Kennard powers Lakers past Rockets in Game 1

Luke Kennard scored 27 points as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the visiting Houston Rockets, 107-98, on Saturday in Game 1 of their Western Conference first-round playoff series.

LeBron James added 19 points and 13 assists for the Lakers, who overcame major absences to protect home court.

Los Angeles entered the game without its leading scorers, Luka Doncic, who was sidelined by a hamstring injury, and Austin Reaves, who was out with an oblique injury.

Deandre Ayton delivered 19 points and 11 rebounds for the fourth-seeded Lakers. Marcus Smart added 15 points and eight assists for Los Angeles.

Kennard produced the breakout performance in just his seventh start since joining the Lakers from the Atlanta Hawks at the trade deadline.

He shot 9 of 13 from the field and went a perfect 5 of 5 from 3-point range. His 27-point output was a season high and helped fill the scoring void in the backcourt.

Houston, the fifth seed, played without leading scorer Kevin Durant, who was out with a knee injury.

Alperen Sengun scored 19 points for the Rockets. Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard each added 17 points for Houston.

Jabari Smith Jr. posted 16 points and 12 rebounds for the Rockets. Tari Eason also scored 16 points for Houston.

The loss was Houston’s third straight road defeat to the Lakers since the middle of March.

The Lakers were highly efficient offensively throughout the night.

Los Angeles shot 60.6% from the floor and 52.6% from 3-point range.

Houston shot 37.6% overall and 33.3% from beyond the arc.

Kennard helped break the game open in the fourth quarter with three 3-pointers.

His second 3-pointer of the final period capped a 13-3 Lakers run and gave Los Angeles an 88-72 lead with 7:58 remaining.

James extended the advantage with a turnaround hook shot with 4:43 left to make it 96-80.

The 41-year-old followed that with a fadeaway jumper with 2:57 remaining for a 98-84 lead.

Houston trimmed the deficit to 100-91 with 1:40 left after a dunk by Thompson.

Ayton then delivered a three-point play with 1:04 to go, pushing the Lakers ahead 105-93 and effectively sealing the win.

The Lakers stayed efficient down the stretch, shooting 70.6% in the fourth quarter and 56.2% in the second half to keep Houston at bay. The Rockets still held a 44-35 rebounding edge despite the loss.

Los Angeles set the tone early, building an eight-point lead in the first quarter behind James’ eight assists and taking a 33-29 advantage into the second.

The Lakers led 50-48 at halftime while shooting 64.7% from the field, with Ayton scoring 12 points before the break and Sengun countering with 11 for Houston.