In the upcoming playoff series, the Los Angeles Lakers will face the Houston Rockets without their leading scorers, Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. The Lakers, who went 2-1 against the Rockets in the regular season, must focus on rebounding, as Houston is the top rebounding team in the league, averaging 15.0 offensive rebounds per game. The Rockets also excel in second-chance points, ranking third in the NBA with an average of 17.8 points. Kevin Durant, in his 18th season, remains a formidable scorer, averaging 26 points per game, and the Lakers will need a collective defensive effort to contain him. Additionally, the Lakers' 3-point shooting has suffered in recent games, ranking 29th in attempts without Dončić, but they have maintained a high shooting percentage of 41.2%. The matchup between Lakers center Deandre Ayton and Rockets' Alperen Şengün will also be critical, as both players have shown strong performances in their previous encounters.