LeBron James continued to defy age and expectation as he led the Los Angeles Lakers to a 107-98 victory over the Houston Rockets in Game 1 of their Western Conference playoff series on Saturday. At 41 years old, James delivered a double-double with 19 points, 13 assists and eight rebounds, launching his record-equalling 19th postseason campaign in impressive fashion despite the absence of key teammates Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, both sidelined with injuries.

The Lakers showcased balanced scoring, with all five starters reaching double digits. Luke Kennard emerged as the team’s top scorer, contributing 27 points on efficient shooting that included a perfect 5-for-5 performance from beyond the arc. Lakers coach and players acknowledged the challenge of competing without their injured stars but emphasized the importance of seizing the moment against a disciplined Rockets squad.

Houston struggled without 37-year-old Kevin Durant, who was ruled out just before tipoff due to a bruised knee. Center Alperen Sengun led the Rockets with 19 points as the team sought to adjust on short notice. Rockets coach Ime Udoka expressed hope that Durant’s injury would be brief.

Meanwhile, in Denver, the Nuggets overcame a sluggish start to defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves 116-110 behind a dominant triple-double performance from Nikola Jokic. The three-time NBA Most Valuable Player scored 25 points and added 13 rebounds and 11 assists, shaking off a first-half stretch where he managed only six points. Jamal Murray also played a key role, scoring 30 points with a flawless 16-for-16 record from the free-throw line.

The Nuggets-Timberwolves matchup was notably physical, with over 40 fouls called and several technical fouls issued, including one to Denver coach David Adelman. Minnesota’s Jaden McDaniels was assessed a flagrant foul amid the heated contest. Despite trailing by as many as 12 points early on, Denver’s disciplined defense and efficient offense carried them to victory. Adelman praised both teams for their competitiveness and resilience in what he described as a “grimy” and hard-fought game.

For Minnesota, Anthony Edwards led all scorers with 22 points and Rudy Gobert posted a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds. Timberwolves coach Chris Finch expressed frustration about the number of free throws awarded to Murray, calling it “a head scratcher,” a view Murray rejected, insisting the fouls were legitimate.

In the Eastern Conference, the New York Knicks claimed a 113-102 win over the Atlanta Hawks, propelled by Jalen Brunson’s 28 points and Karl-Anthony Towns’ double-digit contributions. Brunson set the tone early with 19 points in the first quarter, while Towns added 25 to maintain the Knicks’ momentum.

The Cleveland Cavaliers secured a 126-113 victory against the Toronto Raptors, led by Donovan Mitchell’s 32 points. Mitchell’s performance extended his record streak of scoring at least 30 points in nine consecutive playoff series openers. James Harden supported with a double-double of 22 points and 10 rebounds, and Max Strus added 24 points off the bench. Toronto’s RJ Barrett scored 24 points, but the Raptors never regained the lead after the early stages and faced deficits of up to 24 points during the contest.

The playoff series are now underway, setting the stage for what is expected to be a highly competitive postseason across both conferences.