Reaves returns but Lakers fall 99-93 to Rockets, fail to close out series

Key facts

• Austin Reaves returned after 26 days out with a strained oblique muscle, scoring 22 points and 6 assists on 4-of-16 shooting.
• Lakers lost Game 5 99-93 to the Rockets, failing to close out the series after leading 3-1.
• LeBron James scored 25 points and 7 assists, but shot 0-of-6 from three and committed a late turnover.
• Lakers led 28-21 after the first quarter, but were outscored 30-19 in the second and trailed at halftime.
• Houston's Reed Sheppard scored four straight points after the Lakers cut the deficit to three with under six minutes left.
• Rockets star Kevin Durant missed three of the first four games of the series due to injury.
• Luka Doncic remains out with a strained hamstring and is not close to returning.

A comeback cut short

Austin Reaves stepped onto the court Wednesday night for the first time since April 2, when he strained his oblique muscle in Oklahoma City. The Lakers’ second-leading scorer had been listed as questionable for Games 3 and 4 but did not play, and Los Angeles split those contests to take a 3-1 series lead. Reaves finished with 22 points and six assists, but his shooting touch was off: he made only 4 of 16 field-goal attempts. The Lakers, playing without Luka Doncic for the fifth straight game, could not close out the series on their home floor, falling 99-93 to the Houston Rockets.

LeBron's struggles from deep

LeBron James scored 25 points and dished out seven assists, but he missed all six of his three-point attempts and committed a costly turnover in the final minute. With Los Angeles trailing by four and under 20 seconds left, James missed a three-pointer that would have cut the deficit to one. After the game, James responded to Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr., who had said Houston was the better team in the series. The loss was particularly stinging for the Lakers, who had won the first three games of the series and appeared poised to advance.

How the game slipped away

Los Angeles started strong, building an 11-point lead near the end of the first quarter and holding a 28-21 edge after 12 minutes. But Houston outscored the Lakers 30-19 in the second quarter to take a four-point lead into halftime. The Rockets controlled the third quarter, withstanding multiple Lakers runs, and went up 87-74 with just under six minutes remaining in the fourth. Los Angeles responded with an 11-1 run to cut the deficit to three, but Rockets guard Reed Sheppard immediately scored four consecutive points to restore breathing room, and the Lakers could not complete the comeback.

Reaves' long road back

Reaves had not played since April 2, when he and Luka Doncic both left the Lakers’ blowout loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder with injuries — Reaves with a strained oblique, Doncic with a strained hamstring. Reaves said he knew the injury was significant because he registered it over his own high pain tolerance. He averaged 23.3 points, 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds during the regular season, but played in only 51 games due to two lengthy injury absences, including a strained left calf that sidelined him for 19 straight games from Christmas to February. Reaves expressed cautious optimism Tuesday, saying he felt good and was trending in the right direction.

Teammates stepped up, but not enough

Without Reaves and Doncic, the Lakers won five straight games, including the first two of the series at home over the heavily favored Rockets. LeBron James led the way, but Luke Kennard and Marcus Smart also impressed: Kennard scored 27 points in Game 1 and 23 in Game 2, and Smart scored 25 points with five three-pointers in Game 2 while leading the defensive effort against Kevin Durant, who managed only three points after halftime. Reaves praised his teammates’ determination and togetherness, saying they did exactly what they said they would do: give the injured guards an opportunity to come back and play. But in Game 5, the supporting cast could not replicate that production, and the Lakers now face a must-win Game 6 in Houston.

What's next for Los Angeles

The Lakers now travel to Houston for Game 6, needing a win to avoid a decisive Game 7. Doncic is not yet close to returning, and the team has not publicly speculated on a date for his return. Reaves, who will be eligible for a big new contract this summer if he declines his player option, said he wants to get back out there as fast as he can. Coach JJ Redick gave no hints about the team’s mindset around Reaves, saying his availability will be based on whether he is good to go. The Rockets, meanwhile, have regained momentum and will have home-court advantage as they try to force a Game 7.

The bottom line

• Austin Reaves returned after a 26-day absence with a strained oblique, scoring 22 points but shooting 4-of-16.
• LeBron James shot 0-of-6 from three and committed a late turnover in the 99-93 loss.
• The Lakers blew an 11-point first-quarter lead and were outscored 30-19 in the second quarter.
• Houston's Reed Sheppard scored four straight points to halt a Lakers comeback that had cut the deficit to three.
• Luka Doncic remains out with a strained hamstring, and his return timeline is unclear.
• The series now shifts to Houston for Game 6, with the Rockets looking to force a Game 7.