The Los Angeles Lakers are facing their first-round playoff series against the Houston Rockets without their top two scorers, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Recent injury reports hint at their return being possible soon, but the Lakers managed to hold their own in Game 1 without them.

Sure, the Rockets were also missing Kevin Durant, but the Lakers still came into the series as underdogs, especially without Doncic and Reaves, and they weren’t widely expected to win the overall series.

Still, even though they were missing nearly 60 points per game from those two key backcourt players, the Lakers pulled off a solid win in Game 1. Interestingly, they achieved that without really nailing the two main factors head coach JJ Redick had highlighted before the series.

Redick emphasised that for the Lakers to have a shot against the Rockets, they needed to limit turnovers and win the rebounding battle. He even mentioned that the team started practice focusing on boxing out, which tied into that rebounding goal.

But in Game 1, the Lakers lost the turnover battle 13-20 and were outrebounded by nine. Yet, Luke Kennard stepped up with some clutch three-point shooting, and LeBron James delivered a strong all-around performance. The Rockets also shot below 40% from the field, which helped keep the Lakers ahead.

Dan Woike from The Athletic noted how consistent Redick was about stressing these points during preparations. Despite that, the Lakers turned the ball over 20 times and allowed 21 offensive rebounds, yet still managed a 107-98 victory.

That doesn’t guarantee the Lakers will take the series, since the injuries to Durant, Doncic, and Reaves remain crucial unknowns. But seeing LeBron still performing at a high playoff level, plus getting solid minutes from the bench, definitely gives some hope for the upcoming games.

Durant’s absence continues, and his future is uncertain. The Lakers didn’t capitalise on the keys their coach laid out but still clawed out a win – an encouraging sign if they’re looking to stretch this series long enough to get Doncic and Reaves back, which always seemed to be the plan.

As for injury updates on Doncic and Reaves, we’re still waiting on official word from the Lakers about their return dates. There have been some reports suggesting one or both might return around Game 4 or 5, which would be near the end of the month. That would mark about four weeks since they both got hurt: Doncic with a hamstring and Reaves with an oblique.

Recovery timelines aren’t crystal clear. Hamstring injuries can take anywhere from three to six weeks, often with a high risk of re-injury once a player returns. Doncic even went to Spain to try to speed his rehab, but until the Lakers reassess him, it’s unclear when or if he’ll get back on the court against Houston. Some say he might be edging toward a comeback, but reports say he hasn’t started on-court work again yet.

Reaves has a slightly more defined outlook. He was sidelined for four to six weeks, which could mean a return somewhere between Games 5 and 7 if the Lakers can push the series that far. Still, all of it remains speculation until the team’s next evaluations, expected in the coming days.

Redick summed up the mindset well, saying the goal is to extend the season as long as possible to get those guys back. No one knows exactly when that will be, but that’s the mission for both the staff and players.

There’s always a chance neither Doncic nor Reaves makes it back this series or even this season if the Lakers fall to Houston. But judging by what the team showed in Game 1 and how Durant’s status remains uncertain, the Lakers find themselves in a better spot than many expected at this stage.

While Lakers fans hold out for updates on their two star guards, the bright side is that the rest of the roster is stepping up, and the team currently leads a series many didn’t think they’d be favoured in.

Max Verstappen expressed his condolences after the tragic passing of Juha Miettinen, who lost his life in a multi-car accident during qualifying for the 24 Hours of Nurburgring.

The incident occurred early in the weekend’s opening race, a four-hour event that started at 5:30 pm local time. About 25 minutes into the race, seven cars collided at a tight hairpin just before the Karussell section.

The race was immediately stopped with a red flag, and no replays of the crash were shown during the live broadcast. Some onboard footage from the #992 Porsche AT2, driven by Bjorn Griesemann, provided a glimpse of the scene, though technical problems with the cameras limited coverage there.

Misha Charoudin, a driver who was directly behind the crash, mentioned to Viaplay that “someone left fluid behind", causing six or seven cars to pile into each other. He noted, “You come into that stretch at 220 kph, and if you can’t brake…”

Race control later confirmed that Miettinen, 66, succumbed to injuries from the crash. Despite the quick response from emergency teams, paramedics were unable to save him. He was pronounced dead in the medical centre after all efforts to resuscitate him failed.

The other six drivers involved received precautionary medical evaluations, either at the medical centre or nearby hospitals, with none reported to be in critical condition.

Following the accident, the decision was made to halt the race. The FIA, while not the event organiser, was involved in several operational aspects and issued a statement expressing sorrow over Miettinen’s death during the first qualifying race of the ADAC 24h Nürburgring.

“Our thoughts go out to his family, friends, and all connected to the event,” the FIA said.

Verstappen, whose teammate Lucas Auer was driving the #3 Mercedes-AMG during the crash, also shared his thoughts that evening.

“Shocked by what happened today,” he wrote. “Motorsport is something we all love, but moments like this serve as a stark reminder of the risks involved. My heartfelt condolences go to Juha’s family and loved ones.”