HOUSTON — LeBron James has been down the playoff road more than any player in NBA history. He knows what it takes to get to that final stage, reaching the NBA Finals 10 times and winning four titles in his first 22 seasons.
Heading back to Texas for a Game 6 against the Houston Rockets on Friday night after the Lakers’ Game 5 comeback bid came up short, James’ message is apt: there’s no time to dwell on previous losses when another chance to advance is on the line.
“(Expletive), it’s (the) next game,” James said after the Lakers saw their lead in the best-of-seven first-round series cut to 3-2 with a 99-93 loss Wednesday night. “Try to flush this one.”
The 41-year-old star’s frustration following back-to-back defeats was clear; he lamented his own mistakes in Games 4 and 5, including a late turnover Wednesday that allowed Rockets guard Reed Sheppard to push their lead back to seven points after James had led a charge to cut a 13-point deficit to three with less than three minutes left.
The last two games against the Rockets have transitioned the Lakers from cloud nine into a turbulent flight for a spot in the Western Conference semifinals against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
“Once we get on that plane and head down to Houston, we got to forget about it and understand what we are going for and it’s going to be even harder,” said James, who is averaging the third-most turnovers per game (4.6) of any player who has played in multiple games in the 2026 playoffs. “Every game is hard. It’s so hard to close out a team in the postseason, to win a series and this is our first time doing it as a unit.”
James is right. Not only are they attempting to close the series as “a unit,” it’s a group that has constantly had to evolve throughout the season. On Wednesday, Austin Reaves returned to the fold after nearly a full month out with a left oblique strain – a boost, despite the defeat, to an offense that appeared to be running on fumes during a lopsided Game 4 defeat earlier this week.
Game 5 wasn’t much better than Game 4 for the Lakers, who shot 42.1% from the field and 25.9% from 3-point range (including a 1-for-12 showing in the second half) and failed to eclipse 100 points for the second straight game.
Over each playoff team’s last two games, the Lakers have recorded the third-worst average of points per 100 possessions (103.3 ppg), the third-lowest assist-to-turnover ratio (1.08) and the worst turnover rate in the playoff field (21.3% of all possessions). In their first three games, the Lakers shot 46.1% from 3-point range. Since, their 3-point percentage has dropped to 28.7% – while averaging the fewest attempts from behind the arc per game (25) of any playoff team.
Add the fact that Luke Kennard has all but vanished over the last 96 minutes – the sharpshooter scoring just eight points while going 0 for 5 from behind the arc – and the Lakers might need Reaves to bridge the offensive gap exploited by two defeats to close the series.
“Upset we didn’t end it tonight on our own court,” said Reaves, who struggled from the field (4 for 16) but went 12 for 13 from the free-throw line for 22 points in his first game since April 2. “But we’ll have another opportunity Friday to go get it done.”
James said it made sense that a few of Reaves’ shots fell short in his first game in a month. Lakers coach JJ Redick said Reaves “will find his rhythm.”
Reaves said he “felt chills” in his return, having fun despite coming out on the wrong side of a playoff game. James knows what the Lakers’ second-leading scorer – who has gone from undrafted to star guard while playing alongside the four-time league MVP since 2018 – can do.
Game 6 will be a test for Reaves to help carry the Lakers over the hurdle and into the conference semifinals.
“(Reaves is) a dynamic player,” James said.
LAKERS AT ROCKETS
What: First-round series, Game 6
When: Friday, 6:30 p.m. PT
Where: Toyota Center, Houston
TV/Radio: Prime Video, 710 AM