The Los Angeles Lakers are playing without their two leading scorers, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, in their first-round playoff series against the Houston Rockets. While new injury updates signal a return for both could be coming soon, the Lakers faired decently well without them in Game 1.
Granted, the Rockets were without their star in Kevin Durant, but even still, as the Lakers were playing without Doncic and Reaves, they remained underdogs heading into the first game, and not favored to win the series as a whole.
But despite missing nearly 60 points per game in the form of their two backcourt stars, the Lakers took a solid victory in Game 1, and they did it without even capitalizing on the two keys head coach JJ Redick outlined for the series.
Lakers Get Good News After Game 1 Vs Rockets On Multiple Fronts
Before the series began, Redick told reporters that limiting turnovers and winning the rebounding battle were the biggest factors in the Lakers having a chance to beat the Rockets without Doncic or Reaves.
Redick said the Lakers focused on themselves today outside of a box-out drill, which is what they started practice with.
In Game 1, they didn’t do that. They lost the turnover battle 13-20 and were out-rebounded by nine to Houston. However, Los Angeles did see some three-point shooting heroics from Luke Kennard, and a solid all-around performance by LeBron James, while the Rockets shot less than 40% from the field.
“Redick said there were two things his team had to do against the Houston Rockets in order to have a chance at success: take care of the ball and box out. He said it on the first day the Lakers gathered to prepare for the Rockets. He repeated it at every turn,” Dan Woike of The Athletic wrote. “Then in Game 1, the Lakers turned the ball over 20 times and allowed 21 offensive rebounds. And still, the Lakers walked away with a 107-98 win.”
That by no means guarantees the Lakers will win the series, as the injuries to Durant, Doncic, and Reaves likely remain the biggest X-factor, but as James proved he is still a top-tier playoff performer, and Los Angeles got solid minutes out of the back-half of their rotation, it bodes well for the next few games.
Houston was without Durant, and his status going forward remains unclear. But still, as the Lakers failed to capitalize on their keys to the series, but still ended up victorious, which is a good sign for Los Angeles potentially extending the series to get Doncic or Reaves back, which has always been the plan.
Luka Doncic And Austin Reaves Injury Return Updates
GettyHOUSTON, TEXAS – MARCH 18: Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates with Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on March 18, 2026 in Houston, Texas.
Until the Lakers offer an official injury update or return date for Doncic and Reaves, any reporting about either coming back remains speculation.
However, multiple reports have emerged over the past few days that could signal one, or both could be back on the court for Los Angeles around the time of Game 4 or Game 5, which would come near the end of the month, a little less than four weeks after the two went down with hamstring and oblique injuries, respectively.
A return timeline for Doncic remains unclear, as a typical hamstring injury recovery takes about three to six weeks, with a high chance of re-injury after coming back. He did go to Spain to expedite his recovery, but until he is re-evaluated by the Lakers, it remains to be seen when, or if, he’ll play against the Rockets. Some believe he could be ramping up for a return soon, but according to the International Business Times, Doncic has yet to resume on-court work.
As for Reaves, his return timeline is a bit more straightforward. He was ruled out for four to six weeks, which, at best, would see him come back anywhere from Game 5 to Game 7, if the Lakers can extend the series that long. As with Doncic, any reporting on him coming back remains speculation until both are re-evaluated by the team, which is expected to happen sometime in the next day or two.
There is also the possibility that neither Doncic nor Reaves returns for the Lakers in this series, or potentially at all this season if Los Angeles loses to Houston. However, after what they showed in Game 1 and the uncertain status of Durant moving forward, the Lakers are in a much more solid spot compared to where many thought they would be this early in the series.
As Lakers fans wait for an update on the two star guard, the good news is that the rest of the team is showing up in their places, and for the time being, Los Angeles is leading a series they were not predicted to win when the matchup was announced.
Lakers Get Good News Amid Looming Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves Injury Returns