On Saturday night, the Los Angeles Lakers played the Houston Rockets at Crypto.com Arena for Game 1 of their first-round playoff series.
Despite being without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, the Lakers took a 1-0 series lead by winning 107-98.
LeBron James dished out 13 assists in 38 minutes.
However, the big hero was Luke Kennard, who went off for 27 points while shooting 5/5 from three-point range.
OptaSTATS wrote: “Luke Kennard of the @Lakers is the first player in NBA history to score 25+ points & make 5+ threes without a miss in his first playoff game with a team.”
Lakers Made One Of The Best Trades In NBA
GettyGeneral Manager Rob Pelinka of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on prior to the game against the Houston Rockets at Crypto.com Arena on December 25, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
It’s worth noting that the Lakers acquired Kennard during the middle of the season (via the Atlanta Hawks).
ESPN’s Shams Charania wrote (on February 5): “The Los Angeles Lakers are trading Gabe Vincent and a 2032 second-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks for Luke Kennard, sources tell ESPN.”
GettyLuke Kennard #3 of the Atlanta Hawks is defended by Tre Jones #30 of the Chicago Bulls during the first quarter at State Farm Arena on December 23, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia.
For the Lakers, the move has turned out to be brilliant.
Vincent had struggled during his three-year tenure with the franchise.
In 29 games for the Lakers (this season), he was averaging 4.8 points and 1.3 assists per contest while shooting 34.6% from the field and 36.9% from three-point range.
Sam Quinn of CBS Sports wrote (during Saturday’s game): “Rob Pelinka went out and got Luke Kennard for a second-round pick and Rafael Stone sat still at the deadline with a lot more ammunition. I understand why Stone made that decision and I broadly support it. But it’s why this game is going the way it’s going.”
GettyLuke Kennard #10 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after making a three point shot during the second half of Game One of the First Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs against the Houston Rockets at Crypto.com Arena on April 18, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
Kennard’s NBA Career
Kennard (who is 29) was the 12th pick in the 2017 NBA Draft out of Duke.
He spent the first five years of his career with the Detroit Pistons and LA Clippers.
Before signing with the Hawks over the summer, he had been with the Memphis Grizzlies for the last two and a half seasons.
His career averages are 9.6 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists per contest while shooting 46.6% from the field and 44.2% from three-point range in 538 games.
Real App wrote: “Luke Kennard just tied the Lakers record for the most threes made in a playoff debut.”
GettyLuke Kennard #10 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after making a three point shot during the second half of Game One of the First Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs against the Houston Rockets at Crypto.com Arena on April 18, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
The Lakers will host the Rockets for Game 2 on Tuesday night in Los Angeles.
They will then head to Houston for Games 3 and 4.
Los Angeles Lakers Made One Of The Best Trades In The NBA This Season