Kennard finished the season shooting 47.8% from beyond the arc, the league’s best mark, and averaged 1.5 made threes per game on 3.1 attempts over 78 appearances after starting the year with the Detroit Pistons before being traded to the Lakers. The presentation was led by Lakers coach JJ Redick, who publicly celebrated Kennard’s NBA statistical award.
Kennard is expected to start alongside LeBron James, Rui Hachimura and Deandre Ayton in the series. He had been inserted into the starting unit in the final week of the regular season due to injuries and posted 12.2 points, 6.4 assists and 4.2 rebounds in his last five games.
The Lakers enter as underdogs in the series, with recent previews noting two of three regular-season meetings against Houston were won by Los Angeles. The matchup has been shaped by standout March performances, including Dončić’s 38-point efforts in Dallas’ two wins over the Lakers, while LeBron James delivered a near-perfect 30-point game in one contest.
Insiders suggest both Dončić and Reaves could return if the series extends beyond four or five games, highlighting the historical context of Lakers-Rockets playoff meetings. The all-time series lead stands in favor of Los Angeles, with the Rockets’ earlier successes and memorable matchups from past decades noted in preview discussions.
Game 1 is set for Saturday at 8:30 p.m. at the Crypto.com Arena, as the Lakers look to push the series beyond four or five games and leverage Kennard’s shooting in the postseason.
