Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart believes his team must approach Friday’s Game 6 in Houston with a heightened sense of urgency after dropping the past two contests of their first-round playoff series against the Houston Rockets.
“We gotta play like our backs are against the wall,” Smart said following the Game 5 loss at Crypto.com Arena on April 29. “Every possession matters for us. You really gotta be willing to run through a wall and sacrifice your body for the betterment of the team.”
The Lakers still lead the best-of-seven matchup 3-2, but momentum has shifted toward the Rockets as the series returns to Toyota Center. Los Angeles squandered an opportunity to close things out at home despite the return of guard Austin Reaves.
Experience on Both Sides of a Comeback
Smart referenced his time with the 2023 Boston Celtics, who rallied from a 3-0 deficit to force a Game 7 in the Eastern Conference Finals before falling to the Miami Heat. Drawing on that experience, the veteran warned that Houston’s young roster will play “very desperate, very confident,” adding that the Lakers must “respond in a good way.”
Turnover Troubles
Ball security remains a pressing concern for Los Angeles. The Lakers committed numerous turnovers throughout the series, and Smart was charged with six in Game 5 alone. He acknowledged that miscues have been costly, saying he and his teammates must clean up their play if they hope to advance.
Game 6 is scheduled for Friday night in Houston, where the Rockets will attempt to push the series to a decisive Game 7. The Lakers, meanwhile, aim to heed Smart’s call for desperation and finish the job on the road.
Source: LakersNation.com
