Overview
- Ayton said he is "truly excited" and "wants to do backflips" after Wednesday's practice as he prepares for his first Lakers postseason.
- With Luka Dončić (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique) out, the Lakers will lean on Ayton for scoring inside, rim protection and stability.
- The matchup is expected to swing on the boards, as Houston led the NBA in offensive rebounding rate and Ayton led L.A. in offensive rebounds at 2.6 per game.
- Ayton had a mixed regular season with career lows in points and rebounds but a career-best 67.1% shooting over 72 games, and he closed with a 22-point, 10-rebound finale.
- Some coverage suggests his playoff performance could influence offseason center plans, with reported targets including Jalen Duren, Walker Kessler and Isaiah Hartenstein.