Last season’s NBA playoffs weren’t memorable for the Los Angeles Lakers. They were knocked out in the first round by the Minnesota Timberwolves, and it raised a lot of questions about the team’s direction.
This year, they are heading into another tough series as they prepare to face the Houston Rockets on Sunday night. But just before the series begins, seven-time NBA champion Robert Horry has shared an interesting take that’s getting attention.
Robert Horry’s Positive Prediction for the Lakers
In a recent interview with Ratings, Horry said that the upcoming playoff series between the Lakers and the Rockets is going to be very even. According to him, neither team has a clear advantage right now.
“The matchup is a pretty even matchup, if you put it on paper. I don’t think no one has the advantage at any position. So it’s going to be about who’s hot, who plays well, and who executes. I think for me, it’s going to boil down to if the Lakers can keep home-court advantage, then they’ll be all right…” Horry said.
The Lakers are dealing with major injuries. Austin Reaves has been ruled out for Game 1 with a Grade 2 left oblique strain, and the team is targeting early May for his return. That likely means he could miss the entire first-round series.
On top of that, Luka Dončić is also sidelined with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain that he suffered on April 2. Now, losing two key players like that would hurt any team.
However, the Rockets are not fully healthy either. Kevin Durant could miss Game 1 due to a right knee contusion. He’s questionable for tonight’s game and will likely be a game-time decision. While Houston still has a solid roster, his absence could give the Lakers a slight edge in the opening game.
Horry also leaned toward the Lakers a bit during the interview. He specifically mentioned that players like Luke Kennard and Rui Hachimura will help the team a lot in this series.
“With Luka and Reaves out [there], the Lakers would definitely have the advantage. But with them being out, they lose a lot of offensive firepower. But with the way Luke Kennard and Rui [Hachimura] have been playing, they’ve been playing really well,” Horry added.
Without Dončić and Reaves, the squad is going to lean heavily on LeBron James, even though, for most of this season, he was looked at as more of a third scoring option. At 41 years old, James still averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game during the regular season, so he clearly still has what it takes.
Kennard should be able to give him some floor spacing. He shot 47.8% from three this season and averaged 8.4 points per game, which means defenses cannot afford to leave him open. Also, Hachimura, who averaged 11.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game, is expected to bring solid interior efficiency off the bench.
Still, Horry also pointed out that the Rockets remain dangerous, with Alperen Şengün still available, and that Durant could potentially be available from Game 2 onwards.
“[Aleperen] Şengün is going to get his 20 and 10. So you need someone to negate that. But if you look at the Rockets’ roster, they’re all good players. Kevin Durant is going to get his 23 [points]. But there is nobody else that scares you,” Horry commented regarding the Rockets.
During the 2025-26 NBA regular season, Durant averaged 26.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game. Meanwhile, Şengün posted 20.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per game. They both form a dangerous inside-out combination that the Lakers will need to be careful about.
Fortunately for Los Angeles, KD seems to be questionable for the first clash. He could be forced to the sidelines with a right knee contusion, but his status will only be confirmed closer to the game.
Horry also made it clear that the Lakers need to win Game 1. If they drop the opener, it will be a problem for them later, especially given the injury situation they are dealing with.
“I think the Lakers will get it in six. But if they don’t get Game 1, it’s going to be tough. The playoffs are always a chess match,” Horry added.
Game 1 of the playoff series is set to tip off at 7:30 p.m. ET. With so many key players missing, it’s still unclear who will take the first game. But as Horry suggested, this matchup might be closer than many expect.
