After the Los Angeles Lakers were written off by most of the NBA world due to injuries, they just racked up a huge playoff win against the Houston Rockets.
The Lakers are currently without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, two of their three best players. That leaves Los Angeles with just a 41-year-old LeBron James and an assortment of role players.
That doesn't necessarily inspire confidence, and the Rockets were likely licking their chops, hoping to take advantage of the Lakers' injury misfortune. In Houston's defense, they were banged up too. They were without star Kevin Durant, and they missed him even more than expected. Still, for those who doubted the short-handed Lakers, do so at your own peril.
The Lakers embarrassed the Rockets en route to a huge playoff win
Houston has struggled to score at times, and they certainly struggled in Game 1. They connected on just 38% from the field, a shockingly awful--embarrasing even number.
If they are going to struggle that much without Durant, then they don't stand a chance against the shorthanded Lakers. LeBron didn't even have a massive game.
Instead, recent addition Luke Kennard's hot shooting helped carry the Lakers to victory in a balanced offensive attack from L.A.
Lakers' playoff hopes suddenly improve with time to get healthy
With a huge Game 1 win, that will extend the series perhaps long enough for Luka Doncic to return. The longer the series goes, the more time the Lakers buy for their best player.
If they can make this a six or even a seven-game series, the more it would seem to favor the Lakers. After all, they have home-court advantage, and that would mean that the Rockets would have failed to take advantage of the Lakers' injury.
On the other hand, Houston clearly struggles without Durant. Them relying on one player so much to carry their offense isn't great and doesn't bode well for them since the defenses they'll face will be better in the playoffs.
The Lakers holding them to just 38% in Game 1 may be unsustainable, but a win is a win and a doubly important one for L.A. as they look to get healthy.
Add us as a preferred source on Google