Rockets vs LA Lakers Schedule NBA Playoff, Score, Dates, times, TV channels, scores for 2026 NBA Playoffs first-round series

The 2026 NBA playoffs are here, and the Los Angeles Lakers finished fourth in the Western Conference, setting up a first-round series against the Houston Rockets. The Rockets locked down the fifth seed, meaning this matchup kicks off as a best-of-seven battle between two teams looking to make noise in the postseason.

Kevin Durant and LeBron James renewing their playoff rivalry adds another layer to the first round. Their Finals history still carries weight, and seeing them square off again brings back memories of those epic battles.

The last time LeBron James and Kevin Durant met in a playoff series was the 2018 NBA Finals, when Durant's Golden State Warriors swept LeBron's Cleveland Cavaliers. Durant won Finals MVP both years he faced LeBron, and now, eight years later, they are squaring up again, this time in the first round.

The Lakers won't be at full strength. Luka Doncic remains in Europe getting treatment for a Grade 2 left hamstring strain, and his return in the first round looks doubtful ahead of Saturday's opener. Austin Reaves is also out with a Grade 2 oblique strain. That leaves a massive scoring gap of 56.8 points per game missing from the lineup.

Where to watch Rockets vs. Lakers Today: TV channel, live stream?

TV channels: ABC | ESPN | NBC

Live streams: DIRECTV | ESPN app | Peacock | Prime Video

The Lakers vs. Rockets series will air across multiple platforms thanks to the NBA's expanded broadcast deal, which will see games split among the ESPN networks, NBC and Peacock, and Prime Video. Games on ABC, ESPN networks and NBC can be streamed live on DIRECTV, which offers a free trial to new users.

Full Houston Rockets vs Los Angeles Lakers NBA Playoff Schedule, Scores, Channel, Start-times

Game 1: Rockets 98, Lakers 107,

Game 2: Rockets at Lakers, Monday, April 21, 7:30 p.m. EST, ESPN

Game 3: Lakers at Rockets, Thursday, April 24, 5:00 p.m. EST, Prime Video

Game 4: Lakers at Rockets, Saturday, April 26, 6:30 p.m. EST, NBC

Game 5 (if necessary): Rockets at Lakers, Tuesday, April 29, time TBD

Game 6 (if necessary): Lakers at Rockets, Friday, May 1, time TBD

Game 7 (if necessary): Rockets at Lakers, time TBD

Rockets vs LA Lakers Regular-season results

Dec. 25: Rockets 119, Lakers 96

Mar. 16: Lakers 100, Rockets 92

Mar. 18: Lakers 124, Rockets 116

Houston Rockets vs Los Angeles Lakers Stats for first round of NBA playoffs games

OFFENCE/DEFENCE: The Lakers outperformed expectations all season, despite a porous defense allowing 115.5 points per 100 possessions. They were the NBA's best team in the clutch, compiling a 22-8 record whenever scores were within five points in the game's final five minutes. The Rockets have a top-five defense for the second straight year, and with Dončić unavailable, Kevin Durant stands as the best offensive player in the series. The Rockets ranked 29th in pace, in part because they led the league in offensive rebounding percentage, and they took 24% of their shots in the last six seconds of the shot clock, the league's second highest rate. Houston's length at the wing, where Durant, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason mostly patrol, helped it field a top-10 defense despite the presence of younger players on most units.

Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers Predictions, Picks

ROCKETS in five. Houston has quietly become one of the best teams in the conference because of their emphasis on being tough and disciplined on defense. Alperen Şengün's frontcourt gives them a reliable inside scoring threat, and their perimeter defenders enable them to alter their defenses and disrupt opponents' offenses. If Houston can keep the game moving at their tempo, they can keep the Lakers from getting easy points and put them in tough situations at the end of the game. Without Doncic and Reaves, LeBron is being asked to carry an enormous load at 41 years old. If the Lakers can hold things together for one round, the second round could look very different with Doncic and Reaves potentially back in the lineup — but that's a big if.

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