Live scores, updates and highlights for Game 5 of the 2026 NBA Playoffs first-round series between Rockets and Lakers originally appeared on The Sporting News. Click here to add Sports News as your go-to source.
As LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers get closer to advancing to the next round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, we still have one game to aim for. The NBA superstar knows nothing is guaranteed in his 23rd season, but this time seems different.
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Los Angeles can take the series within five points on Wednesday. The Rockets beat the Lakers 115-96 on Monday night. Amen Thompson led Houston with 23 points to take the series back to the City of Angels.
Rockets vs. Lakers: Scores from Game 5 of the 2026 NBA Playoffs
In a rare moment, James was asked about his long-standing “GOAT” controversy with Michael Jordan. Although the two are considered the Mount Rushmore of the NBA, are they comparable? The king didn’t think so.
“I hope wearing No. 23 at least makes him proud,” James told ESPN’s Dave McMenamin this week. “I’ve never compared myself to Jordan because our games are completely different. I’ve been a point forward/forward my whole life. I’m always looking for the pass. Jordan was kind of looking for the shot. No, he did it. He looked for the shot.”
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After the Lakers led the Houston Rockets 3-1 in the series, James is ushering in his “second spring”. In the first round of the Western Conference series, the matchup between the No. 4 team and the No. 5 team did not meet people’s expectations. Without Luka Doncic, James shot 51.5% from the field for the Lakers and averaged 20.9 points per game.
On the other hand, Kevin Durant has been dealing with a bone injury that will sideline him for 2-3 weeks, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. The Rockets were still without him in Game 5, which tilted the series toward the Lakers. The Rockets hope to avoid elimination on the road. Houston ranks second in the Western Conference with a 29-23 record, averaging 53.0 points per game in the paint.
NBA Playoffs Headquarters: Live scores | Full schedule | Updated brackets
Rockets vs. Lakers live updates, highlights from Game 5 of the NBA Playoffs
Section 4 – 9:39: LeBron James stopped the bleeding with a layup 82-71
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Section 4 – 9:55: The Rockets hit consecutive three-pointers and took the largest lead at 82-69.
Section 4 – 10:26: Houston leads 79-69
End of the third quarter: Rockets 76, Lakers 67
Section 3 – 1:00: Josh Okogie’s dunk gave the Rockets their largest lead of the game.
Section 3 – 2:00: Houston led 74-64 and could pull away even further.
Section 3 – 2:52: Holiday hit a three-pointer and the Rockets led 72-64. Houston’s 12th shot from beyond the arc.
Section 3 – 3:41: The two teams trade again. Houston leads 69-64
Section 3 – 5:19: LeBron James is starting to make an impact. Houston still leads 65-60.
Section 3 – 6:13: TV timeout. Rockets beat Lakers 65-56
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Section 3 – 7:24: Jabari Smith Jr. hit a three-pointer to give Houston a 65-54 lead.
Quarter 3 – 7:46: Tari Eason’s flagrant foul sent Austin Reaves to the free throw line.
Section 3 – 7:46: All goes well for Houston, leading 62-53
Section 3 – 9:36: Tari Eason’s 3-pointer gave Houston a 59-51 lead, capping an 8-0 run.
Section 3 – 10:43Austin Reeves hit two more points from the free throw line, and Los Angeles chased the score to 54-51.
Section 3 – 11:20: Two quick free throws from Austin Reeves. He scored 13 points, leading all scorers.
Beginning of the third quarter
Hartem team statistics
|
Pause time statistics |
Houston |
Los Angeles |
|---|---|---|
|
FG |
19-38 days |
17-40 days |
|
field goal percentage |
50 |
43 |
|
3PT |
8-21 |
6-15 |
|
three point shooting percentage |
38 |
40 |
|
financial times |
5-7 |
7-7 |
|
penalty% |
71 |
100 |
|
rebound |
15 |
twenty one |
|
offensive rebound |
2 |
7 |
|
defensive rebound |
13 |
14 |
|
Assist |
14 |
13 |
|
steal |
6 |
3 |
|
Building Blocks |
4 |
1 |
|
total turnover |
6 |
9 |
|
Points reduced for mistakes |
7 |
9 |
|
quick break point |
2 |
4 |
|
points in painting |
twenty two |
18 |
|
foul |
10 |
8 |
|
technical foul |
0 |
0 |
|
flagrant foul |
0 |
0 |
|
biggest lead |
4 |
11 |
|
LED percentage |
33 |
62 |
Los Angeles halftime: Rockets 51, Lakers 47
Quarter 2 – 15.8 seconds: Tari Eason responded with a three-pointer to give the Rockets a 51-47 lead.
