Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason led as the Rockets beat the Lakers 99-93 in Game 5, avoiding elimination and cutting L.A.’s lead to 3-2 before Game 6.
Los Angeles entered Game 5 with the kind of cushion that usually ends a series. The Houston Rockets left it tighter instead.
Jabari Smith Jr. scored 22 points and Tari Eason added 18 as the Rockets held off the Lakers 99-93 on Wednesday night, turning a potential playoff wipeout into a renewed push. The result trimmed Los Angeles’ first-round lead to 3-2 and sent the teams back to Houston for Game 6 on Friday.
Houston’s response wasn’t just about the scoreboard.. Even without Kevin Durant—who has missed four of the five games with injuries—the Rockets found a rhythm that had been missing early.. Alperen Sengun finished with 14 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, helping Houston carry its game plan into the second half with a steadier tempo than what many fans saw in the first two contests.
Smith and Eason keep Houston alive
Houston’s scoring came from multiple places rather than one explosive surge. Smith controlled stretches with strong shot-making, while Eason provided scoring that kept the Lakers from settling into a defensive rhythm. That balance mattered once the game’s momentum began to swing.
The Lakers were led by LeBron James, who scored 25 points with 17 in the second half, showing the same late-game urgency that has defined his postseason runs.. Still, Los Angeles lost its second straight after stealing Game 3 with an unexpected late rally, and the familiar “tightening” feeling didn’t arrive this time.
One storyline that looms over every game in this series is the history of how quickly playoffs can slip away.. No team has ever recovered from an 0-3 deficit to win an NBA series, and forced “not yet” pressure is exactly where Houston now sits: they’re halfway to turning a heavy hole into something survivable.. Only four of the 159 teams to open a series down 0-3 have forced a Game 7, making Houston’s fight feel even more pointed.
Late swings, ugly turnovers, and a crucial strip
Reaves returned for Los Angeles after a nine-game injury absence, scoring 22 points and adding six assists.. But the performance came with a sharp downside: 15 mostly sloppy turnovers, including a stretch that hurt the Lakers at the worst time.. It wasn’t just missed possessions—it was opportunities given away to a Rockets team that knew how to protect its lead.
Houston built separation late in the game.. The Rockets led 87-74 with 5:55 to play, and the home team looked like it might be forced into a catch-up sprint.. Los Angeles did have a response—an 11-1 run that cut the deficit to 88-85 after James converted a driving layup—but Houston answered before the Lakers could fully seize the moment.
A turning point arrived with 2:20 remaining.. Reed Sheppard hit a jumper and then made a defensive play that swung the closing minutes: after James and the Lakers missed open looks, Sheppard ripped the ball away from James and finished with a dunk.. Deandre Ayton later added a putback dunk to make it 96-93, and Houston tightened the final moments with free throws and a couple of key misses from deep by Los Angeles.
Why the series shift matters for everyone
The Rockets’ composure in this game was also notable because it came without one of the most reliable creators on the roster.. Durant’s absence has forced Houston to rely more on its spacing, ball movement, and second options—areas where Sengun and the team’s supporting cast have leaned in.. Houston’s offense looked more balanced when it mattered most, and that’s a major reason the Rockets were able to carry an advantage instead of watching it evaporate.
There’s also a broader ripple effect beyond Houston and Los Angeles.. Oklahoma City—resting after sweeping Phoenix—gets the benefit of clarity only when a series finishes.. For the Thunder, a Rockets win-or-keep-going scenario doesn’t just delay their next challenge; it also creates a longer runway for preparation while still watching what matchups might be coming.
For Lakers fans, the frustration is sharper because James’ production didn’t translate into control.. Los Angeles has never blown a 2-0 series lead in James’ 23-year NBA career, yet this game underlined a different risk: turnovers and missed chances can erase even elite scoring output, particularly when the opponent is already fighting off the edge of elimination.
Game 6 now becomes the real test.. Houston has shown it can defend, share the ball, and survive the late swings that often decide playoff games.. Los Angeles, meanwhile, will have to clean up the careless possessions and find a way to turn James’ second-half surge into something more than a brief comeback attempt.. For now, the Rockets’ survival is the headline—but the next game will decide whether survival becomes momentum.