LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 28: Lebron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers in action against the Sacramento Kings at Crypto.com Arena on December 28, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)

The Los Angeles Lakers came into Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena with a chance to put the Houston Rockets away and advance to the second round. The series was 3-1. The Rockets were without Kevin Durant for the fourth straight game. Everything pointed toward a closeout.

It did not happen. Houston won 99-93. The series is 3-2, and Game 6 heads to Texas on Friday.

After the game, LeBron James addressed what went wrong. He did not look for excuses.

LeBron Reacts to the Loss

LeBron finished with 25 points and seven assists Wednesday, a bounce-back from the 10 points he managed in Game 4. When the fourth quarter arrived, LeBron delivered. 11 of his 25 points came in the final period to keep Los Angeles within reach. But the three-point struggles that have followed him through this series showed up again. James went 0 of 6 from beyond the arc, extending his combined mark to 0 of 9 from three across the last two games.

He knew it. He said it.

“We had some opportunities to make some shots we didn’t make,” James said. “As much as we’ve got to defend, you’ve also got to score in this game too.”

He was blunt about what comes next.

“It’s the next game. Gotta flush this one,” James said. “We made some mistakes tonight, too many unforced mistakes. So we’ve got to be better on Friday.”

GettyLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 29: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts to a foul call during the second quarter against the Houston Rockets in Game Five of the First Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on April 29, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

What Needs to Change for Game 6

The encouraging news from Wednesday was real. Austin Reaves was back after missing nearly a month with an oblique injury, producing 22 points, six assists, and four rebounds across 34 minutes of action. Deandre Ayton put up 18 points to go with 17 rebounds.

The problems were elsewhere. Marcus Smart had six turnovers and converted just 3 of 7 attempts. Kennard managed just one point and could not buy a basket, going 0 of 4 from the field. Together they represent the offensive inconsistency that JJ Redick has to solve before Friday.

The series is still Los Angeles’s to close. They hold the lead. They have the experience.

LeBron Shuts Down Jabari Smith

Before Game 5, Jabari Smith Jr. declared the Rockets were the better team. Wednesday night, Smith was Houston’s best offensive player, pouring in 22 points.

LeBron had no interest in trading words.

“I don’t care about s— like that, bro,” James said. “I’m too old for that s—.”

Smith came out of the win sounding exactly as confident as he went in. The Rockets intend to back up every word on Friday. The Lakers will need to match that energy with something more reliable offensively.

Final Word for the Lakers

LeBron did not hide from what happened Wednesday. He named the offensive problems, acknowledged the mistakes, and pointed to Friday as the only thing that matters now.

No deflection. No excuses. Just a clear-eyed assessment and a focus on what comes next.

The Lakers still lead 3-2. Game 6 is in Houston on Friday.

Close it out.