The Rockets outlasted the Lakers with Reaves’ force returning in Game 6

Los Angeles — Jabari Smith The junior scored 22 points, Tari Ison Added 18 and Houston Rockets The playoffs were avoided for the second straight game with a 99-93 win over the Lakers in Game 5 on Wednesday night, cutting Los Angeles’ lead in the first-round series to 3-2.

Alperen Sengun The fifth seed had 14 points, nine rebounds and eight assists for the Rockets, who sent the series back to Houston for Game 6 on Friday night with a stellar performance. Austin ReevesBack to the Lakers.

Houston has won two straight without a top scorer Kevin Durantwho missed four of the five matches of the series due to injury.

Neither team has recovered from a 3-0 deficit to win an NBA playoff series, but the Rockets are halfway there. Only four of 159 teams have ever forced a Game 7 to start a series 3-0.

LeBron James Scored 17 of his 25 points and added seven assists in the second half, but Los Angeles lost for the second time after stealing Game 3 with an improbable rally in the final seconds of regulation.

James’ teams never blew a 2-0 series lead in his entire 23-year NBA career.

Reaves had 22 points and six assists in his return from a nine-game injury absence for the Lakers, but they had 15 mostly brutal turnovers in their series-worst performance and their second loss in 16 home games since February.

DeAndre Ayton Had 18 points and 17 rebounds for Los Angeles, which is still not there Luka Doncic. The NBA scoring champion doesn’t seem close to returning from a strained hamstring.

A pulled oblique muscle has sidelined Reaves since April 2, but he had 11 points and six assists in the first half of Game 5. Yet the Rockets calmly took an advantage in the second half and led 87-74 with 5:55 left.

Los Angeles went on an 11-1 run late and James’ driving layup cut Houston’s lead to 88-85, but Reed Shepard James hit a jumper before ripping the ball away for a dunk with 2:20 to play.

Ayton’s putback dunk made it 96-93 after both James and Reaves missed open 3-pointers. Thompson hit one of two free throws and James badly missed another 3-point attempt that put Houston on the ice.

The Rockets shot particularly poorly in losing the first two games of the series in Los Angeles, but have rediscovered their collective touch while running a balanced offense in Durant’s absence. Houston played with confidence Tuesday by Smith, who claimed the Rockets are “obviously the better team” despite their 3-1 series deficit.

The Rockets’ resilience is also good news for the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, who are resting up and looking to win the series after sweeping Phoenix.