Austin Reaves returns but Lakers fall 99-93, fail to close out Rockets in Game 5

Key facts

• Austin Reaves returned after missing nine games with a strained oblique muscle, scoring 22 points on 4-of-16 shooting.
• LeBron James recorded 25 points and seven assists but missed all six three-point attempts and committed a late turnover.
• The Lakers led 28-21 after the first quarter but were outscored 30-19 in the second and trailed for most of the second half.
• 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 his fourth game of the series with injuries; Luka Doncic remains out with a strained hamstring.
• The Lakers won the first three games of the series but dropped Game 4 and now lead 3-2 heading into Game 6 in Houston.

Lakers fail to close out series as Reaves returns

Austin Reaves made his return from a nine-game absence on Wednesday night, but the Los Angeles Lakers fell 99-93 to the Houston Rockets in Game 5, failing to advance to the second round after entering the contest with a 3-1 series lead. Reaves, who had been sidelined since April 2 with a strained oblique muscle, finished with 22 points and six assists, though he shot just 4-of-16 from the field in the defeat. The Lakers now lead the series 3-2, with Game 6 set for Houston.

James misses critical three-pointer as late rally falls short

With Los Angeles trailing by four points and just under 20 seconds left in the fourth quarter, LeBron James missed a three-pointer that would have cut the deficit to one. James scored 25 points and dished out seven assists, but he shot 9-of-20 from the field, missed all six of his three-point attempts, and committed a costly turnover late in the game. The Lakers had mounted an 11-1 run to trim an 87-74 deficit to three points with under six minutes remaining, but Rockets guard Reed Sheppard immediately scored four consecutive points to restore Houston's breathing room.

Reaves returns after nearly four weeks sidelined

Reaves had been out since April 2, missing the final five games of the regular season and the first four games of the postseason. He expressed cautious optimism on Tuesday, saying, 'I want to get back out there as fast as I can. I feel good. Trending in the right direction.' Lakers coach JJ Redick said Reaves's availability would be 'based on whether he's good to go.' Reaves had averaged 23.3 points, 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds this season, but played in just 51 games due to the oblique injury and a strained left calf that sidelined him for 19 straight games from Christmas to February.

Lakers' supporting cast had kept series alive without stars

The Lakers won the first three games of the series without their top two scorers, Reaves and Luka Doncic, who strained his right hamstring in the same April 2 game. LeBron James and the supporting cast stole Game 3 in overtime after trailing by six points with 30 seconds left in regulation. 'It's been a lot of fun, just seeing the determination, the togetherness, and just the joy of them playing basketball together,' Reaves said of his teammates. Doncic is not yet close to a return, and both teams could be without their top scorers again in Game 6.

Rockets' resilience forces series back to Houston

Houston outscored Los Angeles 30-19 in the second quarter to take a four-point halftime lead and led throughout the third quarter. Rockets star Kevin Durant has missed three of the five games in the series with injuries and did not participate in practice on Tuesday before the team flew to Los Angeles. After the game, James responded to Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr.'s claim that Houston was the better team in the series.

What comes next: Game 6 in Houston

The Lakers will travel to Houston for Game 6, needing one more win to close out the series. Reaves's return provides a boost, but his shooting struggles and James's late-game miscues raise questions about the team's ability to finish. Doncic's status remains uncertain, and the Rockets, buoyed by their home crowd, will aim to force a decisive Game 7.

The bottom line

• Austin Reaves returned after nine games but shot poorly (4-of-16) in a 99-93 loss.
• LeBron James missed all six three-point attempts and committed a key turnover late.
• The Lakers squandered a 3-1 series lead and now face a Game 6 on the road.
• Houston's Reed Sheppard scored four critical points after the Lakers cut the lead to three.
• Luka Doncic remains out with a strained hamstring; Kevin Durant missed his fourth game of the series.
• The series continues in Houston, with the Lakers needing one win to advance.