Historic comeback? Houston Rockets force sixth game against Los Angeles Lakers

The Houston Rockets are still alive in the playoffs after a 99-93 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in the fifth game of the Western Conference first-round series. The win narrows the deficit to 3-2 and forces a sixth game to be played in Houston.

The Texan team once again relied on a collective effort to avoid elimination for the second consecutive game. Jabari Smith Jr. led the scoring with 22 points, while Tari Eason contributed 18. Alperen Sengun almost had a triple-double with 14 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists.

Houston has managed to string together two consecutive victories despite the absence of its leading scorer, Kevin Durant, who has missed four out of the five games in the series due to injury. While no team in history has come back from a 3-0 deficit in the playoffs, the Rockets have already taken two steps in that direction, keeping hope alive.

On the Los Angeles side, LeBron James scored 25 points —17 in the second half— and dished out seven assists, but couldn't prevent his team's second consecutive defeat. The Lakers paid dearly for their 15 turnovers, many of which came at crucial moments.

The return of Austin Reaves, after missing nine games due to injury, added 22 points and six assists, though it wasn't enough to change the course of the game. Deandre Ayton also stood out with 18 points and 17 rebounds in a solid effort in the paint.

Houston maintained control for a significant part of the second half. With less than six minutes remaining, the Rockets led by 87-74, but the Lakers responded with an 11-1 run that tightened the score. In that decisive moment, Reed Sheppard came through with a crucial basket and a steal on James that ended in a dunk, halting the home team's comeback.

In the final moments, Los Angeles had opportunities to tie the game but missed several open shots from beyond the arc. A free throw by Amen Thompson and another outside miss by James sealed the match.

It doesn't seem like Luka Doncic will return

The Lakers are still without Luka Doncic, the season's top scorer, who is still recovering from a muscle injury with no clear return date.

On the other hand, Houston has significantly improved its offensive performance after a shaky start in the series, showing greater balance and confidence without Durant. This resilience keeps the series open, which seemed decided, and forces the Lakers to close it out on the road. The winner of this matchup will face the Oklahoma City Thunder, who await after swiftly resolving their series.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, ¿Remontada histórica? Houston Rockets fuerza el sexto ante Los Angeles Lakers