The Lakers' trip to the Western Conference semifinals just got a little more complicated. After jumping out to a commanding 3-0 series lead, Los Angeles has now dropped two straight games to the Houston Rockets, including a frustrating 99-93 loss in Game 5 at Crypto.com Arena on Wednesday night. The series now heads back to Houston with the Rockets breathing new life and the Lakers searching for answers.
The return of Austin Reaves was supposed to provide a spark. In his first action since March 2, the guard came off the bench to a roaring ovation and immediately knocked down a deep three-pointer, scoring eight points in his first five minutes. He finished with 22 points and six assists, but the rust showed—after that hot start, Reaves made just two of his next 13 shots, with 12 of his points coming from the free-throw line.
LeBron James led all Lakers scorers with 25 points, but the team’s offense went cold when it mattered most. Missed layups, tough three-point looks that just wouldn't fall, and a season-high number of sloppy turnovers turned what could have been a close-out win into a nail-biting loss. "We just couldn't make shots," head coach JJ Redick admitted. "Missed some layups, certainly had some good looks from three that didn't go down. We'll take a look at the whole process and figure out where we can be better in Game 6."
The game started promising enough. Marcus Smart helped fuel an early run, scoring eight of the Lakers' first 14 points, while Deandre Ayton controlled the glass with five rebounds in the opening minutes—including three on the offensive end. That effort helped L.A. build an 11-point lead, but the Rockets had other plans.
Houston, facing elimination, played with the kind of desperation that championship teams find in May. All five starters scored in double figures, combining for 81 points, and the Rockets' outside shooting was the difference-maker. They knocked down eight three-pointers in the first half alone, erasing the Lakers' early advantage and taking their first lead midway through the second quarter.
By the time the final buzzer sounded, Houston had connected on 14 three-pointers to the Lakers' seven. That perimeter shooting, combined with the Lakers' offensive struggles, turned what was once a comfortable series lead into a tense 3-2 advantage.
Marcus Smart, never one to shy away from a challenge, said the Lakers need to match Houston's desperation heading into Game 6. He also noted, with a hint of a smile, that the series just got "a lot more fun." For Lakers fans, "fun" might not be the word they'd use—but with their backs against the wall, this team now has to prove they can close out a series that was once firmly in their grasp.