The Lakers still lead this series 3-2, but Game 5 was another reminder that their offense has become a liability whenever Houston drags the game into a possession fight. Los Angeles shot 7 for 27 from three, committed 15 turnovers, and let a young Rockets group believe this matchup is still on the table.
Houston’s young lineup is no longer a novelty
Without Kevin Durant, the Rockets still got 22 points from Jabari Smith Jr., a near triple-double from Alperen Sengun, and heavy two-way minutes from Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard. That is not a team hanging on. That is a team finding enough shot creation, enough ball pressure, and enough defensive length to keep the game on its terms.
The Lakers have treated too many of these possessions like Houston will eventually crack. Instead, the Rockets keep extending games with offensive rebounding, active hands, and just enough late-clock competence to make every empty Laker trip matter more.
Los Angeles keeps leaking efficiency in the same places
The headline number was the three-point shooting, but the deeper issue is how often the Lakers fail to protect their own offense. Houston turned those 15 turnovers into 18 points, and that is the fastest way to erase any size or experience edge Los Angeles thinks it has.
When LeBron James misses all six of his threes and Austin Reaves goes 2 for 8, the Lakers can still survive if the rest of the possession is clean. It was not. Too many trips ended with the wrong pass, a reset that came too late, or a shot created after Houston had already pushed them away from the first option.
Game 6 is about control, not comfort
Alperen Sengun said after the win that Houston can still make history one game at a time, and the Rockets are playing like they believe it. That belief matters because Los Angeles has not given them a reason to stop believing.
The Lakers do not need a perfect offensive night to close this out. They need one where they stop donating extra possessions to a team that already wants the game to be slow, physical, and short on clean looks. If that does not change, this series will keep feeling tighter than a 3-2 lead should.
That is the real problem for Los Angeles. Houston has already shown it can live in the mess. The Lakers still look like they are surprised by it.
Receive exclusive NBA news and updates twice a week to your mailbox