The Lakers’ mission was to take the Rockets’ postseason life away.
But the Rockets are still breathing.
And very much alive and confident after beating the Lakers 99-93 on the Lakers homecourt in a pivotal Game 5 to extend the best-of-seven first round playoff series by at least one game.
Even with star guard Austin Reaves making his return to the lineup after being sidelined since April because of a left oblique strain, the Lakers once again struggled offensively for the second consecutive – and 2 ½ games going back to the miraculous Game 3 comeback victory in Houston.
Reaves finished with 22 points, 6 assists and 4 rebounds in 34 minutes in his first game since suffering a Grade oblique strain in the April 2 loss to the Thunder, but struggled with his shooting and finishing, going 4 of 16 from the field.
LeBron James led the Lakers with 25 points and 7 rebounds, but missed a pull-up 3 with 12 seconds left that would’ve cut the team’s deficit to one point.
Deandre Ayton added 18 points and 17 rebounds.
Jabari Smith led the Rockets with 22 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and a pair of blocked shots.
The Rockets are one of just nine teams to force a Game 6 after dropping the first two road games and first home game consecutively under the 2-2-1-1-1 playoff format since the league went to a 16-game playoffs in 1984.
Of the previous eight teams, only two have forced a Game 7.
When Smart overhelped off Amen Thompson in the left corner on a Reed Sheppard drive to the late in the shot, opening up a drive-and-kick opporunity that the Rockets took advantage of, with Thompson making the corner 3 to put the Rockets up 79-69 early in the fourth.
After Reaves missed a layup on the Lakers’ ensuing possession, Jabari Smith hit another to put the Rockets up by a game-best 13 points.
The Lakers kept the game close but didn’t cut their deficit to any closer than three points.
Smith led the Rockets in scoring, and made over a quarter of his team’s 3s.
That’s how many more 3s the Rockets made than the Lakers.
The Rockets shot 14 of 40 from beyond the arc compared to the Lakers’ 7-of-27 shooting on 3s.
Game 6 of Lakers-Rockets is scheduled for Friday at Toyota Center.
The matchup will tip off at 6:30 pm.
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