LeBron James' late miss sinks Lakers as Rockets push series to Game 6 without Durant injury.
Despite having a second chance to clinch their opening series win against the Houston Rockets, the Los Angeles Lakers again came up short Wednesday night.
The Lakers' 99-93 loss didn't come without drama. With 16 seconds to go in the game, LeBron James couldn't get a three-point attempt to fall while trailing 97-93, which would have created a one-point deficit in a favorable fouling situation.
As the two teams stare down a Game 6 scenario, the Rockets look to keep their momentum going, but will have to do so without one of their key stars, Kevin Durant. The Rockets' star will be out for Friday's matchup with an ankle injury, per ESPN's Shams Charania.
With both the Lakers and Orlando Magic failing to win their potential close out games Wednesday night, the playoff action will continue.
Last year, the Lakers' first-round playoff exit raised questions about the team's ability to remain a consistent postseason presence in their immediate future, under the shadow of questions surrounding James, who said that he was "unsure" how much longer he'd play after the series.
James returned this season and has helped to lead the Lakers back to the playoffs. Holding on to a tenuous 3-2 lead against the Rockets likely wasn't the expectation for him or his teammates this season. Getting past a pesky Rockets team sooner rather than later will be advantageous for their hopes of extending their competitiveness here in 2026 and delaying questions about the future of the franchise and its superstars.