The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Houston Rockets in Game 1 of the 2026 NBA postseason, despite being underdogs due to missing their top two scorers. Despite Luke Kennard and a near-triple-double from LeBron James, the Lakers outclassed the visiting Rockets. Their effective field goal percentage was 68.2%, a franchise record in the playoffs, was one of the highest on record. However, Houston's performance was less accurate than expected on their shots. This result raises concerns about a struggling Rockets team, which could face significant roster turnover if it falls short against an injury-ridden Lakers squad. Despite this, the last time the Lakers had better shotmaking in any game was in 2018.