Rockets Aim to Upset Lakers in First-Round Matchup

Houston hopes to pull off a surprise playoff series win over LeBron James and LA.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 10:05pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a basketball game between the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers, with the players and court broken down into overlapping, colorful shapes and planes.The Rockets' quest to upset the star-studded Lakers in the playoffs will require a tactical, multi-faceted approach.Houston Today

The Houston Rockets are set to take on the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the NBA playoffs, looking to pull off an upset and advance to the second round for the first time since 2020. After a rollercoaster regular season, the Rockets will need to execute a solid game plan to have a chance against the star-studded Lakers.

Why it matters

The Rockets have struggled to find consistent success in recent years, and a playoff series win over the Lakers would be a major boost for the franchise and its young core. Meanwhile, the Lakers are looking to make a deep postseason run behind LeBron James, but they'll have to get past a scrappy Rockets team first.

The details

The Rockets will need to focus on several key areas to have a chance against the Lakers. First, they'll need to defend well in one-on-one situations, especially against LeBron James and Luka Doncic (if he's healthy). Limiting the Lakers' ability to create open shots for their role players will be crucial. Offensively, the Rockets will need to take some of the playmaking burden off of Kevin Durant, allowing other players like Alperen Sengun and the rookie Amen Thompson to contribute. Finally, the Rockets will look to exploit the Lakers' lack of interior defense, with Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes struggling to protect the rim.

  • The Rockets and Lakers are set to begin their first-round playoff series on April 15, 2026.
  • Game 1 of the series will be played in Los Angeles on April 15.

The players

LeBron James

The superstar forward for the Los Angeles Lakers, who is looking to lead his team to another championship.

Kevin Durant

The Rockets' superstar forward, who will need to be at his best for Houston to have a chance against the Lakers.

Alperen Sengun

The Rockets' young center, who will be tasked with exploiting the Lakers' lack of interior defense.

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What they’re saying

“Defending at an elite level in one-on-one situations will be crucial for Houston in the first round.”

— Derek Parker, Author

“If the Rockets' as a whole can free up Durant for easier shots, or in the least, minimize the times he's creating himself, it could be the swing needed to take down LA.”

— Derek Parker, Author

What’s next

The winner of the Rockets-Lakers series will advance to the second round of the NBA playoffs, where they will face the winner of the Clippers-Suns series.

The takeaway

The Rockets have a tough task ahead of them, but if they can execute their game plan and take advantage of the Lakers' weaknesses, they have a chance to pull off a surprising first-round upset and keep their season alive.