The Los Angeles Lakers shrugged off their damage worries to make a profitable begin to the NBA play-offs.
The 18-time champions have been with out key gamers Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Maxi Kleber however 41-year-old LeBron James produced one other positive show in a 107-98 win over the Houston Rockets.
The Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets and New York Knicks have been the opposite winners on day one of many play-offs, whereas the Phoenix Suns and Orlando Magic gained the play-in match to e book their locations.
James managed the ground whereas racking up 19 factors, 13 assists and eight rebounds in opposition to a Houston facet who misplaced key man Kevin Durant to damage simply earlier than play began.
“It is simply our play-off mentality,” Lakers coach JJ Redick stated.
“You may’t fear about who’s in or out of the line-up. It is our gameplan. It is our requirements. It is how we play, and we have constructed in the direction of that.
“I believed our guys simply responded properly and met the second. That is the largest factor. You have to meet the second in each recreation, and we have been ready to do this.”
Luke Kennard continued to step up as a starter with a profession play-off excessive 27 factors because the Lakers took the opening recreation within the best-of-seven sequence.
Durant, 37, has a bruised knee and will return for recreation two on Tuesday evening.
Defending champions Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder start their marketing campaign on Sunday evening in opposition to the Suns.
