Will Lakers blow 3-0 NBA playoff lead? Pressure's on LA after another loss
Will Lakers blow 3-0 NBA playoff lead? Pressure's on LA after another loss
James H. Williams, USA TODAYThu, April 30, 2026 at 11:31 AM UTC
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LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Lakers consistently turned the ball over as the Houston Rockets earned a 99-93 victory in Game 5 of the Western Conference first-round series on Wednesday, April 29.
Now the series might be turning in the Rockets’ favor after winning two straight games and closing the gap after the Lakers built a 3-0 lead to start the series.
As a former player, Lakers coach JJ Redick understands how turnovers can happen throughout the game, but he recognized how they impacted his team’s overall performance.
“It's hard because the players see stuff on the court and it's easy for us to look back on film or armchair quarterback it,” Redick said. “I do think we had two of those turnovers where we get a stop and we throw the ball ahead out of bounds. Those are the kind of ones that you wish you had back.
“But the turnovers, they come in all shapes and sizes and it's about limiting them and you certainly have to give your guys freedom to make basketball plays. I would say in general, though, turnovers of aggression are okay. Turnovers of passivity are not.”
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The NBA playoffs bring out more than high‑stakes basketball, as stars showcase their sneaker style on the league’s biggest stage.See the coolest kicks worn during the 2026 NBA Playoffs, where footwear becomes part of the spotlight.Above, The shoes of Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks are seen during the first half of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden on April 18, 2026, in New York City.
Marcus Smart was responsible for the Lakers’ early start offensively, providing eight of the team’s first 10 points, but it was the guard being responsible for six of the team’s 15 total turnovers that was glaring on the stat sheet.
“I had six turnovers, and that’s unacceptable for me,” Smart said after the game. “Especially with only two assists, especially against this team.”
The Rockets would score 18 points off turnovers. Houston trailed by as many as 11 points in the first half against Los Angeles before closing the gap and outscoring the Lakers 30-19 in the second quarter.
The Rockets took a 51-47 lead into the locker room at halftime.
The Lakers stumbled in the second half, allowing for the Rockets to build up a 13-point lead.
LeBron James tried to rally the Lakers in the final minutes of regulation but it was the team’s ongoing struggles that continued to make the difference.
Rui Hachimura nailed a 3-pointer that helped the Lakers try and gather some momentum as the crowd began to get loud, but Hachimura was called for a foul down on the other end of the court.
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The cheers from the Los Angeles crowd quickly turned to boos as Tari Eason was at the free-throw line for the Rockets. He misses the first but makes the second.
The Rockets would lead the Lakers 88-81 with 4:13 left in regulation.
Houston overcame a late surge by the Lakers, with what was an 11-1 scoring run after, with four quick points by Reed Shepard.
“Reed Sheppard made a pull-up jumper to put them up five,” James said. “We come down, I turn the ball over, put them up seven. They’re just bang-bang plays.”
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In the loss, Austin Reaves' return was one of the only bright spots for the Lakers on Wednesday.
Reaves had 22 points and six assists off the bench after returning from a nine-game absence. He was sidelined with a left oblique muscle strain injury.
Reaves remained grateful about returning to the court, having even counted down the days in which he wasn’t able to participate.
While he did express how happy he was to return to the court, Reaves was not shy about critiquing his process toward returning for the Lakers.
“I wish I could get a little bit more of a rhythm before jumping into the fire like that, but I had a lot of fun out there,” Reaves said.
Will the Lakers clinch the series?
History is still on the Lakers’ side.
Teams with LeBron James on the roster have won 24 consecutive series when taking a 2-0 lead, according to ESPN.
When do Lakers play next?
The Lakers will travel to Houston for Game 6 of the series. The game is set for Friday, May 1, at 6:30 p.m. PT (9:30 p.m. ET). The game will be streamed on Prime.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lakers watching 3-0 NBA playoff lead disappear as Rockets survive
Source: “AOL Sports”