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Quarter 2 – 40.8 secondsHachimura hit a three-pointer and the Rockets led 48-47
Section 2 – 1:22: TV timeout. Houston scored two quick points to lead 48-44.
Section 2 – 2:26: Austin Reeves hit a three-pointer again, tying the score at 44.
Section 2 – 2:30: Both teams have trades. Additionally, the games began to become more physical. Houston leads 44-41
Section 2 – 4:51Josh Okogie hits a three-pointer and the Rockets lead 40-36
Section 2 – 5:42: LeBron James made two free throws, Los Angeles chased the score to 37-36
Section 2 – 6:05: Reed Shepard scores a layup to give the Rockets a 37-34 lead
Section 2 – 6:23: TV timeout. Reed Shepard hit a three-pointer and the Rockets led 35-32.
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Section 2 – 7:45: Amen Thomson made two free throws and the Rockets tied the score at 32.
Section 2 – 7:59: The two teams fought each other, and the Lakers led 32-30.
Section 2 – 10:36: Jabari Smith Jr. hit another three-pointer to give Los Angeles a 28-27 lead.
Section 2 – 11:12: Dorian Finney-Smith hit a three-pointer to give Los Angeles a 28-24 lead.
End of the first quarter: Lakers 28, Rockets 21
Points on turnovers: Los Angeles – 7, Houston – 0
Quarter 1 – 48.5 seconds Amen Thompson hits a three-pointer and the Rockets stop the bleeding 26-18
Section 1 – 1:06: LeBron James’ layup gives Lakers a 26-15 lead
Section 1 – 1:41: Austin Reeves sprints to the free throw line after being fouled on a 3-pointer. All three shots were scored, leading 24-15.
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Section 1 – 2:09Austin Reeves makes a layup and the Lakers lead 21-15
Section 1 – 2:50: TV timeout. The Lakers lead 19-15. Both teams started to get into the game.
Section 1 – 3:56: Austin Reaves hit a 3-pointer for his first points of the series. The Lakers lead 19-13.
Section 1 – 4:15: LeBron James missed an alley-oop dunk but then completed the steal for his 500th in playoff history. The Lakers lead 16-13.
Section 1 – 5:34: Austin Reeves in the game. It was his first game since missing nine games on April 2.
Section 1 – 5:39: The Lakers led the Rockets 14-9, gaining their largest lead so far. Marcus Smart scored 8 quick points
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Section 1 – 7:58: LeBron James brilliantly assisted Hachimura for a dunk. Lakers regain the lead 7-6
Section 1 – 8:48: Both teams struggled at the start, with the Lakers leading 5-4
Section 1 – 9:33: Smart made a free throw with a header after a foul, giving the Rockets a 4-3 lead.
Section 1-11:37: The Lakers opened the game with a 3-0 lead on Marcus Smart’s three-pointer.
Departed in Los Angeles after a 20-minute delay
Delayed start of game
10:18 PM ET Cleveland wins 125-120 to take a 3-2 series lead
10:17 PM ET Cleveland leads 125-120 with 2.4 seconds left. Not sure Toronto has enough time.
10:13 PM ET – Cleveland leads 125-120 when Toronto serves with 18 seconds left
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10:10 PM ET – Cleveland leads 124-120 with 22.5 seconds left
10:07 PM ET – The Cavaliers-Raptors game has been postponed to the Rockets-Lakers game. There are currently 2 minutes and 01 seconds left in the fourth quarter, and Cleveland leads 124-116.
Austin Reaves reads for Lakers.
Reactions to Rockets vs. Lakers Game 5
How to watch Houston Rockets (52-30) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (53-29) NBA Playoffs Game 5
Wednesday, April 29, 10 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Lakers lead 3-1 in series
Game 5 of the Lakers vs. Rockets will be televised by ABC on ESPN and streamed live on the ESPN app.
Now you can watch ESPN without cable TV. Stream NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, college sports, plus SportsCenter, First Take and all your favorite ESPN shows anytime, anywhere, only in the ESPN app.
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