Rockets stay alive, edge Lakers 99-93, push series back to Houston
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LOS ANGELES — April 30, 2026, 1:19 a.m. ET — The Houston Rockets extended their season Wednesday night, defeating the Los Angeles Lakers 99-93 in Game 5 of their Western Conference first-round matchup at Crypto.com Arena. The result trims the Lakers’ advantage to 3-2 and sends the best-of-seven series back to Houston for Game 6 on Friday.
Forward Jabari Smith Jr. led Houston with 22 points, while reserve Tari Eason supplied 18. Center Alperen Sengun finished just shy of a triple-double, collecting 14 points, nine rebounds and eight assists as the fifth seed staved off elimination for the second game in a row.
The Rockets continue to play without injured leading scorer Kevin Durant, who has missed four of the series’ five contests. “We put ourselves in a bad position, but we can still make history and come back one game at a time,” Sengun said.
Los Angeles welcomed guard Austin Reaves back from a nine-game absence caused by a strained oblique. Reaves posted 22 points and six assists, yet the Lakers committed 15 turnovers and lost for only the second time in their past 16 home outings.
LeBron James scored 25 points, 17 after halftime, and handed out seven assists. The 23-year veteran has never lost a playoff series after leading 2-0, but acknowledged the Rockets’ recent surge. “They played well the last two games, exceptionally well, and we’ve got to answer the call,” James said.
Deandre Ayton contributed 18 points and 17 rebounds for Los Angeles, which remained without league scoring champion Luka Doncic because of a strained hamstring.
Houston built an 87-74 advantage with 5:55 remaining before the Lakers rallied. James’ driving layup capped an 11-1 spurt, cutting the deficit to 88-85, but rookie Reed Sheppard answered with a jumper and then stripped James for a breakaway dunk with 2:20 left. The play served as payback for Sheppard, whose late turnover in Game 3 allowed the Lakers to force overtime in a contest they eventually won.
Ayton’s put-back dunk narrowed the gap to 96-93 in the final minute, but Klay Thompson hit one of two free throws and James missed a three-pointer on the ensuing possession, allowing Houston to seal the outcome.
No NBA team has ever overcome a 3-0 deficit to win a playoff series; the Rockets are now halfway to that milestone. Only four of 159 clubs that trailed 3-0 have forced a Game 7.
The winner of the series will face the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, who swept Phoenix in the opening round and are currently idle.
Source: ESPN
