3 Lakers bold predictions vs. Rockets in 2026 NBA Playoffs

With a first-round NBA Playoff series against the Houston Rockets looming, all eyes will turn to the Los Angeles Lakers. The series pits LeBron James against Kevin Durant for the fourth time in the playoffs. Ahead of the intriguing playoff series, we reveal our Lakers’ bold predictions.

Los Angeles has had a rollercoaster of a season. For much of the year, they consistently beat cellar-dwellers but looked like they could not contend with elite teams. Then the Lakers had a month for the ages in March.

Luka Doncic made history, scoring the third-most points in a single calendar month in NBA history. Los Angeles beat several Western Conference contenders, including the Houston Rockets, twice.

Suddenly, the Lakers were the No. 3 seed and looked like they had a shot at a title. Then the injury bug struck, and it struck hard. First, Doncic suffered a hamstring injury that cost him the rest of his regular season. His status remains up in the air. One game later, Austin Reaves went down with an oblique strain.

Reaves likely could not return until at least the first week of May. So, he will certainly miss the Rockets series.

Amidst the injuries, not many are giving the Lakers a chance to advance. They are getting better than 5-to-1 at most sportsbooks. Can they make the series competitive? How about an upset?

Let’s get to our Lakers’ bold predictions for their first-round series vs. the Rockets.

The Lakers turn Kevin Durant over

This series features two of the greatest NBA players of all-time. James has obviously positioned himself in the GOAT conversation. Meanwhile, Kevin Durant is one of the greatest pure scorers to ever live.

The two men have only ever faced off in the playoffs three times. LeBron got the best of KD in the 2012 NBA Finals as a member of the Miami Heat. But Durant won the next two meetings, as the Golden State Warriors won back-to-back titles against the LeBron-led Cleveland Cavaliers.

But you know, given KD’s competitiveness, he is going to try to prove something in this series. That means he may start pressing, at times.

The Lakers already gave him problems during the regular season. He averaged a shade under five turnovers per game in three meetings, two of which the Lakers won.

He is going to get his on offense and will likely lead the series in scoring. But it will not come easily. I predict that he becomes more of a volume scorer, who turns the ball over a lot in this series.

Deandre Ayton shows off skill set vs. Rockets

After the Lakers acquired center Deandre Ayton following a buyout from the Portland Trail Blazers, the trio of LeBron, Doncic, and Ayton appeared to be among the best in the league. At least on paper.

That never came to fruition. Lakers fans have been unhappy with Ayton’s inconsistent production.

The former All-Star big man posted the worst season of his eight-year career. He averaged a career-low 12.5 points and 8.0 rebounds per game. Granted, his opportunity to score was always going to be lessened by joining Los Angeles.

Especially with the emergence of Reaves as a third option.

But he has looked disengaged at times this season. That was a sentiment that has followed him throughout his career. Yet, he will be expected to take up a large portion of the offensive workload vs. the Rockets.

Without Doncic and Reaves, there are 38 more shots available. James will, of course, look to score more. Other role players like Rui Hachimura, Luke Kennard, and Marcus Smart will have a bigger role. But Ayton is on a different level than those players, and he’ll show it.

The Rockets can score, and have a lot more depth than Los Angeles. Alperen Sengun has taken a leap forward offensively. But he still lacks toughness and an interior presence.

In four games against Houston this season, the Lakers center has been incredibly efficient. Ayton is 16-for-22 from the field, but as the fourth option.

Look for Ayton to get back to his double-double games, and possibly average 20 and 10 for the series.

Doncic returns, but too little too late

The latest injury update on Doncic has him returning from a specialist in Spain this Friday. The day before this series tips off at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

The Lakers still have enough talent to at least win one of the first two games at home. That will prolong this series enough for hope to creep in.

Doncic is certainly expected to miss the beginning of this series. But if the Lakers trail 2-1 with Game 4 slated in Houston, or maybe even if it’s 3-1 back in Los Angeles, I’d look for the Lakers to bring their All-Star guard back.

But it will not make much of a difference. He is already a sub-par defender, and this hamstring injury will not help.

Most of the games will be competitive, but the Lakers ultimately will lose in five games.

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