Overview
- Houston, which won 99-93 in Los Angeles on Wednesday, trimmed the first-round series to 3-2 and sent it back to Toyota Center for Game 6 on Friday.
- Jabari Smith Jr. led with 22 points as Tari Eason added 18 and Alperen Sengün posted 14 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, with Reed Sheppard hitting a key jumper and then stealing the ball from LeBron James for a late dunk.
- LeBron James scored 25 with seven assists, Austin Reaves returned from an oblique strain to post 22 after being cleared shortly before tip, and Deandre Ayton had 18 points and 17 boards, but the Lakers committed 15 turnovers and went 7-for-27 from three.
- Kevin Durant remained out for Houston with a left ankle sprain and bone bruise and has missed four of five games in the series, while the Lakers are still without Luka Dončić because of a hamstring strain.
- No NBA team has ever rallied from 0-3 to win a series (0-159 all time), yet Houston has won two straight and now gets a quick-turnaround chance to extend it again on Friday at 6:30 p.m. PT on Prime Video.