Sunday 19 April 2026 09:08, UK
LeBron James produced a decisive playoff outing as the Los Angeles Lakers edged the Houston Rockets in Game 1 of their series. James finished with 19 points and 13 assists, becoming the oldest player in NBA history to record a points/assists double-double in a playoff game.
The win gave the Lakers a 1-0 series lead and was powered by LeBron’s playmaking down the stretch, which helped unlock scoring opportunities for his teammates against a resilient Rockets defence. His performance added another milestone to a long list of postseason achievements and underlined his ability to influence games with passing and leadership as much as scoring.
While full box scores and postgame reactions were still being gathered, the immediate narrative centered on LeBron’s historic stat line and the boost the victory provides the Lakers as the series continues. Both teams are expected to make adjustments ahead of Game 2.