Overview
- Houston won 99-93 on Wednesday to trim Los Angeles’ series lead to 3-2.
- During a fourth-quarter trip to the line, LeBron James told Alperen Sengun he was “the only one out here” who could not call it a “soft” foul, in video captured by reporter Chancellor Johnson and shared by Ballislife.
- Sengun’s choice of words echoed his Game 4 comment that a flagrant-2 on DeAndre Ayton was “a little bit soft,” a remark that lingered into Game 5.
- The game turned chippy with five technical fouls as both teams leaned into a physical style that put officials in the spotlight.
- James finished with 25 points, seven assists, three rebounds, and two steals, while Sengun had 14 points and nine rebounds, with Game 6 set for Friday in Houston at 9:30 p.m. ET on Prime Video.