Getty Amen Thompson #1 of the Houston Rockets guards LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half of Game One of the First Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on April 18, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
If history is any indicator, the Los Angeles Lakers will defeat the Houston Rockets in the first round of the 2026 NBA playoffs. That’s because LeBron James-led teams have a spotless 13-0 record in the first round of the postseason when they claim a 1-0 lead in a best-of-seven series.
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