LeBron James did “a little bit of everything” to lift the Los Angeles Lakers to a Game 1 upset over the Houston Rockets, stepping into a larger offensive role with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves sidelined.
James sparked the Lakers’ attack with a balanced performance, finishing with 19 points, 13 assists, eight rebounds and two steals. He consistently created opportunities for teammates while also contributing on the glass and generating turnovers defensively.
Next-man-up response
With two key playmakers unavailable, the Lakers leaned on James to organize the offense and set the tone. His 13 assists underscored his role as the primary initiator, while his two steals helped fuel the kind of disruptive, two-way effort often needed to win on the road in the postseason.
The result gave Los Angeles an early edge in the series, taking Game 1 despite missing Doncic and Reaves. For the Rockets, the opener served as a reminder that limiting James’ scoring alone isn’t enough when he’s controlling the game in multiple areas.