What channel is Lakers vs. Rockets on today? Time, TV schedule, live stream to watch Game 1 of NBA Playoffs series
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What channel is Lakers vs. Rockets on today? Time, TV schedule, live stream to watch Game 1 of NBA Playoffs series originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
After the first three games of the NBA Playoffs conclude on Saturday night, Game 1 of Lakers vs. Rockets will be the slate's final game. This primetime game will be the day's first coverage on ABC/ESPN.
Los Angeles heads into this series after emerging victorious in two out of the three head-to-head matchups in the regular season over Houston. However, all three of those games were played with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves present. Unfortunately for LeBron James and the Lakers, the two will not be active for the beginning of this series, and potentially could miss the entirety of it.
Ahead of Ime Udoka's third year at the helm for Houston, they were able to land one of the best scorers of all-time in Kevin Durant. The Rockets finished fifth in a loaded Western Conference and was just two games behind the third-seeded Nuggets. Houston's key to victory is on the defensive side of the ball. They finished the regular season ranked in the top-10 for opponent points per game (No. 4: 110.1 OPPG), field goal percentage (No. 6: 46.1%), three-point percentage (No. 6: 35.2%), blocks (No. 2: 5.7 BPG), and rebounds (No. 1: 47.9 RPG).
Los Angeles' offense will likely be subdued to begin the series with Doncic and Reaves, so the brunt of the effort will have to come from James. In his 23rd season in the NBA, he averaged 21 points, 7.2 assists, and 6.1 rebounds, along with shooting above 50% from the floor. The Lakers' X-factor this series could be Luke Kennard. The sharpshooter has the top 3P% in the league, hitting 47.8% of his shots from beyond the arc. The Duke alum, along with center DeAndre Ayton, needs to step up in major fashion if the Lakers want to score some points against one of the association's better defenses. If not, things could get very messy if Doncic and Reaves were unable to eventually return during the series.
Here's what you need to know about Saturday's matchup between the Lakers and Rockets, including broadcast information and start time.
What channel is Lakers vs. Rockets on today?
- TV channel: ABC/ESPN
- Live stream: ESPN app
Lakers vs. Rockets Game 1 will be broadcast by ABC/ESPN and will stream live on the ESPN app.
Now you can watch ESPN without cable. Stream live NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, college sports, plus SportsCenter, First Take, and all your favorite ESPN shows—anytime, anywhere—only in the ESPN app.
Lakers vs. Rockets start time
- Date: Saturday, April 18
- Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
Game 1 of the NBA Playoffs series between the Lakers and Rockets is set to tip off at 8:30 p.m. ET from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, Calif.
Lakers vs. Rockets series schedule
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | Watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 18 | Game 1: Rockets at Lakers | 8:30 p.m. | ABC, ESPN app, DIRECTV |
| April 21 | Game 2: Rockets at Lakers | 7:30 p.m. | NBC, Peacock, DIRECTV |
| April 24 | Game 3: Lakers at Rockets | 5 p.m. | Prime Video |
| April 26 | Game 4: Lakers at Rockets | 6:30 p.m. | NBC, Peacock, DIRECTV |
| April 29 | Game 5: Rockets at Lakers* | TBA | TBA |
| May 1 | Game 6: Lakers at Rockets* | TBA | TBA |
| May 3 | Game 7: Rockets at Lakers* | TBA | TBA |
* If necessary
NBA Playoffs bracket 2026
Click here for the updated 2026 NBA Playoffs bracket from The Sporting News.
NBA Playoffs schedule, key dates for 2026
Here are the key dates to know for the NBA Playoffs and offseason.
| Event | Dates |
|---|---|
| Play-In Tournament | April 14-17 |
| First round begins | April 18 |
| Conference semifinals begin | May 4* |
| NBA Draft Lottery | May 10 |
| Eastern Conference finals begin | May 19* |
| Western Conference finals begin | May 20* |
| NBA Finals begin | June 3 |
| NBA Finals Game 7 (if necessary) | June 19 |
* Can move up depending on earlier series
