Lakers Might Have a Chance

Could it be that the Lakers actually have a shot? It’s possible.

They transformed from underdogs to contenders.

This shift happened just before the game when news broke that Kevin Durant would not be playing in Game 1 of the playoff series against the Rockets due to a knee injury.

This meant that both teams were missing star players, with Luka Doncic out due to a hamstring issue and Austin Reeves sidelined with oblique problems. This really leveled the playing field. Perhaps it gave the Lakers new hope, a spark that had been missing.

And in the end, the Lakers took the game 107-98.

I can’t quite predict how the Rockets will perform without Durant. He has been a huge presence, playing in 78 games this season, missing only four.

Now the Rockets face a gap in strength.

In the locker room before the game, it felt tense. Players were glued to their phones or staring at the floor. It was less like a playoff preparation and more akin to a wake.

Durant got injured during a practice collision, and when he took the court for pre-game training, it became clear his knee wasn’t cooperating. It’s concerning.

“Hopefully it’s just a one-game issue,” said Rockets coach Ime Udoka before the game. But, well, hopefully?

This changes everything for the Lakers. They actually have a shot at this.

Interestingly, on the court was the only remaining superstar, the historic player who hit 23 points in a season.

LeBron James shined with 10 assists in the first half, matching his playoff career-high for assists during that timeframe. He ended the night with 19 points, 13 assists, and eight rebounds.

Then there’s Luke Kennard, who put up a playoff career-high 27 points, shooting 9-of-13, including 5-of-5 from three-point range.

But honestly, it was a team effort. All the Lakers’ starters scored in double digits, dominating the Rockets with a field goal percentage of 60.6% compared to 37.6% and from deep, 52.6% to 33.3%.

The Lakers were impressive. They worked together remarkably. Maybe something special is unfolding here.

If they manage to get past the Rockets, getting Doncic and Reeves back would make a significant difference. That could change everything. Earlier in the season, they were considered championship favorites, holding a 16-2 record just before losing both Doncic and Reeves in one game.

It was disheartening. I honestly felt devastated by that.

Now, though, they’ve regained some hope. Yet, it all hinges on Durant. If he’s healthy, things may tilt back in the Rockets’ favor.

Udoka shared that Durant underwent imaging and claimed the injury wasn’t serious.

“It’s tender,” Udoka stated. “It’s tough to bend in certain ways, but there’s not much swelling. It’s just a tricky spot above the knee, in the tendon area. It’s about pain tolerance, I suppose. But really, it’s more about limited movement.”

I’m not sure that sounds promising.

Durant doesn’t usually miss games because of minor issues. If he’s playing through discomfort usually, there’s no reason he should miss multiple games in a season.

The Lakers really could excel if Durant doesn’t return soon.

It’s surprising, almost unbelievable.

Yet for this team, such moments have defined their season.

And it appears this is just another unexpected twist in the journey.