Overview
- Facing elimination, Houston won 115-96 on Sunday to cut Los Angeles’ lead to 3-1 and send Game 5 back to L.A. on Wednesday.
- Kevin Durant was ruled out with a bone bruise in his sprained ankle, which team officials said caused pain and limited mobility after days of treatment.
- Austin Reaves, listed as questionable pregame, was downgraded to out less than an hour before tip, leaving the Lakers still without him and Luka Dončić.
- The Rockets started a youthful core of Reed Sheppard, Amen Thompson, Tari Eason, Jabari Smith Jr., and Alperen Şengün, and they controlled the game’s pace and paint.
- No NBA team has erased a 3-0 deficit, yet the extra days before Wednesday allow both sides to reassess injuries that are shaping rotations and momentum.