The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Houston Rockets 107-98 in Game 1 of their first-round playoffs behind a 19-point double-double from Deandre Ayton. The big man was locked in and made a massive effort on the boards against the best rebounding team in the NBA. LA needed Ayton to step up, and the former number one overall draft pick renewed Lakers fans' hopes of winning this series and getting Luka Doncic back.
It is never a question of talent for Ayton. The seven-footer struggles with his effort, defense, and engagement when not getting shots. Head coach JJ Redick has challenged the big man several times. Los Angeles needed him to start this series with Luka and Austin Reaves out, but nobody knew if Ayton would deliver. Luckily, he stepped up at the perfect time.
Fans knew this was a unique opportunity for DA. The purple and gold are without their top two scorers. They need everyone to step up, but the Lakers had no chance against Houston without Ayton grabbing double-digit rebounds.
Deandre Ayton locked in to give the Lakers a shot to upset the Rockets
Los Angeles’ hopes felt dead when Doncic and Reaves were injured. It is unheard of for a team to lose their two best players and win a playoff series. Fans hoped the Lakers could stay competitive and win a couple of games. The team had other ideas.
Kevin Durant missed this game for the Rockets. Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams are out for the season. Houston had issues of their own, but they were still favored to win this game. The Lakers weren't going to let that happen.
Ayton finished with 19 points, 11 rebounds, two assists, and one block in the Game 1 win. He made eight of his ten field goals, and the Lakers outscored the Rockets by seven in the big man’s 35 minutes. DA even got a couple clutch buckets to ensure Los Angeles secured the victory.
It was a total team effort from LA. Luke Kennard had 27 points and barely missed a shot. LeBron James finished with 19 points, 13 assists, and eight boards. The entire starting five scored in double figures. Credit to coach Redick for getting his team ready for what the Rockets threw at them. Stealing the series opener has everyone thinking Los Angeles can advance.
The Lakers hope to get Luka Doncic back, but they must extend this series. Los Angeles already got one victory, and they looked like the better team in the opener.
The purple and gold need a locked-in Ayton for the entire series. Fans saw the Rockets crashing the glass and creating havoc in Game 1. They are only going to pick up that intensity. Ayton is the key to neutralizing it. He defended Alperen Sengun well and made plays on both ends of the floor.
The Los Angeles Lakers took a 1-0 lead over the Houston Rockets behind a Deandre Ayton double-double. If the center plays like this for the rest of the series, his team can pull the upset. Nobody thought that was possible coming in. Trusting Ayton isn’t easy, but he earned it after the opener. Hopefully, he keeps it up.
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