Lakers’ defense extinguishes Rockets in performance they hope to repeat

Source: New York Post

One of the biggest questions entering the Lakers-Rockets first-round playoff series was how the Luka Doncic- and Austin Reaves-less Lakers would generate quality offense against the Rockets’ defense that ranked sixth during the regular season. But for at least one night, the Lakers flipped the script on the Kevin Durant-less Rockets with suffocating defense en route to a 107-98 victory in Game 1 on Saturday to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.   The Lakers’ Deandre Ayton (right) defends against the Rockets’ Alperen Sengun in Game 1 on Saturday.