Rockets Push Lakers to Brink of Infamy: Can Houston Complete Historic Comeback?

Key facts

• Rockets defeated Lakers 99-93 in Game 5 on April 29, 2026, in Los Angeles.
• Series lead trimmed to 3-2; Game 6 is Friday night in Houston.
• Jabari Smith Jr. led Rockets with 22 points; Tari Eason added 18.
• LeBron James scored 25 points but went 0-for-6 from three-point range.
• Austin Reaves returned from oblique injury, scoring 22 points on 4-of-16 shooting.
• Rockets are 3.5-point favorites for Game 6; teams with 3-0 leads are 160-0 all-time.
• Kevin Durant missed Game 5; he has missed four of five games in the series.
• Only four of 159 teams down 0-3 have forced a Game 7.

A Series on the Verge of History

The Los Angeles Lakers are one loss away from becoming the first team in NBA playoff history to squander a 3-0 series lead. After a 99-93 defeat in Game 5 on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena, the Lakers saw their advantage cut to 3-2 as the Houston Rockets won their second straight elimination game. No team has ever recovered from an 0-3 deficit to win an NBA playoff series. The Rockets are halfway there, and they return to Toyota Center for Game 6 on Friday with the crowd behind them. The Lakers, who entered the series as +550 underdogs due to injuries to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, now face the prospect of infamy.

How the Rockets Clawed Back

Houston's resurgence began after a devastating Game 3 loss, where the Lakers erased a six-point lead in the final 30 seconds to go up 3-0. Instead of folding, the Rockets won Game 4 and then Game 5. Jabari Smith Jr. led the way with 22 points, including 4-of-9 from three-point range, while Tari Eason contributed 18 points. Alperen Sengun flirted with a triple-double, posting 14 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists. The Rockets have accomplished this without top scorer Kevin Durant, who has missed four of the five games due to injury. Durant watched from the bench in Game 5. Despite his absence, Houston's balanced attack — all five starters scored in double figures — has kept the series alive.

Lakers' Shooting Woes and Turnover Troubles

Los Angeles head coach JJ Redick offered a blunt assessment after Game 5: “We just couldn't make shots.” The Lakers shot 7-of-27 from three-point range (25.9%), while Houston hit 14-of-40 (35%). That seven-make gap proved decisive in a six-point loss. LeBron James led the Lakers with 25 points and seven assists, but he struggled from deep, missing all six three-point attempts. He also missed a crucial three-pointer in the final seconds that could have made it a one-point game. Across Games 3 and 4, James committed 16 turnovers, and in Game 5, a late steal by Reed Sheppard effectively ended the comeback. Overall, the Lakers committed 15 turnovers, with Marcus Smart accounting for six.

Reaves Returns, but Efficiency Lags

Austin Reaves made his return after missing nine games with an oblique injury, scoring 22 points with six assists and four rebounds in 34 minutes. However, his efficiency was poor: he shot just 4-of-16 from the field, though he made 12-of-13 free throws. Deandre Ayton added 18 points and 17 rebounds, providing a strong interior presence. Despite Reaves' return, the Lakers could not close out the series. James' teams have never blown a 2-0 series lead in his 23-year career, but they now face a 3-2 deficit with the next game on the road.

The Weight of History and the Road Ahead

The Rockets are just the 16th team to force a Game 6 after trailing 3-0. Of those, only four forced a Game 7. Oddsmakers have installed Houston as 3.5-point favorites for Game 6. The Lakers, who are 8-3 in games decided by three points or fewer this season, must win to avoid becoming the first team to blow a 3-0 lead. Former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins predicted the Rockets would complete the comeback, saying the Lakers “blew it” by not closing out at home. “I said the Rockets are the dumbest team in the postseason, well, guess who’s right behind them? The Los Angeles Lakers,” Perkins said on the “Road Trippin Show” podcast. He added that Rockets players like Smith, Eason, and Sengun have been vocal about their belief, and Smith himself said, “We’re the more talented team.”

What Comes Next: Game 6 in Houston

Game 6 tips off Friday night at Toyota Center. If the Rockets win, they force a winner-take-all Game 7 on Sunday back in Los Angeles. The Lakers, who led the series 3-0 after a dramatic Game 3 win, now face the pressure of history. LeBron James acknowledged the challenge: “Listen, it’s one game. You give credit where credit is due. They played well the last two games, exceptionally well, and we’ve got to answer the call.” Alperen Sengun summed up the Rockets' mindset: “We put ourselves in a bad position, but we can still make history and come back one game at a time.” The basketball world will be watching.

The bottom line

• The Rockets have won two straight elimination games to cut the Lakers' series lead to 3-2.
• No NBA team has ever overcome a 3-0 series deficit; only four have forced a Game 7.
• Jabari Smith Jr. (22 points) and Tari Eason (18) led Houston in Game 5.
• LeBron James scored 25 but shot 0-for-6 from three; Austin Reaves returned but shot 4-of-16.
• Kevin Durant remains sidelined; the Rockets have thrived without him.
• Game 6 is Friday in Houston; the Rockets are 3.5-point favorites.