04/17/26 01:04:00
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04/17 01:03 CDT Los Angeles hosts Houston to start playoffs
Los Angeles hosts Houston to start playoffs
By The Associated Press
Houston Rockets (52-30, fifth in the Western Conference) vs. Los Angeles Lakers
(53-29, fourth in the Western Conference)
Los Angeles; Saturday, 8:30 p.m. EDT
LINE: Rockets -5.5; over/under is 207.5
WESTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: Lakers host first series matchup
BOTTOM LINE: The Los Angeles Lakers host the Houston Rockets to open the
Western Conference first round. Los Angeles went 2-1 against Houston during the
regular season. The Lakers won the last regular season matchup 124-116 on
Thursday, March 19 led by 40 points from Luka Doncic, while Alperen Sengun
scored 27 points for the Rockets.
The Lakers are 33-19 in Western Conference games. Los Angeles has an 8-3 record
in games decided by 3 points or fewer.
The Rockets are 29-23 against Western Conference opponents. Houston has a 5-9
record in games decided by less than 4 points.
The Lakers make 50.2% of their shots from the field this season, which is 4.2
percentage points higher than the Rockets have allowed to their opponents
(46.0%). The Rockets average 11.5 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.3
fewer made shots on average than the 12.8 per game the Lakers allow.
TOP PERFORMERS: Jake LaRavia is scoring 8.2 points per game and averaging 4.0
rebounds for the Lakers. LeBron James is averaging 18.7 points and 6.3 rebounds
over the last 10 games.
Kevin Durant is averaging 26 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists for the
Rockets. Reed Sheppard is averaging 3.4 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Lakers: 7-3, averaging 116.2 points, 41.4 rebounds, 28.6
assists, 10.4 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 52.7% from the
field. Their opponents have averaged 112.2 points per game.
Rockets: 9-1, averaging 123.6 points, 49.1 rebounds, 28.7 assists, 7.7 steals
and 5.7 blocks per game while shooting 49.9% from the field. Their opponents
have averaged 108.4 points.
INJURIES: Lakers: Austin Reaves: out (rib), Jaxson Hayes: day to day (foot),
Luka Doncic: out (hamstring).
Rockets: Kevin Durant: day to day (rest), Amen Thompson: day to day (rest),
Fred VanVleet: out for season (acl), Steven Adams: out for season (ankle),
Jabari Smith Jr.: day to day (rest), Alperen Sengun: day to day (rest).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data
Skrive and data from Sportradar.
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