Rockets vs Lakers, Game 1: Lakers win 107-98, Lakers lead series 1-0

Updated
NBA Playoffs · Western conference first round
Houston RocketsRockets
Playoffs 0-1 · Away
98–107
Final
Saturday, April 18, 2026
Los Angeles LakersLakers
Playoffs 1-0 · Home

2026 West First Round · Lakers lead 1-0

  1. G1LAL 107-98
  2. G2LAL 101-94
  3. G3LAL 112-108
  4. G4HOU 115-96
  5. G5HOU 99-93
  6. G6LAL 98-78

Rockets vs Lakers Game 1 final: the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Houston Rockets 107-98 on April 18, 2026 at Crypto.com Arena. Lakers lead 1-0 after Game 1.

Rockets vs Lakers Game Info

Date
Saturday, April 18, 2026
Tip-off
8:30 PM ET / 5:30 PM PT
Arena
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles
Season
2025-26 NBA Season

Score by Quarter

TeamQ1Q2Q3Q4T
Rockets2919183298
Lakers33172532107

Rockets vs Lakers Recap

com Arena. The Lakers lead the series 1-0.

Luke Kennard led the Lakers with 27 points. Alperen Sengun led the Rockets with 19 points.

The Lakers did the damage in the 3rd quarter, winning that period by 7.

Top Performers

Lakers

Team Stats

RocketsStatLakers
35-93Field Goals40-66
37.6%FG %60.6%
11-333-Pointers10-19
33.3%3P %52.6%
17-25Free Throws17-26
68.0%FT %65.4%
44Rebounds35
21Off. Rebounds3
24Assists29
13Steals7
3Blocks8
13Turnovers18
22Fouls25
2Biggest Lead16

Four Factors

TeamEffective FG%Turnover %Off. rebound %FT rate (FTM/FGA)
Rockets43.5%11.1%39.6%0.183
Lakers68.2%18.9%11.5%0.258

Dean Oliver's four factors decide most games: shooting, turnovers, offensive rebounding and free throws. Better side highlighted.

Rockets vs Lakers Box Score

Houston Rockets
PlayerMINPTSREBASTSTLBLKTOFG3PTFT+/-
Josh Okogie G267012002-41-22-2-10
Alperen Sengun C3519861136-190-27-9-2
Reed Sheppard G3517181146-205-140-0-7
Amen Thompson G4317773127-180-13-60
Jabari Smith Jr. F43161202015-143-93-5-7
Bench
Aaron Holiday G100000010-40-20-0-1
Clint Capela C112200011-20-00-0-7
Tari Eason F23161023017-72-20-1-6
Jae'Sean Tate F94401001-50-12-2-5
Los Angeles Lakers
PlayerMINPTSREBASTSTLBLKTOFG3PTFT+/-
Marcus Smart G3315281255-121-54-8-5
Rui Hachimura F4114203226-102-40-0+7
Deandre Ayton C35191120138-100-03-3+7
Luke Kennard G3827430039-135-54-6+7
LeBron James F38198132129-151-20-2+11
Bench
Jarred Vanderbilt F183500001-21-20-0+4
Bronny James G30000010-00-00-0+3
Jake LaRavia F186231111-30-14-4+9
Jaxson Hayes CF124100111-10-02-3+2

Game Flow

Lakers leadRockets lead
Q1Q2Q3Q4
Lead changes
3
Times tied
3
Lakers largest lead
16
Rockets largest lead
2
Play-by-Play

Scoring plays, newest first. Score shown Rockets-Lakers.

