LeBron James pointed to turnovers and missed execution as the Los Angeles Lakers fell 99-93 to the Houston Rockets in Game 5 at crypto.com Arena on Wednesday night, cutting the series lead to 3-2.
“Reed Sheppard made a pullup jumper to put them up five. We come down, I turn the ball over, put them up seven. They’re just bang bang plays,” James said when asked about the late-game swing.
Houston closed the game with timely shot-making and defensive pressure, capitalizing on a Lakers offense that stalled during key stretches of the second and third quarters.
James acknowledged missed opportunities despite what he described as solid shot creation. “Yeah, we had some opportunities to make some shots we didn’t make,” he said. “Obviously, I think we’re generating good shots, but you got to score in this game, too.”
Los Angeles finished with 93 points and struggled to sustain offensive rhythm against Houston’s switching and physical point-of-attack defense.
“I don’t think we did that at a good rate, especially in the second and third,” James said, referencing scoring consistency.
Turnovers again played a defining role, with the Lakers committing 15 total, many leading directly to transition chances for Houston.
James split responsibility between decision-making and execution breakdowns. “Some of them was game plan discipline and some of them was just forced errors,” he said. “So we got to be better in both areas.”
Austin Reaves returned after a nine-game absence and provided a lift with 22 points and six assists, but James emphasized rhythm concerns in his first game back.
“He’s such a dynamic player,” James said. “His ability to get into the paint, his ability to get to the free throw line… a couple of his jump shots were short, which makes sense. He hasn’t played in a month.”
Reaves’ presence helped stabilize ball handling early, but Houston’s defensive pressure and rebounding advantage carried into the second half, where the Rockets built a double-digit cushion.
James stressed that adaptability remains central as the series shifts back to Houston for Game 6. “It’s next game, try to flush this one,” he said. “Obviously, we got to learn from our mistakes. I think we made some mistakes tonight, too many unforced mistakes.”
Despite the setback, James reiterated confidence in the team’s shot quality and preparation. “The game plan is right, the coaching staff does a good job of putting us into positions,” he said. “We got to go out there and capitalize on the plays that we have.”
Houston’s defensive versatility also forced adjustments, particularly in containing Alperen Sengun’s passing reads. The Rockets center finished with eight assists, repeatedly exploiting double teams.
“He made great reads,” James said. “We forced him to make some reads and he made the right reads. We knew he would.”
With Houston winning back-to-back games, momentum has shifted heading into Game 6, though James downplayed external narratives about confidence or expectations.
“I don’t care about that,” James said when asked about Jabari Smith Jr.’s comments earlier in the series. “The game is won between the four lines. I don’t give a damn.”
The Lakers now travel to Houston needing one win to close the series, while the Rockets aim to force a decisive Game 7 after erasing an early deficit in the matchup.
