The Los Angeles Lakers will open their first-round playoff series against the Houston Rockets without injured starters Luka Doncic (Grade 2 left hamstring strain) and Austin Reaves (Grade 2 left oblique), leaving LeBron James to resume primary playmaking duties when Game 1 tips off Sunday at Toyota Center in Houston.
Speaking after Thursday’s practice, James said the Lakers must prepare for Houston’s entire roster, not just longtime rival Kevin Durant.
“It’s the playoffs. You gotta be locked in,” James told reporters. “KD is the head of the snake, but it’s not just a KD team. From Alperen Sengun to Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith, Tari Eason, Reed Sheppard — everyone who steps on the floor is a threat, and we have to be ready for all of them.”
The Lakers secured home-court advantage by winning the regular-season series, yet Doncic and Reaves were available for those victories. Their absence now places additional weight on James, 41, who has settled into a third-option scoring role this season behind Doncic and Reaves.
Supporting cast under spotlight
Head coach Darvin Ham is expected to lean heavily on Marcus Smart, Deandre Ayton and Rui Hachimura while seeking contributions from seldom-used reserves Jarred Vanderbilt, Nick Smith Jr. and rookie guard Bronny James.
Smart echoed James’ message of toughness earlier this week, warning teammates that Houston will attempt to “punk” them with physical defense and relentless rebounding — areas in which the Rockets ranked among league leaders throughout the regular season.
The upcoming matchup marks the first postseason meeting between James and Durant since the 2018 NBA Finals, adding another layer to an already challenging series for the injury-depleted Lakers.
Source: Lakers Nation
