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MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - MARCH 29: Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the second half against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum on March 29, 2025 in Memphis, Tennessee.

The Los Angeles Lakers dropped Game 5 to the Houston Rockets 99-93 at Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday night, letting a chance to close out the series at home slip away. The series now heads back to Houston for Game 6, with Los Angeles still holding a 3-2 lead.

The loss stung. But amid the frustration, the Lakers got something back that they had been missing since the start of the postseason. Austin Reaves made his playoff debut in Game 5, returning from a Grade 2 oblique strain that typically requires four to six weeks of recovery. He was not expected to play in the first round at all.

He played. And the crowd let him know how much it meant.

Reaves Opens Up About His Return in Game 5

GettyAustin Reaves of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Reaves received a loud ovation when he took the floor Tuesday night, and he felt every bit of it. He knocked down shots, drew fouls, and brought the competitive energy the Lakers had been missing in his absence. Postgame, he opened up about what the moment meant. As he put it: “As I ran out tonight, for the first time in a long time, I got a really good chills feeling with the atmosphere, the crowd. And I think that’s just because when something you love is taken away from you for four weeks with an injury and then you get thrown in the fire in a game like this.”

He acknowledged the circumstances were not ideal. Four weeks away from the game he loves, then thrown straight into a playoff elimination atmosphere with no warm-up. But Reaves would not have had it any other way. The crowd, the stakes, the moment. That is what he came back for.

What the Recovery Actually Looked Like

Reaves was equally candid about the grind of getting back. He described the past few weeks as a constant push to do everything he possibly could to return, running around Los Angeles working through his rehabilitation at an accelerated pace. In his words: “It’s been a grind. I’ve been running around Los Angeles doing everything I could possibly do to get back to this moment.”

He was honest that he wanted to play better and make more shots. But the competitive fire that defines his game was clearly back from the moment he stepped on the floor. He was listed as questionable for Games 3 and 4 before finally being cleared for Game 5, ahead of the typical recovery timeline for a Grade 2 oblique strain.

What His Return Means for the Lakers in Game 6

GettyAustin Reaves and LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Reaves being available changes the dynamic of this series. He is one of the Lakers’ most reliable offensive weapons, capable of creating his own shot, spacing the floor, and making the right play under pressure. His absence had been felt throughout the first four games.

Having him available for Game 6 in Houston could be the difference. Reaves got meaningful minutes under his belt in Game 5, and with that rust knocked off, the Lakers will be counting on more from him on the road. Reaves himself acknowledged he wanted to shoot better. But the fact that he returned this quickly and contributed immediately speaks to how important this run is to him.

Final Word for the Lakers

The series is not over. Los Angeles holds a 3-2 lead and needs one more win to advance. Reaves is back. LeBron James is averaging 22.2 points, 8.4 assists, and 7.2 rebounds through five games. The pieces are there.

Game 6 is in Houston. The Rockets will bring everything they have.

Reaves got his chills moment at home. Now he gets a chance to finish the job on the road.