Jabari Smith Jr. scored 22 factors and Tari Eason added 18 because the Houston Rockets fought off elimination for a second consecutive sport and crawled again into its first-round playoff collection with a 99-93 highway victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Recreation 5 on Wednesday.
Alperen Sengun scored 14 factors with 9 rebounds and eight assists whereas Amen Thompson added 15 factors for the Rockets, who now path 3-2 within the best- of-seven Western Convention collection after falling right into a 3-0 gap. No NBA workforce has rallied again from a 3-0 deficit to win a playoff collection.
The consecutive Rockets victories have come with out star Kevin Durant (ankle), who has solely performed in Recreation 2.
Austin Reaves scored 22 factors off the bench in his return from an indirect harm and LeBron James added 25 factors for the Lakers. Deandre Ayton scored 18 factors and grabbed 17 rebounds for his aspect, which will get a 3rd likelihood to clinch the collection on Friday at Houston. The Lakers proceed to be with out star Luka Doncic (hamstring).
Pistons 116, Magic 109
Cade Cunningham poured in a career-playoff-high 45 factors as top-seeded Detroit Pistons stayed alive with a victory over visiting Orlando Magic in Recreation 5 of their Japanese Convention first-round collection.
Tobias Harris provided 23 factors and eight assists for the Pistons, who path 3-2 within the best-of-seven collection. Ausar Thompson contributed six factors, 15 rebounds, six assists and 5 steals.
The Magic’s Paolo Banchero countered Cunningham with a career-playoff-best 45 factors to associate with 9 rebounds and 7 assists. Anthony Black had 19 factors for eighth-seeded Magic. Franz Wagner sat out on account of a calf pressure.
Cavaliers 125, Raptors 120
Dennis Schroder scored 11 of his 19 factors within the fourth quarter and James Harden completed with 23 factors, rallying Cleveland Cavaliers to a 3-2 lead over visiting Toronto Raptors in an Japanese Convention first-round playoff collection.
The Cavaliers, who trailed by 12 factors on a number of events, have gained all three of their residence video games so far. Evan Mobley had 23 factors and 9 rebounds, and Donovan Mitchell scored 19 for the Cavaliers. Harden additionally had 9 rebounds, 5 assists and 6 turnovers in a series-high 39:45 minutes.
RJ Barrett paced the Raptors with 25 factors and Ja’Kobe Walter scored a career-playoff-high 20 factors and made 6 of 14 3-point makes an attempt. Raptors ahead Brandon Ingram injured his proper heel within the second quarter and didn’t return.
Printed on Apr 30, 2026