The oldest trick in LeBron James' book still works. Twenty-six years after Dru Joyce broke a zone defense with seven 3-pointers in James' Ohio state championship game, Luke Kennard replicated the formula Saturday, hitting five 3-pointers for 27 points in the Lakers' Game 1 victory over Houston. Give James shooters and the ball, spread the floor, and let him facilitate. It's a strategy that has produced playoff wins across nearly two decades.

The Cavaliers unveiled a defensive scheme that completely disrupted the Raptors' preferred option. Brandon Ingram averaged 20 shots against Cleveland during the regular season but managed just nine shots Saturday, with only one in the second half. Meanwhile, Oklahoma City made a statement with a 35-point victory over Phoenix, outscoring the Suns 34-2 in points off turnovers. The Thunder's defensive rotations generated eight steals in just the first half.

The Pistons' weaknesses were exposed in their loss to the Magic. Detroit was just 10-of-32 from 3-point range, one below their season average that ranked 28th in the league. Cade Cunningham scored 39 points but received little help, as his teammates combined for just one double-digit shot attempt. Victor Wembanyama, meanwhile, showed no rookie nerves in his playoff debut, scoring 35 points in the Spurs' Game 1 win over Portland.