Rockets closer to making NBA history after stunning Lakers in Game 5

The Houston Rockets are inching closer and closer to doing the unthinkable.

With Wednesday’s 99-93 road victory, the Houston Rockets have forced their first-round playoff series with the Los Angeles Lakers back to Houston for Game 6. And, depending on what happens on Friday, we could see the Rockets become the first team in NBA history to win a postseason series after falling down 3-0.

HOUSTON STAY ALIVE!

The Rockets SHOCK the Lakers on the road to force a Game 6

Jabari Smith Jr:
22 points
7 rebounds
3 assists
2 blocks

Alperen Sengun:
14 points
9 rebounds
8 assists
2 steals pic.twitter.com/U6LUMeX6Ie

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) April 30, 2026

After allowing the Lakers to score more than 100 points in each of the first three games, including a brutal overtime loss in Game 3, the Rockets’ defense has buckled down in Games 4 and 5. In their second game in Houston, the Rockets stole the ball 17 times and forced 23 total turnovers while limiting the Lakers to just 96 points. And then last night, Houston kept L.A. to 93 points, a series low for either team. Additionally, the Rockets reached double-digit steals again; they had 10 steals as the Lakers turned the ball over 15 times, five more than Houston.

The Rockets have become the 16th team in NBA playoff history to force a Game 6 after trailing 3-0 in a series pic.twitter.com/75HeVXj8SI

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) April 30, 2026

With the win, the Rockets have forced Game 6, becoming the 16th team all-time to do so. If they can win that game, they’ll force a seventh and final game on Sunday back in Los Angeles. Regardless of the result of Game 7, Houston would become just the fifth team in NBA history to make it to seven after digging itself a 0-3 hole; the 1951 New York Knicks, 1994 Denver Nuggets, 2003 Portland Trail Blazers, and 2023 Boston Celtics all lost in Game 7 after tying the series.

Game 6 will take place tomorrow at 8:30 p.m. CT at the Toyota Center in Houston.

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