NBA Playoff Preview: Lakers vs Rockets
Fourteen years after they first met in the playoffs, LeBron James and Kevin Durant will meet again under the bright lights of the postseason as the L.A. Lakers face the betting favourite Houston Rockets.
Though injuries recently changed the landscape in L.A., incredibly, a decade and a half on from their first meeting, James and Durant will still be the central figures involved. But, as the NBA playoffs odds illustrate, if the Lakers are going to extend their season and potentially see one or both of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves return, James is going to need to turn back the clock in a manner that would be incredible for even his mind-bending standards.
L.A. Lakers
Just a few short weeks ago, the Lakers’ postseason hopes looked vastly different.
Doncic had rounded into form and was playing at an unstoppable level, making a late charge at MVP, while Reaves was providing the type of secondary ballhandling that had previously made Jalen Brunson and Kyrie Irving so deadly as Doncic’s running mate. To top it off, Lebron had finally shed a summer of discomfort and insecurity and had fit in as the world’s most overqualified third banana.
Unfortunately, as has too often been the case for Doncic, his body let him down. A hamstring strain will keep him out for at least the early portion of the series, while Reaves’ oblique injury is expected to keep him out of the first round entirely. In both the early and late stages of his two Cleveland chapters, James successfully dragged some mediocre Cavs teams through playoff series. Now 41, does he have one more legendary moment in him?
Houston Rockets
An up-and-down season for the Houston Rockets looked to be teetering on the brink coming out of the All-Star break before KD and company went 11-3 over their final 14 games. While there are still concerns around the team’s lack of a point guard, Alperen Sengun’s ability to hold up defensively, and some odd decisions from head coach Ime Udoka, they’ve been given a gift with this first-round matchup.
Barring a collapse – or James turning back the clock and taking over – Houston should be able to comfortably navigate a series against a brutally undermanned foe and hold off its existential questions until the second round.
NBA Betting Series Odds
Series odds at BET99 - Lakers (+500) / Rockets (-750)
Series handicap at BET99 - Lakers +2.5 (-105) / Rockets -2.5 (-115)
Series total games at BET99 - Over 5.5 (+105) / Under 5.5 (-130)
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Odds as of April 13, 2026.