Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers
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Kevin Durant will not play tonight. The Los Angeles Lakers lead the series 3-2 and have a chance to close it out on the road. More than $3.2 million has moved through the Kalshi market on this game, and Houston is still the favorite.
He has 28 points, eight assists and seven rebounds while Rui Hachimura scores 21 to help the Lakers advance to a second-round series against the Thunder.
When leading scorers Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves were both injured in an April 2 game, coach JJ Redick admitted things felt bleak for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Game summary of the Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets NBA game, final score 98-78, from May 1, 2026 on ESPN.
Check out the best of Friday's 2026 NBA Playoffs action and highlights, featuring Pistons-Magic, Cavaliers-Raptors and Lakers-Rockets.
Although the Houston Rockets won 52 games for the second straight year, an immediate postseason exit again doomed the Western Conference team.