The Los Angeles Lakers have an unexpected 3-1 series lead over the Houston Rockets, despite missing both Luka Doncic (Grade 2 left hamstring strain) and Austin Reaves (Grade 2 left oblique strain) in every game. Part of their stunning success has been thanks to sharpshooter Luke Kennard.

Kennard is averaging 17.8 points per game in the series on 52.2% from the field and 45.0% from 3-point range as effectively the team’s No. 2 scoring option behind LeBron James. It’s not the role anyone expected him to play when he was traded to the Lakers at the trade deadline, but it’s a role he’s happy to play if it means wins, via Dan Woike of The Athletic:

“For sure. Look, I mean, I’m also at a point in my career, I’m nine years in, and I want to win, you know what I mean?” Kennard said. “So I will do whatever it takes, and if that’s shooting 17 times against Dallas or whoever and then shooting three or four and we win, it’s kind of where we’re at right now and where I’m at.”

This is Kennard’s fifth playoff appearance in nine seasons. However, if the Lakers advance to the second round, it would be only his second time making it past the first round of the playoffs. He went to the Western Conference Finals as a member of the L.A. Clippers in 2021.

He lost in the first round with the Detroit Pistons in 2019 and twice with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2023 and 2025. So as he says, at this point in his career he is ready to win. And while he likely didn’t expect for it to come off of him averaging 11.5 field goal attempts per game, he’s happy if it’s resulting in wins for L.A.

Luke Kennard fined for language towards officials in Game 4

The Lakers sole loss of the series so far — in Game 4 — was a chippy one. Multiple players were ejected and there were even some post-buzzer words between the Lakers, Rockets and officials. That scrum led to Kennard being fined $25,000 before Game 5.

After the final buzzer, both teams had some more words for each other and the officials at center court. While nothing ultimately came of that, it appears Kennard said something to an official that led to him getting fined.

With the series now shifting back to L.A. for Game 5, it will be interesting to see if the chippiness picks up as the Lakers once again look to close out the series.

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