In a series that has been devoid of impact players, the Los Angeles Lakers will get another chance to advance into the Western Conference semifinals when they play host to the Houston Rockets in Game 5 of their first-round series on Wednesday.
The Rockets staved off elimination in Game 4 and won their first game of the series with a 115-96 victory on Sunday. Without Kevin Durant for the third time in four games, Houston received 23 points and seven assists from Amen Thompson, while Tari Eason added 20 points.
Houston turned aggressive defense into 24 turnovers that led directly to 30 points and also held Los Angeles to 22.7% (5 of 22) from 3-point range. Eason added a game-high five steals to go along with eight rebounds.
“He just kinda goes rogue at times,” Rockets coach Ime Udoka said of Eason.
Following Eason’s lead, the Rockets are embracing the outlaw mentality and expressing confidence, even while down 3-1 in the series.
“We’re obviously the better team,” said Houston’s Jabari Smith Jr., who has averaged 18.5 points and 8.0 rebounds in the series. “I just feel like from top to bottom … we’re the better team.”
Durant missed Game 1 because of a right knee contusion and sat out Games 3 and 4 with a left ankle sprain. He was ruled out for Game 5 Tuesday night.
“He is doing the conditioning and other aspects to try and get back,” Udoka said Tuesday of Durant.
The Lakers have been without their top two leading scorers in the series in Luka Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique). Doncic is not expected to play regardless of how long the series lasts with Reaves trending toward a return Wednesday as a game-time decision, according to head coach JJ Redick.
“JJ specifically was like, you have to be comfortable with your body and what you can do to go out there and help us be successful,” Reaves said. “And I want to get back out there as fast as I can. I feel good and trending in the right direction.”
Since Doncic and Reaves both were injured in an April 2 regular-season game at Oklahoma City, Los Angeles has gone 6-3 without the duo, including playoff games.
LeBron James, at age 41, has led the Lakers in the series with 21.5 points, 8.3 rebounds and 8.8 assists. Sharpshooter Luke Kennard has stepped into a starting role and delivered 17.8 points while shooting 45% from 3-point range.
Veteran Marcus Smart has also stepped up his play with 17.5 points and 7.5 assists, up from 9.3 points and 3.0 assists in the regular season.
No team has ever lost an NBA playoff series after taking a 3-0 lead, and the Lakers are determined to not be the first. Redick is not taking anything for granted and gave a blunt assessment on what it will take to move on.
“You have to kill them,” Redick said. “It’s difficult to kill someone. Survival instinct says, ‘I want to stay alive.’ And so, you’ve got to be able to kill them. That’s what’s difficult.”
