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The NBA Playoffs wasted no time delivering drama. In what many expected to be a routine series, Los Angeles Lakers stunned Houston Rockets with a 107–98 victory in Game 1, instantly injecting intrigue into the matchup.

Admittedly, Houston looked a shadow of themselves without Kevin Durant, lacking their usual cutting edge. But context matters — Los Angeles were also missing key pieces in Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, making the result all the more surprising.

Even more unexpected was the man who stole the spotlight. It wasn’t LeBron James, but Luke Kennard who lit up the floor. Known primarily as a perimeter specialist, Kennard delivered a flawless shooting display, pouring in 27 points and going a perfect 5-for-5 from beyond the arc. It was a statement performance from a player often labelled as a bench sharpshooter.

LeBron James still made his presence felt, finishing with 19 points, 8 rebounds, and 13 assists. Deandre Ayton matched him with 19 points, providing crucial support in the paint.

Elsewhere, Donovan Mitchell led the charge with 32 points as Cleveland Cavaliers secured a convincing 126–113 win over Toronto Raptors. Anthony Edwards returned with 22 points for Minnesota Timberwolves, but it wasn’t enough against the reigning force of Denver Nuggets. Jamal Murray was flawless from the line (16-for-16), while Nikola Jokic delivered a dominant triple-double performance (25 points, 13 rebounds, 11 assists).

Finally, Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns combined for 53 points to give New York Knicks a 113–102 win over Atlanta Hawks, setting the tone for what promises to be a fiercely contested series.