The Los Angeles Lakers (53-29) face the Houston Rockets (52-30) in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs, leading the series 2-0. The last game saw the Lakers win 101-94, with LeBron James scoring 28 points. Houston has a solid record against Western Conference teams and averages 14.4 turnovers per game, while the Lakers excel in close games. Injuries impact both teams, with key players sidelined for the Rockets and Lakers ahead of the matchup on Friday at 8 p.m. EDT.
