On Saturday, April 18, the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs will kick off, and a highly anticipated first-round match-up between the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers will tip off at 8:30 p.m. ET.
As we get closer to the first weekend of the NBA postseason, Kalshi traders have already begun trying to predict which teams will come out on top. Here's what the market percentages are showing for Rockets vs Lakers:
Kalshi is one of the best prediction market apps, where consumers can trade on a variety of topics such as sports games, entertainment, politics, weather, and much more.
NBA Playoffs First Round Prediction: Rockets vs. Lakers
Kevin Durant and the young (5) Houston Rockets will travel to Los Angeles to battle the (4) Lakers in a first-round series that'll send the winners deeper into the 2026 NBA Playoffs
During the 2025-26 season, the Rockets faced the Lakers three times; here were the scores for each game:
- Dec 25, 2025: Houston 119, LA Lakers 96
- March 16, 2026: LA Lakers 100, Houston 92
- April 11, 2026: LA Lakers 140, Houston 109
The Lakers have been hit with a series of injuries to two of their top players, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, so consumers will have to see if 41-year-old LeBron James can carry the Lakers to an extended playoff run.
This unexpected roster change made it easier for Kalshi traders to predict that the young and talented Houston Rockets will defeat the Lakers in the first round.
What Kalshi Traders are Predicting
If you want to start predicting the NBA Playoffs, create an account at Kalshi to Trade $10, Get $10!
Interested in what people are predicting for the Rockets vs. Lakers series? Check out the bullets below to see each team’s chances of winning:
- Houston Rockets – 81%
- Los Angeles Lakers – 19%
These percentages will change based on what people decide to trade on.
Should the Houston Rockets win the first-round series against the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2026 Pro Basketball playoffs, the market will resolve as Yes.
