The Los Angeles Lakers were able to pull off a surprising Game 1 win over the Rockets on Sunday, rising the hot hand of Luke Kennard and the all-around performance of 41-year-old LeBron James to an early series advantage, in a matchup the Lakers are expected to lose while playing without stars Austin Reaves (out with an oblique injury) and Luka Doncic (hamstring).
The Lakers’ defense did hold Houston to just 98 points on 38% shooting, but that does not mean there aren’t concerns for L.A. The Lakers were hammered on the boards in the game, 44-35, while also being almost run off the floor on turnovers, as the Rockets converted 20 Lakers turnovers into 24 points, while the Lakers had seven points off 13 turnovers.
Yes, the Lakers got the win, but the Rockets took 93 shots to just 66 for L.A., the kind of discrepancy the Lakers could survive only because they shot 61% from the field–not exactly a sustainable number.
Still, a 1-0 lead is a 1-0 lead, and the Lakers’ job in the coming days is to simply win another game and give the team’s injured stars a last push to get back on the floor and nudge the team into the second round.
Luka Doncic Injury Return a ‘Shot in the Dark’
While there could be some good news on Reaves, who has begun taking part in on-court work as he rehabs and hopes to get back onto the floor before the series ends, the Lakers are looking at bad news on Doncic. Despite a desperate measure to get back on the floor for the playoffs–Doncic went to Spain for specialized treatment no his hamstring–it does not look like he will be back on the floor for Round 1.
As ESPN’s Alan Hahn explained on the ESPN show “Get Up” on Tuesday, Doncic has not even begun the process of on-court work that Reaves has just started.
Said Hahn: “We have (a long way) to Game 7. So this is going to be a really long series. If you can extend it, that opens up a lot of time. The whole idea of getting Luka back, perhaps, might be a shot in the dark because he is not even moving around yet in practice, which tells you it’s still going to be a week, maybe two before we possibly see him play in a game.”
GettyHouston Rockets forward Kevin Durant
Lakers Benefit From Kevin Durant Knee Problem
That’s a generous assessment of the Lakers star from Hahn–there’s virtually no chance that the Luka Doncic injury, without even having begun on-floor workouts, could allow a return in a week. Two weeks is more realistic.
But the Lakers have caught a break in that Rockets forward Kevin Durant was out, too, dealing with a knee injury that cropped up in practice. Durant’s absence helps explain why the Rockets scored only 98 points, as he is missed as both a scorer and a ballhandler.
Durant can play in Game 2, but will he be himself?
Added Hahn: “KD is still listed as questionable for the game. Now, again, it is a knee contusion so they’re saying he can play through the pain, but the problem is his mobility. That’s what they’re worried about. Will he have the ability to play defense? Will he have the ability to get open in a playoff game against tougher defense? So that’s something to watch. But if you’re him, you know, you’ve got to play through this game.”
Lakers Given Harsh Update on Luka Doncic Injury Return