LeBron James guided the Los Angeles Lakers to a 107-98 win over the Houston Rockets as the NBA playoffs began.
The 41-year-old delivered a double-double with 19 points and 13 assists, stepping up despite key absences. Meanwhile, Nikola Jokic powered the Denver Nuggets to a 116-105 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves with a triple-double, supported by Jamal Murray’s 30 points. In the East, the New York Knicks defeated the Atlanta Hawks, while the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Toronto Raptors.
Strong performances from Jalen Brunson and Donovan Mitchell highlighted opening wins as teams made impressive starts to their playoff campaigns across both conferences.