting, including 5-of-5 from 3-point range. The Lakers shot 60.6% from the field and 52.6% from 3-point range, outclassing the Rockets who struggled without their star.

  • The Lakers found out about Durant's injury just 1.5 hours before tipoff.
  • Durant suffered the knee injury at a Rockets practice on Wednesday.
  • Durant went through a pregame workout on Saturday but the knee did not respond well.

The players

LeBron James

The 23-year veteran had a triple-double with 19 points, 13 assists and 8 rebounds, leading the Lakers to the Game 1 victory.

Luke Kennard

The Lakers guard scored a playoff career-high 27 points on 9-of-13 shooting, including 5-of-5 from 3-point range.

Kevin Durant

The Rockets' star player missed Game 1 due to a right knee injury suffered in practice, a major blow to Houston's chances.

Ime Udoka

The Rockets head coach said Durant's injury was "nothing major" but that his knee was "very tender" and limited his movement.

Luka Doncic

The Lakers were also missing their own star player Doncic, who was sidelined with a hamstring injury.

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What they’re saying

“It's very tender. Tough to bend in certain ways. Not a lot of swelling. But [someone] hit him in a very awkward spot, I guess. … Right above the knee, patellar tendon area, it's just very tender. Like I said, pain tolerance is one thing. But actually limited movement is more of the cause.”

— Ime Udoka, Rockets Head Coach

“Hopefully it's a one-game thing.”

— Ime Udoka, Rockets Head Coach

What’s next

If Durant is unable to return soon, the Lakers could have a real chance to advance past the Rockets. However, the series dynamic would shift drastically if Durant is able to recover and return to the court.

The takeaway

The Lakers' surprise Game 1 victory over the Rockets highlights the unpredictable nature of the NBA playoffs, where injuries can quickly change the fortunes of a series. The Lakers capitalized on Durant's absence, but the Rockets' hopes now hinge on the health of their superstar.