Luke Kennard makes history as Kevin Durant sidelined with knee injury.
Luke Kennard makes history as Kevin Durant sidelined with knee injury.
The 2026 NBA Playoffs opened with a shock in Los Angeles as the shorthanded Lakers grinded out a 107-98 victory over the Houston Rockets. Despite playing without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, the Lakers found a hero in Luke Kennard, who joined franchise legends with a historic 27-point performance.
Meanwhile, the Rockets faced their own crisis as Kevin Durant was a late scratch due to a tender knee injury sustained in practice. Can Houston bounce back if their leading scorer remains sidelined, or has LeBron James already slammed the door on this first-round upset?
READ MORE: Short-Handed Lakers Stun Rockets 107-98 in Playoff Opener