Lakers’ LeBron James will regret a mistake that changed Game 5 against the Rockets originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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Don’t look now, but here come the Houston Rockets.
The Rockets left Crypto.com Arena on Wednesday night with a season-saving 99-93 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. Once down 3-0 in their first-round series, the Rockets have won consecutive games and can even the series with another home win on Friday
MORE: Shaquille O’Neal has words for the Lakers after Game 5 loss
One key sequence of Game 5 occurred with three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. The Lakers were down nine when the quarter began and cut their deficit to 88-85 when LeBron James converted a left-handed layup.
James then shoved the Rockets’ Reed Sheppard as he got back on defense. Then Sheppard turned it on.
lebron shoves reed sheppard and then he immediately takes over the game???? i love playoff basketball lmao pic.twitter.com/F74aACY7Yg
— Molly Morrison (@mollyhannahm) April 30, 2026
With the shot clock winding down on Houston’s next possession, Sheppard drilled a 15-foot jumper before stealing the ball from James and dunking it in transition to restore the Rockets’ seven-point lead.
Los Angeles never got closer than two possession after that, and Houston held on to win by that six-point margin.
After the game, Sheppard told reporters that he didn’t pay any attention to the shove from James. But there is no mistaking that the following two Rockets possessions went some way toward deciding Game 5 and breathing new life into this first-round series.
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