Lakers fall to Rockets in Game 5 to extend series despite return of Austin Reaves
The Lakers' sloppy turnovers and struggles on offense leads to a frustrating Game 5 loss.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) goes for the rebound during an NBA playoffs game against the Houston Rockets on April 29, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA. LOS ANGELES – The series is heading back to Houston. In front of a loud playoff crowd at Crypto.
com Arena on Wednesday night, the Los Angeles Lakers got off to a strong start but couldn’t sustain it, falling 99-93 to the Houston Rockets in Game 5 as their once commanding 3-0 series lead is now cut to 3-2. Facing elimination, Houston responded with urgency behind its starting lineup, which all scored in double figures and combined for 81 points to keep the season alive. LeBron James led the Lakers with 25 points, while Austin Reaves added 22 points and six assists in his return to the lineup.
But despite the offensive contributions, L. A. struggled to find rhythm offensively when it mattered most.
“We just couldn’t make shots,” coach JJ Redick said. "Missed some layups, certainly had some good looks from three that didn't go down. But we'll take a look at the whole process and take a look at the substitution patterns and figure out where we could be better in Game 6.