1st Quarter 30 scoring plays
  • 0:35LakersMarcus Smart +129-33
  • 0:49RocketsAlperen Sengun +129-32
  • 0:49RocketsAlperen Sengun +228-32
  • 1:43LakersLuke Kennard +226-32
  • 2:00RocketsJabari Smith Jr. +226-30
  • 2:31LakersJaxson Hayes +224-30
  • 3:11LakersLuke Kennard +224-28
  • 3:58RocketsJabari Smith Jr. +324-26
  • 4:14LakersLuke Kennard +321-26
  • 4:33RocketsClint Capela +221-23
  • 4:57LakersDeandre Ayton +219-23
  • 5:15RocketsReed Sheppard +319-21
  • 5:25LakersJake LaRavia +216-21
  • 5:42RocketsReed Sheppard +216-19
  • 5:58LakersLuke Kennard +214-19
  • 6:18RocketsAlperen Sengun +214-17
  • 6:50RocketsJosh Okogie +312-17
  • 7:09LakersRui Hachimura +39-17
  • 7:24RocketsAlperen Sengun +29-14
  • 7:45LakersDeandre Ayton +27-14
  • 8:04LakersLeBron James +27-12
  • 8:19RocketsJabari Smith Jr. +37-10
  • 8:31LakersMarcus Smart +24-10
  • 9:24LakersLeBron James +24-8
  • 10:06LakersRui Hachimura +24-6
  • 10:39LakersLuke Kennard +24-4
  • 10:59RocketsAmen Thompson +24-2
  • 11:20LakersDeandre Ayton +22-2
  • 11:42RocketsJosh Okogie +12-0
  • 11:42RocketsJosh Okogie +11-0
2nd Quarter 23 scoring plays
  • 0:09RocketsAmen Thompson +248-50
  • 0:49RocketsAlperen Sengun +146-50
  • 0:49RocketsAlperen Sengun +145-50
  • 1:05RocketsAlperen Sengun +144-50
  • 1:05RocketsAlperen Sengun +143-50
  • 1:52LakersMarcus Smart +242-50
  • 2:31RocketsJosh Okogie +242-48
  • 4:05RocketsJabari Smith Jr. +140-48
  • 4:05RocketsJabari Smith Jr. +139-48
  • 4:24LakersDeandre Ayton +238-48
  • 5:31LakersMarcus Smart +238-46
  • 6:22RocketsAmen Thompson +138-44
  • 6:22RocketsAmen Thompson +137-44
  • 6:41LakersRui Hachimura +236-44
  • 7:14LakersDeandre Ayton +236-42
  • 7:34RocketsReed Sheppard +336-40
  • 8:36RocketsAmen Thompson +233-40
  • 8:50LakersDeandre Ayton +131-40
  • 8:50LakersDeandre Ayton +131-39
  • 10:38LakersJarred Vanderbilt +331-38
  • 10:53RocketsJae'Sean Tate +131-35
  • 10:53RocketsJae'Sean Tate +130-35
  • 11:11LakersLeBron James +229-35
3rd Quarter 26 scoring plays
  • 0:30RocketsAmen Thompson +266-75
  • 0:46LakersJaxson Hayes +164-75
  • 0:46LakersJaxson Hayes +164-74
  • 1:00RocketsJabari Smith Jr. +164-73
  • 1:41LakersMarcus Smart +163-73
  • 1:41LakersLuke Kennard +163-72
  • 2:16RocketsAmen Thompson +263-71
  • 2:32LakersMarcus Smart +261-71
  • 2:53RocketsAmen Thompson +161-69
  • 3:15LakersLuke Kennard +160-69
  • 3:15LakersLuke Kennard +160-68
  • 3:39RocketsTari Eason +260-67
  • 4:02LakersJake LaRavia +158-67
  • 4:02LakersJake LaRavia +158-66
  • 4:13RocketsJae'Sean Tate +258-65
  • 5:00LakersJake LaRavia +156-65
  • 5:00LakersJake LaRavia +156-64
  • 5:01LakersLuke Kennard +156-63
  • 5:52LakersLeBron James +256-62
  • 6:54LakersLuke Kennard +356-60
  • 7:18RocketsAmen Thompson +256-57
  • 8:24LakersRui Hachimura +354-57
  • 8:59RocketsJabari Smith Jr. +354-54
  • 9:55LakersLeBron James +251-54
  • 10:35LakersDeandre Ayton +251-52
  • 11:41RocketsReed Sheppard +351-50
4th Quarter 30 scoring plays
  • 0:16RocketsTari Eason +298-107
  • 0:43LakersLeBron James +296-107
  • 0:51RocketsReed Sheppard +396-105
  • 1:04LakersDeandre Ayton +193-105
  • 1:04LakersDeandre Ayton +293-104
  • 1:18RocketsJabari Smith Jr. +293-102
  • 1:31LakersMarcus Smart +191-102
  • 1:31LakersMarcus Smart +191-101
  • 1:40RocketsAmen Thompson +291-100
  • 1:48LakersDeandre Ayton +289-100
  • 2:06RocketsTari Eason +289-98
  • 2:19RocketsAlperen Sengun +287-98
  • 2:28RocketsAlperen Sengun +185-98
  • 2:57LakersLeBron James +284-98
  • 3:22RocketsTari Eason +284-96
  • 4:29RocketsTari Eason +282-96
  • 4:43LakersLeBron James +280-96
  • 5:29LakersMarcus Smart +380-94
  • 5:51RocketsTari Eason +380-91
  • 6:15RocketsAlperen Sengun +177-91
  • 6:25LakersLuke Kennard +376-91
  • 6:42RocketsAlperen Sengun +276-88
  • 7:38RocketsAlperen Sengun +274-88
  • 7:58LakersLuke Kennard +372-88
  • 8:21LakersLeBron James +372-85
  • 8:36RocketsTari Eason +372-82
  • 9:21LakersLuke Kennard +369-82
  • 9:51LakersRui Hachimura +269-79
  • 10:57LakersRui Hachimura +269-77
  • 11:20RocketsReed Sheppard +369-75

Next for the Lakers

West Conference Semifinals: Thunder vs Lakers · Thunder win 4-0

Thunder vs Lakers series ›

Lakers vs Rockets: Series So Far

GameDateMatchupResultTop scorer
Game 1Apr 18Rockets @ LakersLakers 107-98Luke Kennard 27
Game 2Apr 21Rockets @ LakersLakers 101-94LeBron James 28
Game 3Apr 24Lakers @ RocketsLakers 112-108Alperen Sengun 33
Game 4Apr 26Lakers @ RocketsRockets 115-96Amen Thompson 23
Game 5Apr 29Rockets @ LakersRockets 99-93LeBron James 25
Game 6May 1Lakers @ RocketsLakers 98-78LeBron James 28

Full series page ›

Series Leaders

Lakers

Rockets

Per-game averages in this series, top three scorers per team.

More NBA Games on Apr 18, 2026

That covers Rockets vs Lakers: score, leaders and box score above. Next: Rockets visit the Lakers May 3; Lakers host the Rockets May 3.

Rockets vs Lakers FAQs

Who won Rockets vs Lakers Game 1?

The Los Angeles Lakers won 107-98 on April 18, 2026. Lakers lead 1-0 after Game 1.

What is the Rockets vs Lakers series score?

Lakers lead 1-0 in the 2026 West First Round.

Who was the top scorer in Rockets vs Lakers?

Alperen Sengun scored 19 for the Rockets. Luke Kennard scored 27 for the Lakers.