How do Lakers match up against Houston Rockets in the NBA playoffs?
The Lakers tasted a playoff atmosphere against the Houston Rockets only a month ago. They can recreate that moment again, this time with real playoff stakes, but the Western Conference’s No. 4 seed will be missing a key piece of these thrilling victories.
Luka Doncic, who is still receiving specialized treatment in Europe for his Grade 2 left hamstring strain, is far from back in the first round of the playoffs, which begin Saturday at 5:30 p.m. Crypto.com Arena.
Between Doncic and Austin Reaves, out with a grade 2 left oblique strain, the Lakers lost their two top scorers and an average of 56.8 points per game. They lost the No. 3 seed. But by finishing the season with three straight wins to maintain home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs, they didn’t lose their fight.
They will need it against the Rockets.
“For me, the playoffs are about resilience,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “…You play a playoff opponent and there’s a bunch of things that are going to happen, some good, some bad. You can go down in a series. You can go down in the game, you can go down in the road game. And just, you have to play with resilience.”
Here is how the teams are divided:
