The Associated Press

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. - Nearly half the Los Angeles Lakers' roster is banged up, they'll face a different Texas opponent than anticipated and they have less time to recuperate than usual.

ROUND 1 MATCHUPS

EASTERN CONFERENCE Pacers vs. Celtics: Game 1, 2 p.m. Saturday at Indiana. Nets vs. Knicks: Game 1, 4:30 p.m. Saturday at N.J. Pistons vs. Bucks: Game 1, 1 p.m. Sunday at Detroit. Heat vs. Hornets: Game 1, 7p.m. Sunday at Miami. WESTERN CONFERENCE Timberwolves vs. Nuggets: Game 1, 9:30 p.m. Sunday at Minnesota. Lakers vs. Rockets: Game 1, 10:30 p.m. Saturday at L.A. Spurs vs. Grizzlies: Game 1, 8 p.m. Saturday at San Antonio. Kings vs. Mavericks: Game 1, 3:30 p.m. Sunday at Sacramento.

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So why was Lakers coach Phil Jackson smiling Thursday?

It must be playoff time.

"Oh, we're feeling great," Jackson said. "We feel like we gained a little momentum going into the playoffs. We have to feel good about where we're at."

While the Sacramento Kings were losing at Denver and Golden State this week, the Lakers were squeezing out victories over the Warriors and Portland Trail Blazers, giving them the Pacific Division championship and No. 2 seed in the Western Conference.

So instead of facing the Dallas Mavericks, as previously expected, the Lakers go from the fourth seed to No. 2 and meet the Houston Rockets in the first round.

Game 1 in the best-of-seven series will be played Saturday night at Staples Center.

The Lakers (56-26) won 14 of their final 17 games, but looked shaky in several of the victories.

The key individual matchups involve Shaquille O'Neal and Yao Ming in a battle of the NBA's best centers, Kobe Bryant and Cuttino Mobley, and Gary Payton and Steve Francis.

Karl Malone (sprained right ankle), Devean George (strained left calf) and Derek Fisher (strained groin muscle) left the Portland game with injuries, and Rick Fox missed the final three regular-season games after dislocating his right thumb.

Jackson expressed the hope that all would be available Saturday - even if not at full health.

Houston (45-37) also is banged up. Francis (sprained right wrist, bruised left elbow) and Mobley (bruised left shoulder) sat out their last two games, and Yao has complained of fatigue. Houston lost seven of its last 10.