Magic Johnson Reacts to Lakers' Game 1 Playoff Win Over Rockets

The shorthanded Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Houston Rockets 107-98 in Game 1 of their first-round matchup on Saturday night.

Houston was also somewhat shorthanded, as Kevin Durant was ruled out prior to the game after banging knees with a teammate in practice earlier in the week.

However, L.A. handled business behind a strong defensive effort and 41-year-old LeBron James controlling the pace of the game. He finished with 19 points, 13 assists, and eight rebounds.

Leading the team in scoring, somewhat surprisingly, was Luke Kennard, who erupted for 27 points while shooting 9-for-13 from the field and a perfect 5-for-5 from beyond the arc.

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After the game, NBA and Lakers legend Magic Johnson reacted to the team's performance and expressed confidence that if LeBron continues to get production from his teammates, the Lakers can win the series.

"The Los Angeles Lakers beat the Houston Rockets 107-97 in Game 1! They had five guys in double figures, led by Luke Kennard's 27 points. Deandre Ayton and LeBron both added 19 points, Marcus Smart had 15 points, and Rui Hachimura finished with 14 points!"

"If LeBron continues to get this type of support from his teammates, the Lakers have a good chance of winning the series against the Rockets!"

Game 2 is set to be played on Tuesday night, and while the Lakers are still expected to be without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, there is optimism that Durant could return for the Rockets.

That potential boost for Houston only raises the stakes for Los Angeles as they look to take a 2-0 series lead before heading to Houston later in the week.

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This story was originally published April 19, 2026 at 12:44 PM.