Lakers' Luke Kennard makes playoff history

Veteran guard achieves a feat not seen in LA since 1997

Apr. 19, 2026 at 3:56pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a basketball game, with overlapping planes of color representing the players and action on the court.Luke Kennard's historic scoring night off the bench helps the Lakers overcome key absences and take Game 1 against the Rockets.Los Angeles Today

In the Los Angeles Lakers' playoff opener against the Houston Rockets, veteran guard Luke Kennard made franchise history by becoming the first Lakers player since 1997 to score 30+ points off the bench in a postseason game. Kennard's scoring outburst helped the Lakers overcome the absences of key players Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic.

Why it matters

Kennard's performance was a much-needed boost for the Lakers, who are heavily reliant on LeBron James but have struggled with injuries and absences to other key contributors throughout the season. His historic night could be a sign that the Lakers have found a valuable secondary scoring option to complement James as they aim to make a deep playoff run.

The details

Kennard scored 32 points on 11-of-16 shooting, including 6-of-9 from 3-point range, to lead the Lakers to a 117-112 victory over the Rockets. The last Lakers player to score 30+ points off the bench in a playoff game was Cedric Ceballos in 1997.

  • The Lakers faced the Rockets in their playoff opener on April 18, 2026.

The players

Luke Kennard

A veteran guard for the Los Angeles Lakers who had a historic scoring night off the bench in the team's playoff opener.

LeBron James

The superstar forward and leader of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Austin Reaves

A key contributor for the Lakers who was absent for the playoff opener due to injury.

Luka Doncic

A star player who was also absent from the Lakers' lineup for the playoff opener.

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What they’re saying

“Luke was unbelievable tonight. We needed that kind of scoring punch with some of our guys out, and he stepped up in a big way.”

— LeBron James, Lakers Forward

What’s next

The Lakers will look to build on Kennard's historic performance as they continue their playoff series against the Rockets. If Reaves and Doncic are able to return from injury, the Lakers could have a formidable lineup that can challenge the top teams in the Western Conference.

The takeaway

Kennard's 30-point outburst off the bench showed the Lakers have a valuable secondary scoring option to complement LeBron James, which could be crucial as they aim to make a deep playoff run despite key injuries to other contributors.